2014 - 2018 Subaru Forester Key Stuck in Ignition - Quick fix solution
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- čas přidán 13. 09. 2024
- One of the way to solve the key stuck in Ignition for my 2017 Subaru Forester, is to disconnect a sensor wire next to the ignition. Can potentially save you $500 - $600 to fix it at the dealership.
I'm watching this in 2024 and here is my discoveries: This works 100%. I have a 2013 Crosstrek and have had this issue for only a few days. I decided I couldn't live with it when I was late to work because my keys were stuck in the ignition. I refused to leave my keys in the car during a 10-hour shift on the Las Vegas Strip. While my keys were stuck in the ignition, I removed the two screws, popped out the white connector, and it immediately removed. It cost me $0 and took less than 2 minutes.
After reading through the comments, a lot of people raise concern over being able to remove the key in any gear. There is truth to this, but the key can only be removed while in the OFF position. The key will not budge while the vehicle is on. Otherwise everything functions as before.
Thank you to this guy for saving me in a pinch.
I can't believe how common this problem must be. Judging from the number of videos posted it's been going on for years. You would think Subaru would change something with the design. Thanks for an easy solution.
Actually, the later Subaru models have the ignition button option for higher trim designs.
It's because Subaru's suck. I've had so many issues with my 2016 Forester, purchased new, that I wouldn't buy another. My dad has had the same issues with his Forester (2014). On mine, just over 80K - Wheel bearings, Drive shaft bearing, front axels and ball joints and now this mess with the key. Mind you my wife drives this and she drives like there's an egg between her foot and the pedals... very mellow driving.
I succeeded in doing this yesterday! I'm so proud and excited ! Now my key is easily coming out. I loved your "every person style, looking for your screw driver, etc. Your attitude encouraged me to try this. I'm a 81 year old grandmother!!!! Bless you!.
I left out I did this on my 2014 Forrester
Not to rain on anyone's parade, but after watching this video, and planning on taking apart my ignition system on my Forester the following day, I later came upon another video and possible solution to the issue. It did not require any disassembly or disconnection of circuits. It was, and is, quite simple. I tried it. It worked the first time and has worked ever since, every time the key gets stuck in the ignition. Simply press the button on the shifter numerous times. When I say numerous, I mean less than ten times. I don't know why it works, but. I'm not going to question the result. Good luck, give it a try, you have nothing to lose!
Can confirm. Worked for our 2018.
This 👆🏽 literally did 5 mins ago after reading through the comments. Tyvm lol
Send video
It worked fine at the beginning, but later on it took longer and longer, really annoying.
THANK YOU IVE LITERALLY BEEN SITTING OUTSIDE FOR 90 MINUTES TRYING TO FIX IT
Just chiming in, two years later, to say it works for a 2017 Outback. The key (so far) comes out every time, and the key cannot be removed when the ignition is in ON or ACC, so its safe. Its was also remarkably easy for a non-mechanical guy like me to remove and later replace the cover, pop the connection and tape it up so it doesn't rattle around. Thanks for saving me $500 or being trapped in some parking lot somewhere.
Wow, Man, you just saved me a mounting headache! This has been happening to me off and on for a year, and lately has drained my battery and nearly cost me an important appointment because I was stuck in the parking lot trying to get the damn key out. This fix is easy and it works! Not hearing that annoying warning chime again is another plus. If you're someone who needs the reminder not to leave your keys in the ignition, you might want to try the alternate fix below.... anyway, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!
Legend! Thanks so much!!! Have been experiencing the same issue for about 2 months. Subaru Australia quoted $550.51 plus labour to fix but didn’t have parts available. Found your tutorial after my car held me hostage today for about 15 minutes - searched out of pure frustration - 3 minutes later it’s fixed. Not all heroes wear capes 👊🏻
Awesome!
🐐…1 min fix! No tab to release switch. Just pulls out.
Just remember to put you car in park with the park brake on before you take the key out as you have bypassed the park lock key release and if you forget and pull the key out in drive with park brake off the car will roll away that's why manufacturers have park lock key release systems fitted to these vehicles 👍
Just tried this on our 2014 Forrester that’s being doing it for 3 weeks. Less than 5 minutes later problem is solved and no, the keys won’t come out while is on and in gear. Excellent video and info. Thanks for sharing!!!
