Bought a black STi new in November 2003. Saw a wee rust spot (bubbling) developing on the roof in October 2006. Subaru UK looked at it and determined that it was "impact" damage - they used "equipment supplied by Elcometer" - must have been right! I suspected that it was an inferior roof panel.

Fast track to May 2009 - There's now rust along the width of the roof above the windscreen. There's also the same part way along the width above the back window. The original rust spot is a good bit bigger and there are other spots on the roof where the paint has now come away. Just written to Subaru but I doubt if they'll be interested in doing anything about it. I'll keep you all posted. to show rusty roof panel metal below.

Has anyone else got this rusting problem?

Pictures below:





Will I buy a new Subaru again? I doubt it.

 

Thats disgusting for a 6 year old car. Hope you get it sorted

 

Stonechips and nice salty roads would do that! Especially if they hit at speed, my 08 plate van has rust on the bonnet after this winter. Your car may not have a thick enough coat of laquer to protect it fully but i bet it's nothing more than crappy salty roads.

 

Looks like its had a roof skin fitted, badly!

 

I'd also go with botched repair, could have been damaged in transit or at the dealer. I'm sure I've read somewhere that a lot of cars see repair work before they are delivered.

That bottom pic looks like it's been hand painted

 

Rot in the roof of my N plate front and rear roof where screens are glued in and around the bolt holes of the STi spoiler but then again it is an old car now, not good to see rot on a 03 though...

Reminds my of my old HF Lancia Delta!

 

ive got a couple of small rust spots on mine(right in centre of roof). been there since i got it 2.5 years ago, hasnt got any worse(touch wood). for an 52 reg with 30k on it when i bought i did think it was bad.. subaru love to use as little paint as possible i think. my wifes r reg fiesta diesel is got a better coat on it, imo.

 

When i fitted my00 with an STI6 spoiler, water was coming through 2 of the screw holes. Dint notice this for a good yr, but when i did it was full of rust. Did my own diy now looks mint. Couple of other bits from the wife opening the door into walls that i did today.

But for your car to look like that after such a short time somthings wrong, and doing a diy your self in that area will be tosh.

 

Botched repair and not cheap to sort, gutted for you

 

Along the top of the back window? What does he do? Drive in reverse everywhere at speed?

 

Looks to me like its had a SMART repair done badly before delivery.

 

I'd go along with that.

 

Christ! That cant be factory paint. Looks like a bodge respray.

I never seen anything like that since I owned a MK3 Ford Escort xr3 back in 1989.

I would personally go to a paint shop and get them to remove all the trim around the roof, get it down to bare metal and redo the whole lot.

 

Thats worse than the sills on my 10 year old JDM that spent its first three years living by the sea! And my roof is spotless.

Can't be as it came from the factory - is it me or does last pic does look slightly orange peely?

 

Did the dealer log the original problem?
The anti rust warranty will be useless as it is for below the window line

 

if they have the first complaint recorded (i.e. in any subsequent arguments about time limits you can prove you notified them about the problem within the warranty period) I would immediatly threaten court action

give them 14 days to reply then send in a small claims from the county court (i think cover things upto 5k)

its amazing how this speeds things up

 

I wonder if its had a replacement rear window and the paint was damaged when the old one was cut out, I know that is a common problem with BMW 3-series.

Simon

 

Got the same problem at the top of the windscreen on my 53 WRX.

Told by Subaru it's when a new windscreen is fitted it pulls the paint off and over a couple of years rusts really badly as there's no paint underneath to protect the metal.

I spoke to Adrian Hogg, head of customer services at Subaru and he said sorry, but Subaru only warrant against rust up to the top of the doors and on saloons that's the bottom of the windscreen not the top!!!

If you have any luck with warranty, let me know!!!

Mike

 

Nice to hear all your comments and I'll let you know how I get on.

As far as I know, the car has never had a front or rear screen replaced, nor has there ever been a roof repair. I bought it brand new (at great expense!) and would be extremely disappointed to find out that any work like that had been carried out before I purchased it.

I know Subaru warranty only covers panels below the glass line. Does that mean that even a new car that develops rust on the roof, say within a year or so, is not covered?

Nice comment about reversing at speeed! I don't think it's salt and stone chips ... along the whole width of the roof above the screen - that would be very, very unlikely, besides, the paint isn't actually broken - it's all under the surface.

 

is it normal to just warrant half the car?

 

Tell me about it!!!

I just bought the wife an 08STI which is supposed to have a 12 year anti rust warranty!!!!

For the record I've had my car since it was a year old and I've never had a windscreen fitted either, but could easily have had one in its first year.

Adrian Hogg said if the car was just outside it's 3 year warranty Subaru may have done something out of goodwill, but as my car is 5 1/2 years old they wouldn't do anything, even though the anti rust warranty is 6 years!!

It makes me think when I go for my next car it may not be a scooby, which is a sad thought.

Mike

 

The anti perforation warranty should definately cover that, thats rusting from the inside out and there are no chips there etc so go push them some more
If not its only about 150 quid to have the roof resprayed.

Tony

 

no rust on my 02 plate never really seen rust on subarus only though neglect or not being waxoiled when imported.

 

I don't see how "neglect" can cause rust to come from the inside. Ahm greetin' into ma porridge every mornin' now.

 

This is caused by the windscreen being replaced. A knife is used(it shouldn`t be) to remove quickly the sealant/mastic allowing the glass to come out quicker. The windscreen will unfortunatly have been replaced prior to the car going on sale. This can be done because of damage in transit to the UK. Ive seen it often I`m afraid. The dealed has got an "outside" company to fit the screen to save on costs.

 

The windscreen look original. The glass has the chassis number etched into it. Besides, this theory doesn't account for the spots on the top of the roof panel or the rusting above the rear window.

 

Maybe it was vandalised prioer to you buying it, and had more than one window put through.

If Subaru order a new screen will it not come with the chassis number etched in it?

 

No reply to my letter to Subaru as yet. Will have to resend it registered this time.

 

I noticed the same in my '01 bugeye and that had a replacement screen. Not very impressive though is it.

 

Response received from Adrian D Hogg of Subaru (UK) Ltd dated 19th June 2009:

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I am very sorry to hear you are experiencing further difficulties with your Impreza.

I would of course recommend the paintwork applied to your vehicle be repaired as soon as possible but am sorry to inform you that given the age of your vehicle Subaru (UK) Ltd will not offer any contribution towards the cost of repairs.

I realise you may be disappointed but as we are not aware of any latent or inherent faults with the sheet metal used in the construction of your model of Impreza we can accept no responsibility for it's (sic) present condition.
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