Junk Subaru Outback, Forester and Impreza Buyer in Chicago

Subaru models we get calls about

Model	Years	What matters for the offer
Outback and Legacy	2005 to 2015	Brake line corrosion recall on 2005 to 2009; CVT warranty extension on 2010 to 2015 cars with the 2.5L.
Forester	2009 to 2015	Brake line recall and Takata passenger inflators on 2009 to 2013; CVT extension on 2014 and 2015.
Impreza	2008 to 2015	Brake lines on 2008 to 2011 cars, CVT extension on 2012 to 2015.
Crosstrek and Crosstrek Hybrid	2013 to 2015	CVT extension; the Hybrid adds a battery pack to what we price.
WRX and STI	2008 to 2014	Turbocharged; the brake line recall and Takata inflator work both apply.

A Subaru is built for snow, which in Chicago means a life on salted roads, and Subaru has acknowledged in its own recall filings what that salt does to some of its cars. An all-wheel-drive Subaru also carries a rear differential and extra driveshafts that count toward an offer, so even a tired Outback with a bad transmission has more underneath it than a front-drive sedan of the same age.

Brake lines and Illinois salt

In 2014 Subaru recalled 2005 to 2009 Outbacks and Legacys, 2008 to 2011 Imprezas, 2008 to 2014 WRX and STI models and 2009 to 2013 Foresters registered now or in the past in Illinois and other salt states. Salt water could splash through a gap in the fuel tank protector onto the brake lines and corrode them until fluid leaks, which means longer stops (NHTSA 14V311).

If the pedal sinks or there’s fluid near a rear wheel, the car shouldn’t go anywhere under its own power. That doesn’t hurt the sale. We tow from a driveway in West Elsdon, a few minutes west of our base, or a side street in Clearing the same way, and a car with failed brakes is priced on its parts, not on whether it can stop.

CVT coverage, then and now

In 2017 Subaru extended CVT coverage under its powertrain warranty from five years or 60,000 miles to ten years or 100,000 miles on 2010 to 2015 Legacy and Outback 2.5L models, the 2015 3.6L, 2012 to 2015 Imprezas, 2013 to 2015 Crosstreks including the Hybrid, 2014 and 2015 Foresters and the 2015 WRX. The bulletin said the change wasn’t a response to any specific condition (Subaru bulletin 16-107-17R). In June 2025 a separate notice extended the CVT to the same ten years or 100,000 miles on certain 2019 and 2020 Legacy, Outback, Ascent, Impreza, Crosstrek and Forester models (Subaru retailer notice, June 2025).

Ten years from a 2015 sale ran out in 2025. For the older group, then, a failed CVT is now the owner’s bill, and that’s often the point where a high-mileage Outback stops making sense to fix.

The airbag zone that includes Illinois

Subaru split its Takata passenger inflator recalls by region, and one 2020 campaign names Illinois in its Zone B list. It covers 2009 to 2013 Foresters, 2004 to 2011 Imprezas, 2004 to 2014 WRX and STI models, 2003 to 2014 Legacys and Outbacks and 2003 to 2006 Bajas originally sold or ever registered in those states (NHTSA 20V002). As with any open recall, the car still sells to us, and the dealer repair is free if you’d rather keep driving.

What carries a junk Subaru’s value

Once the engine or CVT is gone, the value sits in the catalytic converter, the all-wheel-drive hardware, the wheels and the body. Converters get their own guide, since a missing one changes the number more than most people expect. A Crosstrek Hybrid adds its battery pack to that list.

Cars past saving still sell by weight as scrap, and junk car removal explains how pickup day goes. Take care of your plates before the tow; plates and the city sticker covers what to do with each. We answer calls from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day, and if you have two Subarus to clear out, one pickup can take both.