Hi everyone, I found in a forum that the microswitch that activates the release key the tab may get bent or a little bit worn out , is located at the shifter and this person says that straight out the tab and everything goes back to normal, he bought the part that is about $50.00 but didn't use it and didn't have to remove the shifter, just the center console. This video is excellent for an emergecy situation but if you want to make it work as intended you could search in the Subaru forums. Thanks for the video, I know that helped a lot of people in this uncofortable situation.
Where can you find that ?
Please send a link or keywords to find this forum
Hopefully you see my link, but in case CZcams blocks links, the forum is subaruxvforum and the numbers at the end of the URL are 177743. A Google search should turn up the correct thread.
Need a recall or a class action suit. Come on Subaru! Dealer quoted me $700 to fix this. Unbelievable.
it's free now
@@adambzh Yes Subaru did the right thing for their loyal customers and gave a warranty extension until October 2022 to fix this.
Awesome. We've been having trouble with this for years but didn't want to pay a fortune to get it repaired. Your instructions made it very easy to fix. Thanks so much!
Dude, you saved me! We took our car in for service because, like you, it was difficult to get the key out. They said they fixed the issue, but instead they made it worse. No matter what I did I couldn’t get the key out at all, and the car would be stuck in ancillary mode draining battery… over Father’s Day weekend.
I opened the steering column and it looked just like this, your fix worked perfectly!!!
Thank you 1000 times!
I had the problem on our 2017 Legacy. I called the dealer to see what it would cost to fix. He looked up the VIN and told me Subaru had extended the warranty for this problem. TRY THIS FIRST. They did the repair for no charge!!!
My 2017 Legacy Sedan began having the sticking ignition key problem about a month ago (at 16,000 miles). This video appears to have offered an easy workaround, but the only issue is that the open door alarm becomes disabled without the sensor. A conscientious, observant State Inspection mechanic could discover this and fail the vehicle on its annual state inspection (at least here in New Hampshire).
Since this sensor activates the open door alarm, I experimented by opening the driver's door before turning off the motor. When the dashboard open door alarm sounded, I turned off the motor. When the alarm instructed me to remove the key from the ignition, the key came out without any problem. I repeated this cycle several times within three hours, and each time it worked!
So, just maybe, I found a more effortless, non-intrusive workaround. It seems to be working at the moment.
This is it, chief. You can stop searching - or at least it worked for me without having to bypass the safety feature. Just open the driver's side door and the key pops right out. Thank you!
Did not work for me.
THANK YOU!!!! After spending 30 minutes in a Lowes parking lot trying to get my ignition key out, I watched this video, left the car with the key in it, ran inside Lowes and bought a screwdriver, followed your directions exactly and it WORKED. You are a genius! Any downside to permanently leaving that wire unplugged?? Thanks again!
I have a 2014 Forester, 60K miles, which is my daughter’s car. She never had any problems with the key getting stuck. A month ago she went on a trip - and took her car key with her. My son, visiting from L.A., started using the car with the backup key. This key started getting stuck. So yesterday I took the car to my local Subaru dealer in White Plains. They said it would cost $750 to fix, $70 for parts, the rest is labor at $169/hr. It would take 3-4 hours because of the complexity of the repair. There’s a lot to take apart to get to the sensor and plate guide (the parts to be replaced). They also found $2250 of additional work they suggested be done. I asked if they always do a multipoint inspection, which I had not asked for. (I just spent over $700 with an independent auto repair shop for the 60K checkup. Subaru would have charged $1004 for what used to be in the $500-$600 range. Covid pricing, I guess.) The service writer said Suppose you leave the dealer and the car conks out? Well, suppose I do? Pretty lame justification for the usual dealership fishing expedition looking for things to “fix.” So, to finally end this long lost, I picked up my car without the dealership doing any work, paid the $169 diagnostic fee, came home, found this video, followed the instructions, and guess what - no more stuck key.
Great video! It did solve key stuck issue on Subaru Crosstrek 2015
Never trust a salesman or anyone that works for a dealership,they are not your friend
THANK YOU!!! I’ve had this issue for about 2 years in my 2016 outback. Finally the problem got so bad that I started looking for fixes. It’s only been a day but so far, so good. Thanks again for the helpful video. I’m not sure why this video doesn’t have millions of views. I know other Subaru owners who have this same problem.
