Does assembly location impact reliability ?

[HowAboutThat]

I read, yesterday, in a comment on a a YouTube video, that the Crosstrek and Forester are made in Japan, and the legacy and outback are made in the United States, and the Japanese vehicles are more reliable.
Is there any evidence that backs that up one way or the other?
I have a cross trek, and I baby it, and I don’t live in a snowy area so I don’t think reliability is going to be a problem, but I want to be on top of things.

 

[bmart]

I swear that people are afraid of doing their own searches. lol

Where Are Subarus Made? - Ogilvie Subaru

Ever wondered where Subarus are made? It may suprise you. Join us as we take a deep dive into Subaru manufacturing from its beginning.

www.ogilviesubaru.com

 

[pete]

I read, yesterday, in a comment on a a YouTube video, that the Crosstrek and Forester are made in Japan, and the legacy and outback are made in the United States, and the Japanese vehicles are more reliable.
Is there any evidence that backs that up one way or the other?
I have a cross trek, and I baby it, and I don’t live in a snowy area so I don’t think reliability is going to be a problem, but I want to be on top of things.

While Subarus Japanese-built models like the Crosstrek and Forester are often perceived as more reliable, there’s s no strong data proving a significant difference between them and U.S.-built models like the Outback and Legacy.

 

[HowAboutThat]

While Subarus Japanese-built models like the Crosstrek and Forester are often perceived as more reliable, there’s s no strong data proving a significant difference between them and U.S.-built models like the Outback and Legacy.

Thank you very much. At the end of the day I suppose it doesn’t matter, because I bought the car I bought and I’m very happy with it… Maybe I won’t be in 10 years, but it’ll take 10 years to find out.

 

[manicmechanic007]

Two things
1)- I think the Japanese people have a better work ethic
That will show through in the vehicles they make
2)- Japan is over the BIG ocean and the cars start to rust away on the way here
It was 83 or 84 when Honda started using rubberized undercoating for a reason
You either get a sandwich left inside your door over here, or get some rust from over there
Sixes

 

[rrs517]

I read, yesterday, in a comment on a a YouTube video, that the Crosstrek and Forester are made in Japan, and the legacy and outback are made in the United States, and the Japanese vehicles are more reliable.
Is there any evidence that backs that up one way or the other?
I have a cross trek, and I baby it, and I don’t live in a snowy area so I don’t think reliability is going to be a problem, but I want to be on top of things.

No difference in reliability between Subarus built in Japan vs. Indiana? You must be joking! My 2020 Forester has been the best car and most fun to drive of any car I've owned in 65 years of driving.

For years the Japanese-built Forester has been rated as the most reliable Subaru model by Consumer Reports.

Not only that but, the Subaru Forester has consistently had higher reliability and user satisfaction than most any car brand.
10 days ago Consumer Reports came out giving the Japanese-built Forester a 98% rating - the highest rating of any car on CR - EVER. I just hope the 2026 Forester Hybrid scheduled to replace Legacy production in Indiana will hold up the Forester brand reliability record.

 

[bmart]

Do you have some data beyond your one data point...your own car?? My 2000 is the most reliable car I've every owned...built in Indiana.

 

[HowAboutThat]

Here’s a quasi-update: YouTuber MrSubaru1387 said in a recent video that-I think, I don’t recall which of his videos it is-the Crosstrek Sport and premium are made in Indiana and the Limited and Wilderness are made in Japan.

 

[joindy]

Outback motor and transmission made in Japan, car assembled in US.

 

[Dick Foster]

I had a Toyota Tacoma that was assembled in Fremont CA and that thing was a most excellent almost bullet proof vehicle, eventhough I'd modified it extensively.
I took good care of it but it saw very hard use being rock crawled and off roaded many many miles.
They later moved assembly to Tijuana and reliability went straight to hell in a hand basket.

 

[HowAboutThat]

I had a Toyota Tacoma that was assembled in Fremont CA and that thing was a most excellent almost bullet proof vehicle, eventhough I'd modified it extensively.
I took good care of it but it saw very hard use being rock crawled and off roaded many many miles.
They later moved assembly to Tijuana and reliability went straight to hell in a hand basket.

