The major shareholder and owner of 20% of the business is Toyota. As part of this agreement, Subaru has access to steel and other raw materials produced by the Toyota supplier network.
Subaru produces fewer vehicles than other of the major players because it only has two manufacturing facilities, compared to Toyota’s several facilities around the globe. Both the original plant and the second plant are in Lafayette, Indiana. The first facility is in Gunma, Japan.
In 2017, Subaru underwent a $400 million expansion of the factory after announcing plans to do so. When the Indiana factory manufactured its four millionth vehicle in 2019, it marked a significant accomplishment.
The headquarters of Subaru North American production is Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (SIA), a division of Subaru Corporation. In addition to the $400 million expansion indicated above, SIA invested $140.2 million in new machinery and equipment and made upgrades to boost its production capacity by roughly 100,000 units yearly to meet the rising demand for Subaru automobiles in North America.
In This Article...
Subaru uses Toyota motors, right?
Toyota’s continued increase in interest in Subaru is for a good reason. The more ownership Toyota has over the business, the more control it has on the cars Subaru makes. The two businesses can more easily pool resources because of their similar interest.
The two businesses, according to Auto News, have significant future aspirations. These ambitions include creating a new generation of the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ, increasing all-wheel drive technology, and integrating Toyota’s hybrid drivetrain system into more Subaru vehicles.
Even though Toyota does not actually own Subaru, it is increasingly involved in shaping its destiny. It will be fascinating to observe if Toyota keeps increasing its ownership of the business.
Subaru do you utilize Toyota parts?
Subaru is having a wonderful decade so far; its sales in the United States have doubled, and they are having difficulties meeting demand. While that’s fantastic news for Subaru, a thorough investigation by Reuters reveals that in order to keep the Foresters coming off the assembly line, Subaru and its suppliers have used some dubious but legal labor methods.
You should read the complete report from Reuters, which includes video interviews with employees and a graphic showing which companies supply certain pieces of a Forester.
- Since 2011, Subaru’s sales in the US have doubled; the Forester SUV crossover is particularly well-liked here. Its advertising showcases adoring families, adorable dogs, and incredibly durable cars, all with the slightly perplexing phrase, “Love. It distinguishes a Subaru as a Subaru.
- North of Tokyo in the Japanese city of Ota, there is a Subaru production facility. While some automobiles marketed in the United States are put together in an Indiana factory, Ota, Japan, is where Subaru and its suppliers source their parts.
- Workers from the poor world, some of whom are in Japan seeking asylum, are employed by Subaru and its suppliers. Reuters spoke with employees who were from 22 different Asian and African nations.
- A third or more of their wages may be paid to labor brokers, who are also utilized by Subaru’s suppliers in the garment and textile industries.
- Some employees join Subaru through traineeship programs, which ostensibly aim to teach trainees skills they can use when they return to their native nation. Once in Japan, trainees are unable to change employers, and according to the United Nations and the U.S. State Department, trainee conditions might resemble forced labor.
- According to the pay stubs that Reuters examined, Chinese trainees made around half as much money as a Japanese temporary worker would have for the same position.
- Because Japan is unique in that it needs workers but also has immigration restrictions, Subaru reportedly extensively relies on temporary employees and trainees. According to Reuters, foreign workers make almost 30% of the workforce at the Ota plants.
- The same factories that produce parts for Subaru also produce parts for Honda, Toyota, and Nissan, three other Japanese manufacturers.
- About 80% of Subaru’s vehicles are produced in Japan, and the company saw a rise in sales around the time when the law allowing for renewed six-month work licenses for asylum seekers was changed.
- Subaru claims that its suppliers must follow the law when it comes to the employment and treatment of their employees and that the business is ill-equipped to monitor all of its suppliers’ labor policies.
Why is Subaru not well-known?
So what has changed that might have rendered Subarus less dependable than they were in the early 2010s, when their popularity was at its peak. This might be the case for a few different reasons.