Glad to help :)
Just popped my girlfriend's sensor. She was in tears about it. Thanks for this video.
Nice, glad it’s helpful!
I’ve been having the same problem in my 2014 Subaru Impreza for like a month now. I tried your solution and so far it’s been working no key stuck issues.
Dude you just save me a huge headache! I was about to go pay Subaru $800 for their faulty design! Thank you
Worked like a charm!!!! Thanks for posting. Only downside is that the key can now be removed from any gear so be careful everyone!!
You're the man! This worked like a charm. We've been dealing with this for a couple of months and didn't want to pay the $500 the dealership quoted us. Thank you!!
This worked for me after a year of frustration whenever I park somewhere and have to spend ten or more minutes to get the key out. The only thing in afraid of is the unlikely possibilty that the key comes out while driving, which could be dangerous! But this fix does work!
Thanks for the quick fix indeed. Saved my butt when it happened at 2am and no amount of jiggling and start stop of the engine would get it out. Your fix works in Australia too... !
Thanks for the uncut video! I noticed that you firmly put it in park to get the key out and that was what freed it for me.
Thank you!! I went to Lowe’s, bought a screwdriver and electrical tape and followed your instructions while sitting in the parking lot. No more stuck key or time wasted trying to get it to release. 😊
Lol, nice 👍🏼
Great video. I will try it out today. I have a 2012 Forester and this has been my problem for months. The dealer quoted me $1200 to replace the ignition assembly or go to a locksmith and have the ignition re-keyed for less, but still several hundred dollars.
This will fix that problem, but it does defeat a somewhat important safety mechanism. I'm not going to say you shouldn't do it, I just want to make sure everyone who sees this knows what you are actually doing. That wire you disconnected is a DC circuit that connects a solenoid in the steering column to the gear selector knob. It's a security feature to keep the key from being able to be removed while the car is moving or in gear (because removing the key activates the steering column lock). When you shift into Park, it changes the wire from 12V to 0V with the application of a ground wire that only gets connected to the circuit when the lever is all the way in Park. When that wire has 0V on it, the solenoid is no longer powered and that releases the key. As you've probably guessed, disconnecting that wire defeats the entire mechanism and the solenoid becomes permanently "open". This means it becomes possible to turn and remove the key from the ignition while the vehicle is in gear and/or moving.
Im not too worried. All of my previous vehicles would let me remove the key while in drive and I'm still alive.
@@dillonh321 Did your previous cars have steering column locking features that prevent you from turning the steering wheel at all when that happens though? That's an important distinction. Some cars will just remove your access to power steering but you can still turn the wheel to maneuver to safety. The Subarus and other vehicles that have this feature won't.
@@thesterndragoon9159
Yes, my last one, a chrysler, had a steering wheel lock. A movement in the wheel while off and it would lock the wheel. I removed the key on it once while moving in drive to see if a sound was coming from the engine or another driveline component.
But airbag will still function?
So in my 2014 Subaru Forester, it does not allow me to take the key out while in drive after disconnecting it. I'm not sure about any other years.
Wow, this turned from a 800$+ repair to 0$. What a boss
I took my 2016 Outback to the dealership and the guy inspected it for a few mins, comes out and explains to me how to take the key out of the ignition. I said I've been driving for 20+ years and I don't need a lecture on how to take the key out of ignition. I'm probably going to "fix" this myself. Thanks much for the video!!
You’re very welcome!
I went two mechanics and they said they couldn't do anything about it. And your video set it straight.
You are THE MAN! 2014 Subaru Forester XT and I was having the same problem happening more and more lately. Today it hit critical mass and the key was stuck and wasn't gonna budge. Saw your vid, followed your instructions and the problem is solved. Thanks!
Thanks and you’re welcome!
My 2014 Subaru just started doing this and now it’s gotten worse over the week. Happens all the time and is so frustrating!
I will give this a try. Thank you!!! 🙏🏽
Did it work? My 2014 Subaru has been having this issue lately.
Rediculous Subaru hasn’t addressed this if it’s such a popular problem. Thank you for making this video!