I looked up the VIN number to my own car and found out it was indeed made in Indiana.
I should’ve thought about that long before I went to the trouble of posting the question.

 

[manicmechanic007]

I wouldn't fret over a Subaru made in the USA
It's only the Fords that are made, and left, with sandwiches in the door panels IMO
Sometimes they leave a note with a dangling nut in a door hanging by some thread
Mopar was good for the notes and the mischievous stuff
They did it to screw us mechanics

 

[HowAboutThat]

I wouldn't fret over a Subaru made in the USA
It's only the Fords that are made, and left, with sandwiches in the door panels IMO
Sometimes they leave a note with a dangling nut in a door hanging by some thread
Mopar was good for the notes and the mischievous stuff
They did it to screw us mechanics

Love the mustang. ‘71?

 

[manicmechanic007]

it's a 69

 

[Dick Foster]

The last Detroit iron I ever bought was a 76 Pontiac. It was bad enough to make me swear off American makes for life. That happened after a phone call to their VP. He seemed to think they were owed something and desered my business simply because I was American. I had a 96 Toyota truck, it was assembled in Fremont, CA and it's still on the road today. Every other car I've bought has been made in Japan. All good products.
I once worked for Cessna Aircraft all made in Wichita Kansas. They left all sorts of tools and lunch items in airplanes. I saw one plane were they didn't paint the entire bottom of the plane.
Funny thing, the guy that created the quality concepts that Japanese automakers subcribed to was an American named Edward's W. Deming. Detroit ignored him at there peril while Japan fully embraced his ideas.
Japan once made a lot of crap like much of Chinese made junk today. Made in Japan was once a big joke.
Today the entire auto industry subscribes to Demings models through QS9000 etc. They are all truly quality driven from start to finish.
After WWII Japan made lots of junk but in high volume, then they cranked down on the quality screws and took over. I see China following the same model.

 

[bmart]

Deming was really something. My old business partner worked with him.

 

[Dick Foster]

Deming was really something. My old business partner worked with him.

Simple ideas really, but also very practical. It doesn't make much sense to produce garbage, no matter how much of it you can make or how fast you can make it

 

[bmart]

"A low quality product at a low price isn't a deal."

 

[Easily Distracted]

I have a 2019 Outback Limited that is garbage: three batteries in 18 months; misaligned driver door that scraped the paint to bare metal; worn through leather on driver seat back and bottom; three driver door weather strips replaced; infotainment system completely failed at 2 years. At 27,000+ miles prior to the warranty expiring, I documented everything once again (an ongoing process since the first week I had the car) and took it in to my local dealer and as usual, they couldn't reproduce anything or the items were classified "customer abuse". I called Subaru of America and they wanted to call the dealer. They called me back and said they agreed with the dealer and offered me ~$3000 to use for anything. The leather for one seat is much more than that. I replaced the head unit with an Alpine ILX-F511 for $1843.45. I recently received a letter extending the warranty on the head units. My 2019 Outback has 39,000+ miles on it now.

I bought my wife a 2021 Forester Touring following an almost fatal crash she was involved in. That is the best Subaru I've ever been in.

I believe Japanese built Subarus are far superior to American built Subarus.

Unfortunately for Subaru, my experience with two dealers and Subaru of America has made me warn everybody that will listen how Subaru does NOT back their cars or customers and I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER SUBARU AGAIN, EVER!

 

[Dick Foster]

I'm glad you said that. After totaling my 2004 forester. They total, rather than repair everything anymore, I did drive it to the body shop afterall. I bought a new to me low mileage, 2021 Forester Touring.

Previously owned by the proverbial little old lady who had someone else drive her to church on Sundays and the occasional doctors visit in it. So far I've been happy with it. It was really low mileage with less than 20K on the clock too, 18K as I recall. It smelled and looked brand spanking new, there was not a scratch on it.