Subaru said the brake lines could perforate after exposure to seven or more winter seasons.
Subaru recalls more than 660,000 model year 2005-2009 Outback and Legacy, 2008-2011 Impreza and 2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI, and 2009-2013 Forester vehicles for rusting brake lines that leak and fail in the latest demonstration of the renewed awareness at automakers of US safety regulations. Stopping distances can be drastically affected. A limited number of Subaru models were previously recalled for the same safety defect, but the $1.2 billion Toyota fine for covering up stuck gas pedals and unintended acceleration safety defects has – let us say – caught the attention of automakers.
Subaru, popular in snow belt states, says that models currently or formerly registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia are recalled. Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines.
Critics of such regional recalls, and there are many, say that automakers should fix the problem on all vehicles with the safety design defect.
Subaru will notify owners, and dealers will test the brake system by depressing the brake pedal and looking for brake fluid leaks. If no brake fluid leaks are observed, the affected areas will be rustproofed with an anti-corrosion wax. If brake fluid seepage is present, the brake lines will be replaced followed by rustproofing with the anti-corrosion wax.
Subaru has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Subaru at 1-800-782-2783. Subaru’s recall campaign number is WQK-47. Note: This recall supersedes recall 13V-110, which applied to certain 2005-2009 Legacy/Outback vehicles. Vehicles that were remedied under the previous campaign still need additional areas to be rust-proofed.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236or go to www.safercar.gov.