One is that, in comparison to some of its rivals, Subaru doesn’t provide as many models. This implies that if the reliability of one or two models declines, the brand as a whole may suffer. For instance, the entire Subaru lineup and their position in the reliability tables will be impacted if the dependability ratings for the Outback and Legacy decline.
Subaru is impacted differently than brands with a far wider variety of vehicles, like BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The reliability of the Mercedes-Benz or BMW brand as a whole won’t be significantly affected if one or two of the brand’s models become less dependable.
This has undoubtedly been the case with Subaru. The Legacy and the Outback have experienced issues, including sounds, leaks, and issues with the in-car technology.
They might also be viewed as less dependable in the UK because they are expensive to fix when they do go wrong.
ReliabilityIndex’s most recent statistics (2018) state that the average cost of repairs for all Subaru models is $562.37.
We cannot disregard Subaru’s high repair expenses because many customers would want to take this into consideration. The lack of Subarus in the UK is one of the factors contributing to the high cost of repairs. Because of this, their parts are more expensive and less widely available. Particularly if they need to be ordered from another country, this is true. This raises the cost of repairs, which in turn lowers reliability. Because of this, they might be viewed as less reliable and more expensive to fix in the UK. Simply put, it’s because they are less typical. Additionally, the cost of labor has significantly climbed in recent years. As a result, brands like Subaru have a lower reliability rating.
The issues that the Outback and Legacy have experienced with in-car technology are one of the main reasons Subaru reliability has declined. Since the early 2000s, dependability has generally declined in a number of makes and models for this reason.
Today’s autos feature a ton of innovative and sophisticated technology. While this seems fantastic on paper and is also extremely cool when you initially obtain the car, you may encounter issues with it in the future. There are a lot of moving parts, and they may have an impact on your car’s overall dependability. The cost of maintaining or upgrading the technology may further reduce its reliability.
Nevertheless, Subaru is not the most unreliable brand out there by any means, and they continue to build reliable vehicles that many motorists have no problems at all with.
Are Subaru vehicles as durable as Toyotas?
One of the most crucial qualities to look for in a car is reliability. The most important thing is that the automobile starts and drives every time you get in it, regardless of how powerful the engine may be or how comfortable the cabin may be. When researching a new vehicle, buyers are almost certainly going to think about reliability, therefore it’s critical to understand how each manufacturer compares.
Two of the most well-known automakers in the US are Subaru and Toyota. Toyota is one of the most popular automotive companies worldwide, but Subaru only makes up 1.6% of the global auto market. It can be beneficial to know how these two automakers compare in terms of reliability before choosing your next vehicle.
How Do Subarus and Toyotas Compare for Reliability?
Subarus are less dependable than Toyotas overall. They consistently receive superior ratings from Consumer Reports and J.D., and they have more distinctions and accolades across all models. Power. Toyota provides a model that has received great ratings and will meet your demands, whether you’re searching for an all-wheel-drive sedan or a truck with off-roading skills.
The MSRP of several Toyota automobiles is lower than Subaru’s. Additionally, all trim levels of the majority of their vehicles come standard with amenities like adaptive cruise control, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay. They also have Toyota’s Safety Sense, which is a collection of security features like pre-collision and lane-keeping assistance. They become a better overall value and are much more reliable on the road in terms of both their mechanical and feature set.
J.D. Power Awards
Overall, Subaru’s reliability rating in J.D. Power’s 2021 research wasn’t particularly high. However, the compact SUV category’s top three most trustworthy models included the Subaru Forester. As a result, the Forester is regarded as one of Subaru’s most trustworthy cars among all of its other offerings.
Consumer Reports Score
Subaru, on the other hand, receives an extraordinary rating from Consumer Reports. The Subaru Outback and Forester took first place in each of their respective categories in 2021. Subaru came in third overall among the 32 brands that Consumer Reports examined.
Most Reliable Subaru Models
The Forester (shown above) consistently receives the greatest ratings out of all the vehicles that Subaru provides. In fact, 10 years after being bought new, 97 percent of Foresters are still reportedly on the road. This can reassure customers that they will be able to utilize their new Forester for many years after they buy it.