2016 XT
Fixed - thank you.
As with others, car no longer beeps when key is left in ignition when you open door, but who cares! You saved me and many others $$$. 🙂 key comes out as it should every time.
2017 Subaru Forester over here also. your video is a life saver. just remove two screws, pop open the steering column's under-cover, and disconnect that wire plug. Key can then immediately come out of ignition when turn off engine. Yay Easy Peasy.
Saw other videos etc about straightening the tab under the gear shift stick. Maybe i could look at that someday. And there is getting a new battery could fix this if the sensor connection is underpowered for sensing if the gear shift is in park. And then there is the repeatedly pushing the front button on the gear shift stick -- i should maybe try that -- but i would have to open up the column again & insert that wire plug back in to see if that works. naaah. better to disconnect that plug at the key ignition & leave as is. but i have to bring in the car to the dealer for oil change maintenance & will ask if their key ignition warranty free fix is still available. thanks for your video.
Thank you, such a easy solution. I followed your instruction and fixed the same issue in my 2013 Subaru Forester.
I did this today and it worked!!! Took me only about 10 minutes. Wow, for once something so simple to do actually worked. Thank you Yakfish Taco! You probably saved me $500.
I received a notice "Warranty Extension for CVT Parking Brake Switch for certain 2012-2018 MY Legacy, Outback, Impreza, Crosstrek, WRX, and Forester Vehicles" and it said in the notice: "There have been isolated customer concerns of not being able to remove the key from the ignition switch when the vehicle is in park. The cause is contamination of the Park-Range switch internal components...Only if you have a concern with the key getting stuck in the ignition when the vehicle is in park would you need to schedule an appointment with an authorized Subaru retailer." I called one local dealer who, even with the warranty notice, "possibly" wanted $165 to look at the issue. The dealer explained that the problem could be caused by a similar, non-warrantied cause, in which case the repair would likely cost $700-1,400. In other words, they still won't honor their own Warranty Extension free of charge. That is Subaru's customer service.
I emailed Subaru and got the same reply. I'll phone my local Subaru dealer today and see what they have to say about costs.
@@SamWoodward hi did you get your problem fixed?
As much as I want to love Subaru's, I can't. I've had so many issues with my 2016 Forester that I purchased new that I wouldn't buy another.
Thank you so much! The tip on how to get the wires unplugged was huge.....the stress just melted away 😄. It would be nice if Subaru did a recall on this. (Perhaps they have and I am unaware?) It seems it is a problem that applies to most, if not all, of their vehicles.
I'm so glad to see this video. I'm having the same issue with 2013 Impreza in the last few months, sporadically, but getting worse day by day. The instruction is clear and only took few minutes to do. Finger crossed the fix will work and hope it will not cause any problems.
Hope it works out for you!
Did it worked?? I have the same problem on my impreza
Same here. Hope it worked. I’ll need to do the same.
THANK YOU! I am not a car person at all and even I could manage this repair. Awesome stuff.
i had similar problem in my Mazda van. One down side of this work-around is that if you forget to put the transmission in 'park' it will still let you walk away with the key. Just need to be extra mindful of always put your car in 'park' and apply hand brake.
Thanks for this infomation. I had the same problem with my 2017 Subaru forestor and I followed your instruction and the problem solved!
I read the fix, called the dealership and they said bring it in. Took them 2 hours Now fixed and under warranty. Thanks for this site.
Thank you for this video! My 2016 Outback got to the point where it was undrivable due to this problem. The dealer quoted $800 after taxes. Nothing beats fixing it myself for FREE!
Great, glad it worked out for you
Thank you so much for this solution. My dealer wanted $450 to fix it!!!
You’re very welcome, glad it was helpful
Thank you! Your tutorial was easy to follow and fixed months of frustration
You’re very welcome 😊
Thank you sir! I was able to do this fix after watching your video. I liked my Subaru, but the stuck key thing was becoming increasingly inconvenient.
Thank you! This simple fix worked in a 2017 Outback after the dealer said they didn’t know what was causing the problem and to bring it back and leave it for a day to attempt to diagnose and fix it. And it took less than 5 minutes to do. Thank you again!
