If you've got a Subaru on back-order, be prepared to wait a little longer. Because one of the Japanese brand's major global production facilities has been frozen after a suspected fault in a power-steering part was discovered.
The temporary shutdown, which could last as long as two weeks, is expected to cost the company more than $100m, with the factory in question responsible for producing around 60 per cent of the brand's total global output.
Japanese newspaper Asahi reports that, while the suspect part is used in the brand's Forester, Impreza and XV models, the problem has frozen the entire Gunma production facility since January 16. The plant is expected to remain closed until at least January 28.
According to Japanese reports, more than 10,000 vehicles have been impacted by the possible defect, all built between late December 2018 and January 16, and Subaru in Japan has told owners to immediately stop driving their cars if a problem with the steering emerges.
"The steering control warning light in the instrument panel lights up, the power steering function stops, and the steering wheel operation becomes heavy (state requiring more force than usual)," a statement reads. "Should such a situation occur, stop driving immediately, please contact your local Subaru dealer."
Would a production halt like this stop you from considering a Subaru? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.
Andrew Chesterton
Contributing Journalist
Andrew Chesterton should probably hate cars. From his hail-damaged Camira that looked like it had spent a hard life parked at the end of Tiger Woods' personal driving range, to the Nissan Pulsar Reebok that shook like it was possessed by a particularly mean-spirited demon every time he dared push past 40km/h, his personal car history isn't exactly littered with gold.
But that seemingly endless procession of rust-savaged hate machines taught him something even more important; that cars are more than a collection of nuts, bolts and petrol. They're your ticket to freedom, a way to unlock incredible experiences, rolling invitations to incredible adventures. They have soul.
And so, somehow, the car bug still bit. And it bit hard.
When "Chesto" started his journalism career with News Ltd's Sunday and Daily Telegraph newspapers, he covered just about everything, from business to real estate, courts to crime, before settling into state political reporting at NSW Parliament House.
But the automotive world's siren song soon sounded again, and he begged anyone who would listen for the opportunity to write about cars. Eventually they listened, and his career since has seen him filing car news, reviews and features for TopGear, Wheels, Motor and, of course, CarsGuide, as well as many, many others.
More than a decade later, and the car bug is yet to relinquish its toothy grip. And if you ask Chesto, he thinks it never will.
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