Do even the OE radiators from Subaru eventually leak?  My 97 Outback is leaking periodically on the side as the lower drain cock.  A part-time mechanic looked at it and said that the radiator will probably need to be replaced or he recommended a stop leak product. I don't know if the Subaru stop leak product would help.  Thanks.

you could try the Subaru Coolant conditioner (it's repackaged Holdt's RadWeld leak stop)

 

ONLY 1 bottle total

 

ONLY installed per directions

 

I have read several posts of people installing radiators for leaks or internal clogging, etc. Several in cars newer than '97 so, yeah, nothing special about soob radiators. Ebay seems to be a popular place for replacements, I suspect Amazon, RockAuto, Advance, NAPA and others could be fine too.

The plastic side tanks will split when they get old and they become sort of malliable.

If the leak is from the drain plug itself, the plug can be replaced and that may fix it.

Stop leak might buy you some time, but its best to just replace the radiator. They don't cost that much.

Replace it. Don't risk blowing headgaskets or worse.