Just followed your instruction on my Subaru Forester 2014 and it fixed the issue! Thank you
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Just did this to my Subaru Impreza. Following your tutorial made it soooo easy to do. Been having trouble with the car key sticking in the ignition for a few months now. The door alarm doesn't work anymore but that's fine by me. I'm in Ontario, Canada.
Thanks for making this video! I just fixed my daughter's 2013 Impreza following your steps.
Thank you for this quick fix! My 2014 Forester just started having this exact problem! I though maybe my key was wearing out, so
I switched to my spare key. It still had the problem. After watching this video, it took me exactly 2 minutes to do this fix. I also
can care less about the key in ignition with the door open warning. I always carry the spare door only key in my wallet, just in case.
There is a service bulletin on this #16-112-18R for the park range switch. The shifter needs to be completely removed and new switch installed. disconnecting the plug is a quick fix but some safety features are eliminated.
What features are disabled?
you are the man!!! Have been dealing with this for months and was just about to bring it in to get fixed. THANK YOU for the great video!
Just fixed mine in 5 minutes after watching your video. Thanks!
This was very satisfying. Finally, a practical application of GTA 😂.
It’s soothing, practical, and not about the election. So thumbs up👍
LOL! Thanks for the GTA compliment :)
This just started to happen to our 2017 Forester a few weeks ago. Thanks for the video.
😂 “Why does it feel like I’m stealing my own car?!”
I was 20 minutes from leaving to take my son's 2013 Impreza to the dealer to spend, what I've found in the comments, nearly $1000 to fix. I searched all over in the past and found several other videos that addressed the issue, but not in this manner. Thiis is a hack vs. a fix, but it is a fantastic hack, and one I was able to do in 10 minutes with your video. Thank you!!! Are there any other residual effects, other than disabling the chime, due to this hack? And, I just discovered you're a Tacoma guy, so you just got a subscribe, too! 2021 TRD OR DCSB in Army Green here!
This happened to me today, oddly at 63K miles too. 2017 Forester. I have two weeks until my extended warranty expires so the dealer will get to fix this. They told me that there is a mechanical part that wears and needs to be replaced (they will do that next week). Nice to have a workaround. My guess is that the part is on or near the transmission, so it will take 3 hours to repair. So nice to have a work around. They also mentioned that when this happens, put the car in park "firmly" until repaired. Thanks for posting this.
Can you find out the part number?
@@DynamiteFluff According to the service invoice for my 2017 Subaru Forester Premium, they used 35122FJP33 PLATE GUIDE, 35164AJ000 CLAMP and 35164AJ010 CLAMP. The car was in the shop for about 3 hours, but I think it only took them an hour of actual labor. The work was all done from the inside of the vehicle from what I could tell. Apparently, there was a recall and the repair would have been covered anyway, so no cost for most of us I think.
This is excellent! Thank you so much for making this video and showing the work-around. My Subaru Forester has had this problem for months and it's driving me crazy! Now I know what to do! Thanks again!
Bro thank you so much for this video. This problem has been driving me insane for months.
My god. Guess I know what I’m doing tomorrow. I keep having this issue in my 2017 legacy. Thank you
i think u´r the greatest guy in the world. Thanks for the great solution
I really appreciate your video! Just followed your instructions and the key no longer sticks in the ignition. Great job sharing such helpful information!
Just be careful to actually put it in park when you stop. D is basically N when this vehicle is off. So watch out for hills and use your parking brake until you get this fixed!
Yep I'm just about to do our forester good video thank you I'm never getting the replacement part the hell with it I called the dealer and they want over $500 for it so forget that.
Thanks! My key stuck for the first time last night. This is great info.
Thank you for this! It’s been happening to my 2013 crosstrek for months on/off and it’s been so irritating to deal with!
Thanks so much for this video. Totally solved my problem. You made my day!
You are amazing!!!! I was able to this fix and I am not longer having a panic attack I won’t be able to get my key out when I go somewhere!!!! Plus.
Thanks for the video!! I have a 2017 Forester with this issue. It took me 5 minutes to fix it and everything seems to be working great.
