From the foundation of an aircraft business in 1917, Subaru was formed after a series of reorganizations and mergers. It formally entered the Japanese automotive market in 1958. The company traces its roots in aircraft manufacturing, which its parent company still pursues today. Subaru has now become one of the world's renowned automotive companies despite its relatively young age.
Just ten years after its establishment, Subaru came to the United States, through 13 mostly independent distributors. Today, Subaru's presence in the U.S. includes the company's only overseas vehicle production facility, Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc.
Subaru has become globally recognized for its automotive innovations, vehicle safety, and reliability. It has earned high ratings from organizations including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), and Consumer Reports. Some of the elements that make Subaru vehicles safe are their engines, which provide a low center of gravity; and their ring-shaped reinforcement frames, which provide high-impact protection. However, no matter how reliable and well-made vehicles are, their parts will wear over time. These could also get damaged by road debris and hazards. External components, such as the fender, are particularly susceptible to collision damage.
Although the vehicle body may appear as one component, it is usually made of multiple panels. Fenders are some of the rigid panels that serve to frame the wheels. They help prevent road debris thrown by the tires from flying into the air or damaging internal vehicle components. While they could be made from metals, plastics, or fiberglass, stock fenders are usually made from the same material used for the other body panels. With Subaru, the body panels and fenders are made from sheet metal.
As mentioned, due to its purpose and location, the fender could easily get damaged. Impact from hard debris and structures could scratch the paint and protective coating on your Subaru's fender, as well as cause dents or cracks. Meanwhile, corrosive elements, such as mud and deicing salt, could result in rust on the metal fenders. This degradation could affect the structural integrity of the fenders and reduce how effective they are at protecting the car's inner components. It is, therefore, best to replace the fenders once they get damaged.
When looking for Subaru fender replacements, you could either go to a dealership or to auto parts stores like CarParts.com. Although dealerships offer original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts, which are usually guaranteed to fit, availability may not always be certain, especially for discontinued or old models. On the other hand, car parts shops may carry all types of parts, including aftermarket replacements for phased-out vehicles.
Subaru fender costs would depend on a number of factors such as its type, mounting location, material, brand, and the vehicle's model and year. At CarParts.com, the price of Subaru fenders can range from around $28 to $267.