2003 Subaru Forester issues: Should I cut my losses and get a different vehicle?

[Electronic M]

It's worse on the Toyota pickups, some years actually had a recall for rusting frames.

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

It's worse on the Toyota pickups, some years actually had a recall for rusting frames.

A friend has a mid-90's Tacoma pickup. He opted to have the frame replaced instead of taking the money they offered him. His vehicle was very well-kept and had low miles. It was really a project to transplant all the parts.
I guess Toyota quoted Blue-Book wholesale. It ended up costing Toyota a lot more than them settling for a decent agreed upon price!

[mr_rye89]

Subarus of that era love to rust. If it looks like Hoovie's Baja (search on utube) then get rid of it. But maybe pull that EJ25 motor to put in an old VW. The valve covers are probably leaking, and leak oil. Bad head gaskets (common on naturally aspirated EJ25 engines) usually causes overheating and Mountain Dew in the oil. I did the valve cover gaskets on the EJ255 (2.5L DOHC Turbo) in my SH Forester. What a PITA, no room! and had to loosen the motor mounts and lift the motor up cuz the valve cover hung up on one of the cam journal bearing caps when I tried to get it out.....

[nasadowsk]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

It's worse on the Toyota pickups, some years actually had a recall for rusting frames.

And it seems that they STILL will honor it, though they don’t say so officially.

Then again, they once had a recall because their odometers wouldn’t go beyond 299,999 miles…

[dieseljeep]

Originally Posted by nasadowsk

And it seems that they STILL will honor it, though they don’t say so officially.

Then again, they once had a recall because their odometers wouldn’t go beyond 299,999 miles…

It was probably a marketing ploy, to prove their cars will last for more than 300K.

[DavGoodlin]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

It's worse on the Toyota pickups, some years actually had a recall for rusting frames.

My 2006 Tacoma got a new frame 8 years ago, many others sitting at dealer lot waiting for frames (from Mexico) had it far worse than mine. I spray water all under it several time over winter but the steel around frame's punched out holes literally delaminated like a wet phonebook.

PA uses Magnesium Chloride on any freezy rain days for low-temperature de-icing, it doesn't even need to snow It lives to eat metal and sneak under any paint that has chipped off. Its bad stuff compared to Sodium Chloride.

I have had three Subarus and while they will easily make it to 200K with known issues, frame rust can and will make your car less safe.

Hitting a pothole or just a curb buried under snow could instantly spell the end of your ride.

Consider how the car would protect you in an accident if a designed "crumple zone" is compromised or extended.