Hi there , i have same problem in subaru 2015 impreza, i been to many mechanics and they are asking $1000-$1500 , so i tried to find a solution on youtube , i seen many videos , some people say change the battery , some says open the shift mechanism and fix there , i loose all hopes , but finally i watched this video and fix that annoying problem in less than 5 minutes, thank you so much , you saved my money. 🙏👌 (Date- 05-01-2022)
Hi. Same problem going on for well over a year. 2017 Forester also. I found a solution by restarting, moving a few feet, putting it back into park with a quick motion and key will release. Once released, I can do what you did: restart and shut it off. However, the problem returns. Dealer was of no help. Said couldn’t fix if they couldn’t reproduce problem. I told Subaru it is intermittent and won’t happen on demand. I don’t know if this solution is really the answer. The letter from Subaru said it was the CVT parking brake switch, wherever that is located. If it has locked up on you again since, please let us know either way. If it has stayed problem-free, it’s worth disconnecting.
Just got a letter saying that Subaru is extending the warranty on this part to 8 years... so they are aware of the issue and will fix it for free. I just experienced it within the last few months and it's happened about 6 times since. Glad I didn't do all this... I found that just flicking the shifter trigger a few times would usually do the trick.
Quick question 🙋♂️. What year and model it’s your car? Since my is 2017 with only 17.000 miles and already struggling so horrible with the key getting stuck.
Thank you! I was having this issue with my 2014 Impreza. The part that drove me crazy is that it would happen sporadically. It would happen for a week, then be ok for a month or so, then start all over again.
Thanks so much! A fix that is much appreciated. For such a stupid expensive repair.
I just fixed it. Exactly as you instructed. Thank you sir!
Great! You’re very welcome 😊
Just did this on the 2016 Outback and it it stopped the key from getting stuck. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much man. I have my whole shifter pulled out trying to figure out this thing
This is a great workaround, thank you. I am having the same problem with my 2016 Impreza and am tempted to try this. How can you know for certain that by disconnecting this plug, you are also not inadvertently disabling some critical safety feature, such as airbag deployment?
The Airbag electrical connectors are yellow. As long as they remain connected they should still deploy
check through the comments section, someone posted that this does change a safety feature... the removal of that wire also allows you to pull the key out while driving the car, if that happens the wheel will lock and you can imagine the consequences there.
Thank you! I followed your instructions and I think it worked! You’re the best
Thanks - saved a long ride and wait at the dealer.
Had this issue on my 2017 Legacy off and on for the past few months. Seems to have worked. Thanks for the video! 👍
Thanks for the information. I had the issue with a 2017 Outback. Screw location was identical. I was totally unable to remove the key but found I could shift the cover around enough to get my hand in and unplug the connector.
Omg THANK YOU - it’s been 9 months!
Works perfectly! Forester SJ - 2013
Perfect thank you iv been trying to figure out what I was going to do, stupid key wouldn't come out.. if it keeps happening maybe I'll try disconnecting the wire inside. I'll save this vid for later.
FYI what I did was turn the key forward, move the joystick all the way back and pushed it forward P fast and hard. That fixed it
Similar problems on mine recently- turned out to be a bent key! Thanks anyway- will keep this in mind for next time.
Worked for my 2016 outback, thank you for sharing this!
Subaru sent a letter to owners of selected vehicles stating that the warrantee was extended to 8 years for this shifter problem. I then found a service bulletin online which addressed this issue dated 3/15/18. It included parts needed, how to fix and shop time as well (2.3 hours). Got an appointment for warrantee repair on 4/5/2023. Mine has completely stopped working. The only way to drive the vehicle is to disconnect the battery which releases the key.
Great video this worked with zero issues. I hated this car, problem after problem so traded it in.
Does anyone know if I do this will it have any affect on my auto start 2017 Subaru Forester? This just started happening to me about a month ago. I am currently moving the gear shift up and down till the key comes out but I don't think that is great for the shifter and trans.
Thank you SO much! This problem with my 2016 Forester has been annoying me, and I've read that this can cost quite a lot at the dealership to repair. Really appreciate the simple solution!
So I emailed Subaru with the problem. I got an email back which stated the same as Andrew (below) stated. I then emailed back and asked them to confirmit would be a free fix and the reply I got was yes, it's free. I would contact Subaru and do the same thing. Then if the dealership try and charge, you can pull up your email from Subaru.
Wow! this just started happening with my 2017 Forester!! Now I can fix it!!
I stuck my key today. Thank you for your video