Subaru Recalls 100,000 Cars After It Was Caught Cheating In Parking Brake Test

Subaru will recall an additional 100,000 vehicles across Japan after discovering more instances of improper vehicle testing, the automaker revealed.

According to Subaru, the recall will be filed with Japanese regulators on Thursday and cost the company about 6.5 billion yen ($57.4 million). The addition of 100,000 extra vehicles to the recall means Subaru has now recalled roughly 530,000 vehicles in Japan alone for improper testing and inspection procedures, including the popular Impreza sedan.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the recall stems from certain Subaru testers stepping on the brake pedal while they were testing the parking brake. No vehicles sold overseas are thought to be affected by the improper testing.

This latest recall isn’t the only issue Subaru is dealing with.

Last week, a global recall of more than 400,000 Subaru and Subaru-made Toyota models was announced. This recall related to a flaw in the engine valve springs of many of the car manufacturers models, including the Forester and Impreza.

These recalls have come at a bad time for Subaru. Not only is the company preparing for potential increases to U.S. tariffs on Japanese auto imports but its operating profit for the first half of the Japanese financial year fell by 74 per cent to 55 billion yen ($485 million) from 212 billion yen ($1.8 billion) the year prior.

As sales of the company’s models have slowed, it has increased financial incentives to about $2200 per vehicle from roughly $1800 and cut interest rates on loans. Subaru’s ever-growing costs of recalls are reported to be the biggest contributor to its lower earnings figures.