2016 Subaru Crosstrek

I have had three occurrences with my vehicle where I discovered a dangerous situation in the manual heater and air conditioner control module connector that resulted in the module connector and the wiring harness connector both becoming scorched and melted due to excessive heat. I believe that this is probably occurring due to high electrical current at the connector. In all occurrences, the first symptoms of the problem are intermittent blower fan speed followed by the fan speed knob becoming melted into a fixed position. The first occurrence was in February 2021 and the damaged control module (part number 72311FJ500) and the pigtail connector were replaced by a trained auto body tech. The second occurrence was in August 2021 and I took the vehicle to the Subaru dealership given it was a repeat occurrence and because we were concerned it might be a problem that could impact other vehicles. The service department at Subaru kept the vehicle for 2 weeks to diagnose the problem and eventually recommended we replace the vehicle's main wiring harness as well as again replace the damaged heater and air conditioning control module. We authorized the required repairs. The issue has now occurred for a third time and I will be taking the vehicle to Subaru again. I will be asking the service department to contact the manufacturer about this safety issue. I believe the primary risk to safety the potential of a fire in the vehicle in the right circumstances due to excessive current at the connector of the module. There is a secondary but less acute risk that the heater becomes inoperable during the winter and puts occupants at risk which is the situation we are facing as we travel frequently in rural areas.

Ignition Key stuck in the ignition cannot be removed from ignition after parking. This problem never occurred in previous 5 years of ownership. It happens nearly every time the car is driven, and has been reported widely on the internet by Subaru owners. In many cases, owners have not been able to remove the keys at all, and have had to call for assistance. On the advice of a repair tech, we replaced our battery, which, at 5 years old, was probably due to be replaced. This has not solved the problem.

I had to have it be jump-started first on 7/20/21 and again on 7/23/21, the battery had been replaced with a new manufacturer's battery in Feb. of 2020. When the battery didn't start on 7/23 there were several warning lights concerning all the electrical safety systems. AAA came again this time jumped it and it started and I had it towed to the dealership. Since it was towed to the dealership I have learned that this is a documented problem with this car and that there was even a service bulletin put out by Subaru about how to deal with the problem, their fix is to replace the battery but that is fixing the symptom but not a cure. I was told that I should report this to your agency.

2016 Subaru Crosstrek 2.0 LTD (CVT) When placing vehicle in park, occasionally, will not allow me to remove ignition key when transmission is placed in park position. Safety issue is that I am not able to exit vehicle because if they remains in the car, it will be an easy vehicle to steal. Especially an issue if I am in a parking lot at night or during severe weather conditions. The car dealer and Subaru of America feel that it is my financial responsibility even though there are numerous other Subaru Crosstrek owners that have voiced the same complaint. Subaru has issued several service bulletins acknowledging that there is a defect and that the shifter was redesigned for model year 2019. Subaru Service Bulletin 16-112-18R states "The cause is contamination if the Park-Range switch internal components.

HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, MAJORITY OF IT HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY, AND I EXITED OFF THE HIGHWAY. I WAITED AT A STOP LIGHT AND THEN TURNED ONTO A SECONDARY ROAD. THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN GAVE ALL WARNING LIGHTS WITH THE HYBRID SYSTEM AND I LOST ACCELERATION IN THE VEHICLE. IT MADE IT VERY HARD TO STEER, AND WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS IT BARELY HAD ANY POWER TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. FELT LIKE I LOST THE MAIN POWER A D WAS USING ONLY THE HYBRID BATTERY TO POWER THE VEHICLE. I PULLED OFF ON A SIDE STREET PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND THEN TURNED THE CAR BACK ON AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AND IF IT HAD HAPPENED TWO MINUTES EARLIER I WOULD'VE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN REAL TROUBLE.

WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN PARK THE KEYS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK IN THE IGNITION AND CANNOT BE REMOVED. WHEN SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR THIS ISSUE IT CAME UP NUMEROUS AMOUNTS OF TIMES. SOMEONE FOUND OUT THE ISSUE THAT SUBARU INSTALLED FAULTY CONNECTORS NEAR THE SHIFTER. THAT IS SUPPOSED TO SEND A SIGNAL TO THE STEERING WHEEL IN ORDER TO RELEASE THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION. HOWEVER THAT SIGNAL IS NOT ALWAYS SENT BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS DO NOT CONNECT WHEN IT IS PUT INTO PARK. DRIVER'S ONLY HAVE A TEMPORARY SOLUTION OF SHIFTING IT INTO DRIVE THEN BACK INTO PARK MULTIPLE TIMES WHILE TRYING TO PULL THE KEYS OUT. MY CAR IS CURRENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY DUE TO MILEAGE HOWEVER IT IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY A RECALL, SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS KEYS MAY BE LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE IN ORDER FOR THE AUTOMOBILE TO BE STOLEN.