The researcher tested and confirmed the vulnerability on a 2009 Subaru Forester, and claimed it will work on 2005 to 2010 cars of that model.

It’s also possible for the hacker to render the original key fobs inoperative, leaving the hacker in sole control of remote access to the vehicle.

Tom Wimmenhove, a Dutch electronics designer, has discovered a flaw in the key fob system used by several Subaru models, a vulnerability the vendor has not patched and could be abused to hijack cars.

A computer engineer found the Subaru key fob's rolling code – the internal system used to securely lock and unlock car doors – was "predictable".

In this primer on how to replace a car key fob, Consumer Reports says getting another high-tech key fob can be a pricey proposition.