Locking trunk issue (no security)

[maestrosteve]

Bought in Nov 2019, 2020 Legacy, with a key remote.

 

There is NO WAY to lock the trunk so someone without a key can’t open it.

 

There is a push button switch on the dashboard that opens the trunk. That is the only way to open the trunk, there is no key option to open the trunk from the outside.

 

The trunk can be opened by that push button even when the car is OFF, which means that if someone breaks in, or if you give the car to valet parkers, or you park your car in NYC parking garages like I do, your stuff in the trunk is subject to being seen, possibly stolen. Hey, even the spare tire or jack can be stolen, and you won’t know about it until you need it.

 

As long as anyone can get in the car, they can open the trunk.

 

I sold a Prius (hatchback) to get this car because I wanted and needed a trunk, never figuring that I couldn’t lock people out of it. Maybe it doesn’t matter to a lot of people, but as a working musician in the NYC area, sometimes I need different pieces of equipment for 2 jobs in the same day, and the stuff is not secure if I have to give the car to a NYC parking garage.

 

There is no hidden way to lock the trunk with a key.

 

It’s my only regret buying this car. I’ve owned 4 Legacys since 1998, and it never dawned on me that a locking trunk could be an issue. I think everybody assumes that they can lock people out of their trunk. Even my Subaru dealer didn’t believe it when I brought it to their attention.

 

I need to find a solution. I’ve narrowed it down to either finding out what fuse controls that switch and remove it when necessary (not ideal, because without the fuse in there I can’t open the trunk when I need to do it), or finding some auto place that can wire me a switch that turns off the power to that circuit.

 

Wish I didn’t have to deal with this.

 

Anybody else having a problem with this?

[caddygti16v]

I assume when you let a valet park your car they are already in possession of your key fob and could just press that button instead? Never used a valet.

 

If the above is not the case there is one more way, by popping the switch out and unplugging it (if it has its own separate plug).

 

But on top of all that people can just lay the seats down from the cabin and get in the trunk anyways.

 

I guess in modern cars you theoretically can't lock anyone in the trunk anymore vs older cars.

 

My 2000 VW Jetta has the ability to insert the key into the rear seatbacks and lock them in place so they can't be folded down to gain access to the trunk.

 

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[maestrosteve]

I assume when you let a valet park your car they are already in possession of your key fob and could just press that button instead? Never used a valet.

 

I have a valet key with no buttons.

[maestrosteve]

A locking trunk is important to me. After owning a bunch of Legacy cars where I didn't have this issue, buying this one was a mistake. If I knew about it in advance, I never would have bought it. I love Subarus, but there are other cars you can be happy with.

[dannygeorge17]

My trunk locks just fine in my 2020 Sport. The key is proximity, if you don’t have a key near the car the trunk won’t open as long as the cars locked

 

 

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[maestrosteve]

My trunk locks just fine in my 2020 Sport. The key is proximity, if you don’t have a key near the car the trunk won’t open as long as the cars locked

 

 

I don't know if that is the case for me, I don't have the Sport, but it wouldn't work that way for me. If I give my car to a valet to park it, the doors are not locked. I never owned a car with a trunk that couldn't be locked, either with a key lock inside the glove compartment, or a key lock near the button that opens the trunk. I also have keys, not a FOB, and the car doesn't sense a key.

 

Obviously, I see that this is more important to me than a lot of other people. My previous Accords and Camrys always had locking trunks where you couldn't get in with a valet key. The back seats locked so they couldn't be moved. My Accord didn't have an outside trunk lock, only an electronic lock like my Subaru, except that you could lock the trunk from opening with a key lock inside the car. The other problem with that Accord, like my Subaru, is if the electronic trunk release failed for whatever reason (low or dead battery, etc..), then you can't open the trunk at all. At least with the Camry I had an outside key lock on the trunk, like on the doors. I guess that's why people buy different cars. Different needs. I love everything else about this car, but I'll eventually get rid of it because of the trunk issue, unless I can figure out a way to put in a hidden switch that turns off the trunk button on the dashboard.