But the Subaru Crosstrek (seen in white above) is swiftly catching up. Consumer Reports gave the 2021 Crosstrek a predicted dependability rating of four out of five. As for the powertrain, this car is among the most dependable options available. The only areas where it had issues were with the interior equipment, such as the touchscreen and infotainment system.
As long as the correct maintenance and care are given, many owners have reported many years of trouble-free driving with their Subaru Crosstrek.
Least Reliable Subaru Models
Even while Subaru produces some highly trustworthy vehicles, certain of their models fall short of the competition.
For instance, the most recent expected dependability rating for the 2021 Subaru WRX gave it a two out of five rating. This is most likely because to problems with the EJ25 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, which will be replaced with the same engine found in the Outback and Legacy after the 2022 model year.
Only their larger SUV model, the AWD Ascent, received a lower rating from Subaru. Compared to other models, this one has more legroom and a higher ground clearance, but those features don’t make up for its general lack of dependability. Warped brake rotors, which can result in screaming and potential brake problems, as well as a defective transmission harness are to blame for this reliability issue.
Toyota was successful in 2021 in obtaining J.D. Power dependability awards across three major categories. Large Light Duty Pickup went to the Tundra 4WD, Large Car went to the Toyota Avalon, and Minivan went to the Sienna. These impressive rankings line up with other honors the brand has received over the years.
Out of all the vehicles tested for the Consumer Reports study in 2021, the Toyota Prius received the highest reliability rating. You may be sure that this hybrid will be both dependable and safe thanks to its 54 mpg highway/50 mpg surface fuel economy and standard features like lane departure and blind spot warnings. Toyota placed second overall in their yearly rankings with a score of 78 out of 100.
Most Reliable Toyota Models
The Prius is by far Toyota’s most dependable car. This is because before the car was put on the market, each component had to pass stringent testing. Toyota engineers understood that in order to revolutionize transportation, they needed to make the traditional components of the car as robust as they could.
For this reason, the car’s internal combustion engine was the tested Echo engine. You can be certain that the connecting rods will hold up to years of service because the crankshaft and all of them are factory-forged.
Other vehicles made by Toyota are renowned for their dependability. One of the very few vehicles that Consumer Reports has designated as a vehicle that they recommend is the Toyota Corolla. With the exception of the first two years it was in production, it has received this honor every year. This is largely a result of the model’s durability and ongoing advancements over the course of twelve generations. Corollas are known for their endurance because of their straightforward design, which prioritizes functionality above performance.
Least Reliable Models
Despite being one of Toyota’s best-selling vehicles, the RAV4 has been rated as the least reliable Toyota. Even though the RAV4 is renowned for its superior capacity for towing and superb interior headroom, the automatic transmission has frequently experienced shifting latency issues. Additionally, a lot of customers have complained that the RAV4 tends to pull to the side even when the steering wheel is kept straight.
Over the years, the Toyota Camry has also experienced its fair share of dependability problems. The most serious complaints from owners include unintentional acceleration and hesitation when changing speeds. A problem that has dogged it for many generations is its reputation for consuming too much oil. This is still a problem and has been ascribed to bad piston rings.
What Makes a Vehicle Reliable?
It’s one thing to claim that a car is trustworthy, but it’s crucial to understand what that really means. Since reliability can mean different things to different individuals, measuring it can be challenging. A car can, however, fall into a few categories that, depending on how it operates, can increase or decrease its reliability.
A dependable car will typically possess characteristics that give the driver faith in how it will perform. It will also be a car that you feel at ease driving on a lengthy journey. Although reliability can be quantified much more precisely, these characteristics are still significant.
Longevity
Longevity is one of the most crucial elements of reliability. It’s simple to classify a car as reliable if it lasts for a long period and has a high mileage capacity. It is probably safe to claim that your car has been dependable if it has survived for many years and has been able to travel more than 200,000 miles. Both Subarus and Toyotas have a reputation for being durable and reliable for a long period.
