SOLVED: I first noticed the post from
epiphone3 mentioned replacement of LED driver around the time the Comfort Access started acting up. Coincidentally, I replaced the LED driver in my hatch with a cheap eBay one the day before I noticed the car not recognizing the key fob. Changing key foB battery made no difference. Decided has nothing to lose by trying a different LED driver and started looking and Amazon and WOW... several reviews for different LED drivers mention comfort access stopped working as soon as the LED driver was replace (and one mentioned aluminum shielding on the original driver that isn't present on the knock-offs). I immediately removed the eBay LED driver and comfort access returned to working normal. Plan to try a different brand..
Amazon reviews mentioning comfort access problems after LED driver swap:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0827LZ42T...ing=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07HWJMMQ4...ing=UTF8&psc=1