2018 Subaru Outback Tailgate Problem

[Hawkowl]

We had a dead battery, and I found that you can't open the tailgate with a dead battery. So, I could not get to any of the tools, jump cables, or other emergency gear. Sure, you can drop the back seats to reach items not located under the floor mat. To get to the items under the mat or to fix a flat I would need to remove most of the other items and on a road trip that would not be easy. The manual (Page 9-21) only has one example that requires removing a panel on the inside of the tailgate and release a lock. One answer is to move my safety gear out from under the mat. Having a dead battery is not a very common problem, but giving Subaru's focus on travel and recreational use, I think a better solution should be possible.