# Subaru Crosstrek rust **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** crosstrek, subaru\ **Created:** [June 21, 2023, 6:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234 "2023-06-21T18:16:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![lisamarierecker\_185719](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@lisamarierecker\_185719](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lisamarierecker_185719)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 6:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/1 "2023-06-21T18:16:06Z")
Anyone know why I would have major rust on my exhaust system? My car is only six years old. I was shocked when I saw this. My dealer kept saying “you have some rust” every time I would take it in for an oil change. Finally I said I want to see this rust you’re talking about. I was completely flabbergasted. I took it to another mechanic and they said it’s the worse they have ever seen. Worse than up north cars. I live in Florida so no salted roads here. They said my best bet would be to buy another car. Wow. What could have caused this?!? ![IMG_3740](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/6/4/64e20a4dc0791709c4a33a2d87366578ff0c752b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 6:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/2 "2023-06-21T18:56:21Z")
Those folks have never really seen rust. There is no rust on the bottom of the car, only rust on the exhaust and drive line. If it rusts to the point of a hole developing, you just replace the exhaust pipe and components. No big deal. Looks like a lot of short trips that never heat the exhaust up to dry the pipes off. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 6:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/3 "2023-06-21T18:59:44Z")
Do you park on pavement or damp ground? Parking on gravel or soil can help those parts rust faster. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 7:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/4 "2023-06-21T19:01:03Z")
+1 to Bing’s comments. The chassis of the car looks pristine, so the worst case scenario for the OP is the replacement of the exhaust system when appropriate. Or, he/she could buy a new car. I’m probably going out on a limb here, but I _think_ that a complete exhaust system would be a bit cheaper than a new car. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 7:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/5 "2023-06-21T19:46:11Z")
> [@lisamarierecker\_185719](#): > > Worse than up north cars Man, that’s rich! In a word- hardly. > [@lisamarierecker\_185719](#): > > They said my best bet would be to buy another car. Sounds like a dealer recommendation. YOUR best bet is to buy another car because the exhaust is rusty? Or theirs? It’s an exhaust, nobody in the rust belt throws out a car because the exhaust rusts out- it’s a common replacement. Just because yours appears to have rusted prematurely, it’s no reason to throw out the baby with the bath water so to speak. As noted, only the exhaust and drive shaft components look rusty. I do find it curious that the driveshaft is rust free where shielded by the exhaust. Are you the original owner? Did a prior owner like to ride along the beach in the sand?? ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 7:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/6 "2023-06-21T19:51:32Z")
That exhaust rust is worse than I’ve seen in decades on my cars here in MN and WI. If that is Subaru original equipment, or whatever it is, it is not up to the quality I have come to expect on new or on aftermarket exhaust parts. ---
**Author:** ![lisamarierecker\_185719](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@lisamarierecker\_185719](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lisamarierecker_185719)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 7:54pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/7 "2023-06-21T19:54:37Z")
No gravel or soil. ---
**Author:** ![lisamarierecker\_185719](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@lisamarierecker\_185719](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lisamarierecker_185719)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/8 "2023-06-21T19:55:50Z")
No an independent mechanic told me it would be cheaper to buy a new car. ---
**Author:** ![db4690](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/db4690/32/2583_2.png) [@db4690](https://community.cartalk.com/u/db4690)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 7:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/9 "2023-06-21T19:58:15Z")
Thank you for the zoomed-in picture ---
**Author:** ![lisamarierecker\_185719](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@lisamarierecker\_185719](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lisamarierecker_185719)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 7:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/10 "2023-06-21T19:59:10Z")
![IMG_2250](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/6/a/6a107f9c3b3c0eb302b666b008ffa05e766cc92e.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![TwinTurbo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8baadc/32.png) [@TwinTurbo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/TwinTurbo)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/11 "2023-06-21T20:00:55Z")
> [@lisamarierecker\_185719](#): > > No an independent mechanic told me it would be cheaper to buy a new car. I would run, not walk, out of that establishment. Did they offer to buy your old car by any chance? What is the year and how many miles? Did you buy it new? ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 8:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/12 "2023-06-21T20:05:10Z")
> [@TwinTurbo](#): > > I would run, not walk, out of that establishment … and I would find a **new** mechanic. ---
**Author:** ![lisamarierecker\_185719](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@lisamarierecker\_185719](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lisamarierecker_185719)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 8:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/13 "2023-06-21T20:05:32Z")
I only take short trips. I Googled and found that might be my problem too. The dealer said it was because of where I live on Tampa Bay and the streets flood at high tides with salt water. I avoid going through it. It makes more sense to me that it’s short trips because it’s concentrated in the exhaust system. So you recommend getting a new exhaust system? ---
**Author:** ![lisamarierecker\_185719](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@lisamarierecker\_185719](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lisamarierecker_185719)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 8:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/14 "2023-06-21T20:08:32Z")
I take it for short trips, which someone replied that could be my problem. I also have driven it through salt water that comes from Tampa Bay during high tides. I avoid going through the water now. But the rust is concentrated on the exhaust system so it tells me it’s the short trips. That’s been my dilemma, short trips or high tide flooded roads. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/15 "2023-06-21T20:13:51Z")
Not a significant problem at all. Worst case you get a new exhaust when leaks (noise) occurs, but that could be years. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 8:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/16 "2023-06-21T20:15:45Z")
It may be the salt water splashing on the exhaust and drive line. The lack of rust on the drive line above the exhaust may be because salt water didn’t splash in there. Once the exhaust starts to leak, you should replace it completely. Probably the best way to deal with the drive line, if you want to, is to clean off the rust and paint it. ---
**Author:** ![lisamarierecker\_185719](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@lisamarierecker\_185719](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lisamarierecker_185719)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 8:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/17 "2023-06-21T20:20:40Z")
Makes more sense that it’s short trips. I only do in town driving. ---
**Author:** ![lisamarierecker\_185719](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@lisamarierecker\_185719](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lisamarierecker_185719)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 8:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/18 "2023-06-21T20:36:30Z")
It’s a 2017 with 30,000+ miles. I only drive in town hence the low mileage. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 9:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/19 "2023-06-21T21:01:13Z")
> [@lisamarierecker\_185719](#): > > Makes more sense that it’s short trips. I only do in town driving. As they said in the old detective movies… The plot thickens… Doing solely local, short trip driving is extremely bad for the engine\*, as well as the battery and the exhaust system. Is it possible that your mechanic noted excessive sludge build-up in the engine in addition to the surface rust on the exhaust system, and that was what led him to suggest buying a new car? \*Has your mechanic explained to you that you need to change the oil on the basis of elapsed time, rather than on the basis of odometer mileage? Even though you don’t log many miles, you need to change your oil at least twice per year. Hopefully you have been doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 9:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234/20 "2023-06-21T21:08:50Z")
It only takes a mile or two for the exhaust pipe to get hot, it takes much longer for the driveshaft to get hot. Distance isn’t as much of a factor as driving through sea water is. [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-crosstrek-rust/191234.md?page=2)