New Subaru Forester Is Now The 4th Model With Orders Shut Off

The microchip shortages and supply chain issues have hit Subaru of America hard in 2022. A source close to Subaru told us that the refreshed 2022 Subaru Forester orders were shut off this week. The top-selling Forester compact SUV joins the 2022 BRZ sports coupe, 2022 Impreza compact sedan, Impreza hatchback, and 2023 Solterra with closed orders.

While the BRZ, Impreza, and Solterra are officially sold out for the entire year, it’s unclear how long Subaru of America will shut off orders of the newly-refreshed 2022 Forester. Our source told us Subaru of America shut down all new Forester orders on Monday, March 7, without indicating when they will reopen.

photo credit: Competition Subaru

High-tech safety features use additional microchips

The new 2022 Subaru Forester uses the next-generation EyeSight safety technology that uses additional microchips that are now in extremely short supply. This could be why Subaru had to shut off new orders for the compact SUV.

Some automakers have chosen to eliminate or delay some new features on their vehicles during the microchip shortages. Subaru Corporation has already stopped production of the Forester for eight days in 2022 because of supply chain issues. Subaru has not announced any additional plant closures in Japan, where the Forester is manufactured.

Automotive News (by subscription) says Subaru is especially susceptible to the shortage of semiconductors “because of its small size and extensive use of commonized components, executives say.” CFO Katsuyuki Mizuma told Automotive News it was still unclear when supply chains and production levels would return to normal.

What does it mean for U.S. customers?

Customers in the U.S. will see fewer new 2022 Subaru Forester compact SUVs available in showrooms this spring and summer. The production shutdowns and bottleneck “are causing backorders to balloon as Subaru fails to deliver the product,” Automotive News said in its recent report.

With limited 2022 Forester production, customers looking to buy the compact SUV have few options. You can buy a lightly used one-to-two-year-old Forester, but the price could be more than a new model. You can check your Subaru retailer for canceled customer orders of a new model already in transit.

The refreshed 2022 Subaru Forester is now another model with orders shut off. It’s not likely the tight Forester inventory will improve anytime soon. Torque News will bring you the latest Forester inventory information.

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Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Photo credit: Subaru USA