Subaru idles production in Japan after finding power steering defect

About 10,000 cars are potentially affected by the problem.

Subaru has idled its factory in Japan after uncovering a defect in a power steering part, according to a report published by a Japanese newspaper.

The Asahi Shimbun learned the defect could affect about 10,000 examples of the Impreza, the Forester (pictured), and the XV manufactured between December 2018 and January 16, 2019. Subaru blames the problem on an unspecified part manufactured by an outside supplier, but the firm hasn't released more specific details about precisely which component is affected, or what effect the problem has on its cars.

Production at Subaru's Gunma Manufacturing Division was idled on January 16. The plant builds a total of nine cars, but they're all built on the same assembly line so Subaru can't simply take the affected cars off the line. The closure has delayed customer deliveries, according to the Asahi Shimbun.

Subaru has found the root of the defect, and it has ordered replacement parts. It plans to resume production on January 28. There's no word on how this affects cars sent to the United States yet, but the Japanese firm has asked owners to stop driving their car immediately and contact the nearest dealer if they notice a steering-related problem.

Photo by Ronan Glon.