Dependability
Another crucial element that might occasionally be used as a synonym for reliability is dependability. Reliable vehicles include those that start right up every time you get in them, have few mechanical problems aside from routine maintenance, and perform well overall. Your vehicle may become less dependable if you are continually concerned about breakdowns or the need for maintenance. This holds true for items like security systems and any available driving assistance technology. Both Toyotas and Subarus have a track record of durability and consumer confidence.
Ease of Maintenance
Preventive maintenance is one of the best things you can do to keep your car reliable. Any automobile will operate smoother for longer and become more dependable over time if you keep up with your maintenance. You will be far more likely to keep up with the needs of the car if the maintenance is simple to perform.
Toyotas and Subarus are well renowned for being simple to maintain. The Subaru Forester has an approachable and straightforward design, and the Toyota Camry is one of the simpler American vehicles to work on. This qualifies both of them as dependable options for being capable of performing simple maintenance, even by novices.
Quality of Components
A car’s quality can be reduced to the caliber of its components. A automobile with high-quality parts will be far more dependable than one with low-cost parts because they are known for their durability and strength. The individual components of a vehicle’s powertrain will have a greater impact on how long an engine lasts and how well it performs in terms of fuel efficiency and horsepower than the overall design of the vehicle.
Who Measures Reliability?
While people ultimately decide how dependable a car is, there are groups that assess automobiles and conduct in-depth analyses on them to see how they compare. These groups work to inform buyers on the attributes of various automobiles, like their cargo capacity, fuel efficiency, and the type of warranty they will include.
The two most well-known companies that carry out this are J.D. Power and Consumer Reports. These two businesses provide measurements of a vehicle’s dependability. You can choose if a Subaru or Toyota will be better for you by knowing how they operate.
J.D. Power
J.D. Power honors automobiles based on their dependability and quality. To learn how new car owners feel about the first quality and their overall reaction, surveys are conducted among them. In order to collect feedback on the dependability of the cars, they also conduct polls of people who have owned them for three years. They will select the winning automobiles for each category using this information.
Consumer Reports
For their Reliability History Chart, Consumer Reports gathered information on several car types for 20 years, including crossovers, small SUVs, and sedans. For instance, if they are evaluating the dependability of a brand-new Subaru, they will use a Predicted Reliability rating based on the most recent data for that model. This enables them to assign a unique reliability rating to each brand and model.
How to Make a Vehicle More Reliable
You may still take steps to ensure your car operates as well as it can for as long as feasible even if it hasn’t garnered many accolades or dependability ratings. The dependability of a car will be greatly influenced by how you use and maintain it. The reliability of a car can be greatly improved by knowing how to maintain it.
Maintenance
The key factor affecting how long your car will endure is regular maintenance. Maintaining your vehicle will keep it in great shape for a much longer. If you don’t keep up with your car’s maintenance, even a reliable vehicle won’t remain such for very long.
The recommended maintenance schedule can be found in the owner’s manual of your car. You can discover information there about how frequently you should perform tasks like changing the fluids and spark plugs as well as how frequently you should replace the windshield wipers and light bulbs. Observing this plan will extend the lifespan of your vehicle, regardless of whether it is a Toyota, Subaru, Ford, Kia, or any other vehicle in the rankings.
Driving Habits
Your unique driving style has a significant impact on the general condition of your vehicle. The proper operation of your car will prevent excessively stressing the components and straining the engine, both of which can harm the vehicle. There are some general driving practices you should abstain from, and you can consult your owner’s manual for any specific ones.
Always move carefully from drive to reverse and the other way around. Before shifting gears, the car should be totally stopped. Additionally, you should steer clear of abrupt starts and stops because they might harm your brakes and engine. Driving slowly and deliberately will prevent your car from experiencing any unneeded pressure or shocks.
Prompt Repairs
Always take your car in as soon as you discover anything wrong with it so that it can be fixed. Avoiding repairs and driving with a problem present wears down a car more than anything else. Although avoiding the repair shop could be alluring, doing so will simply cause the issue to worsen over time and significantly reduce your car’s reliability.