Automakers could face a shortage of parts next year if North American vehicle production is greater than 16 million units, Automotive News reported.

A recent survey from IRN Inc., a Grand Rapids, Mich., consulting firm, found that 26 percent of respondents had "difficulty meeting production expectations" this year.

The study, which projected that part shortages would be one of the top issues next year, gathered data from 100 suppliers during August and September. Industrywide, the survey suggests production bottlenecks could worsen in 2014 if annual North American vehicle production tops 16 million units, according to Automotive News.

The survey found that 28 percent of respondents said they lacked enough capacity to meet demand at that level of production.

Chrysler Group may be especially likely to struggle. Of the suppliers polled, 42 percent of the respondents that supply Chrysler said they had trouble meeting production quotas. But the automaker shouldn't panic just yet, as only 15 percent of the companies surveyed were Chrysler vendors, a small sample size.

Spot shortages could affect all automakers next year, according to the IRN study.

"Capacity may finally be at the breaking point," the survey concluded. "If current projections ... are correct, expect this to be one of the top issues for the industry in 2014."

Electronic components could spell trouble for automakers across the board. According to the survey, 38 percent of respondents who produce electronics said they lacked enough capacity if North American production exceeds expectations. 

Suppliers of chassis and suspension components were the second most vulnerable group with 30 percent of respondents saying they would not have enough capacity.

"This suggests that the industry is maxed out," IRN Vice President Melissa Anderson said. "Among most suppliers, there is a fair amount of scrambling going on. It's not always pretty."

As they look ahead to possible shortages, automakers are working to strengthen relations with their suppliers.

According to the survey, nearly 65 percent of Chrysler suppliers said they had been offered long-term contracts for new business. Industrywide, 55 percent of suppliers said they had been offered long-term contracts.

The shift signals that automakers are building more stable relationships with suppliers by forgoing bidding wars to get the lowest possible price, Anderson said.

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