After Earthquake, Japanese Car Parts & Paint-Honda & Toyota are in Short Supply

Automakers say paint, parts in short supply

Amid the Japan crisis, US dealerships are getting warnings about parts that may be hard to find. And certain colors for new models are off-limits, too.

Toyota dealerships might have a tough time fixing cars as a result of the Japan earthquake.

The company has warned dealers about a shortage of some parts it sends worldwide for repairs, The Wall Street Journal reports. Toyota is already up and running with most replacement parts, but a small fraction -- about 233 -- are in short supply.


That's because those 233 parts are from Japanese suppliers who were hit hard in the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Those suppliers won't resume production for at least a month, the Journal reports, and it could be longer. Toyota now says those parts, which include shock absorbers, oil seals, radiator supports and fender parts, are on "controlled allocation."


You wouldn't expect paint to be a problem coming out of the Japan quake, but it is. Chrysler and Ford (F) are running into shortages with specific colors that use pigment from Japanese suppliers.

Chrysler says it may not produce as many cars in such colors as "brilliant black," hunter green, ivory, deep cherry red and blackberry, USA Today reports. Previously, Ford said dealers shouldn't order cars in "tuxedo black" or three different reds.


Toyota's parts shortage also extends to new vehicles. The company says 500 types of parts are in short supply, including rubber and resin products, the Journal reports. In the U.S., that means Toyota or Lexus owners may have to delay some repairs or wait longer than usual.


Honda (HMC) may have been hit the hardest. It has closed all of its plants since the quake and canceled dealer orders for May delivery of cars made in Japan, the Journal reports. Production is stopped until at least April 3.


Analysts say that the auto-parts shortage may cut global car production by as much as 30% this year. That's 20 million fewer vehicles.


Just when the auto industry was getting back to normal.

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