Subarunet Announcement
To: All Subaru Retailers
From: Subaru of America, Inc.
Date: December 22, 2014
Subject: New Subaru Recall Campaign: Brake Line Corrosion WQQ-52

This recall is being issued as a result of incomplete repair instructions provided in the Impreza
and Forester repair procedure for the WQK-47 Brake Line Corrosion recall.
Affected Vehicles

The affected vehicles include certain: 2009-2013 Subaru Forester vehicles; 2008-2011 Subaru Impreza,
WRX, and STI vehicles; and 2012-2014 Subaru WRX and STI vehicles. The affected vehicles were repaired
prior to December 23, 2014 under the WQK-47 (NHTSA ID 14V-311) brake line corrosion recall.
On December 22, 2014, the WQK-47 Product Campaign Bulletin was updated with the complete Impreza
and Forester repair instructions, and is available on the STIS website. Please be sure that all appropriate
personnel review the updated Impreza and Forester repair procedures, to ensure that all future WQK-47
repairs performed include application of the proper amount of anti-corrosion material in all potentially
affected areas.
As a result of the incomplete repair instructions, the Impreza, WRX, STI, and Forester vehicles repaired
under the WQK-47 recall prior to December 23, 2014 may not have been treated with the proper amount
of anti-corrosion material in the area of the 2-2 way joint connector of the brake line system.
•

These vehicles will require inspection for brake fluid leakage in the area of the 2-2 way joint
connector, and application of additional anti-corrosion material to that area.

•

If during inspection of the 2-2 way joint connector there is leakage detected, the brake lines must
be replaced.

•

Complete repair instructions for the WQQ-52 recall will be issued in the WQQ-52 Product
Campaign Bulletin, prior to owner notification.

Vehicles NOT Affected
• The WQQ-52 recall does not apply to Legacy or Outback vehicles included in the WQK-47 recall.
•

Impreza, WRX, STI, and Forester vehicles affected by the WQK-47 recall and not repaired prior to
the bulletin revision must be repaired under the WQK-47 recall following the complete repair
instructions in the revised bulletin.

Description of the Safety Defect

Depending on driving conditions, salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank
protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines.

Description of the Safety Hazard

Should a brake line corrode to the point of developing a perforation, brake fluid may leak from the line(s).
Since the center and rear brake lines work independently of one another, braking will still be possible if
either (but not both) of the systems fail. The driver will be alerted to a fault in the brake system via

illumination of the brake system warning telltale lamp because the fluid level will drop in the system.
However, failure of either the center or rear brake lines might cause the driver to misjudge the amount of
brake pedal travel required to achieve the desired stopping distance.

Dealer Program Responsibility

Dealers are to promptly perform the applicable service procedures to correct all affected vehicles in their
inventory (new, used, demo & SSLP). Additionally, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall is taken into
dealer new or used inventory, or in the dealership for service, necessary steps should be taken to ensure
the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle. New, used, demo or SSLP
vehicles listed in a recall/campaign that are in dealer stock must be:




Immediately identified.
Tagged or otherwise marked to prevent their delivery or use prior to inspection and/or repair.
Repaired in accordance with the repair procedures outlined in the Product Campaign Bulletin,
which will be available prior to owner notification.

Please be advised that it is a violation of Federal law for a dealer to deliver a new motor vehicle covered
by a recall under a sale or lease until the defect is remedied. Therefore, any Authorized Subaru Dealer
failing to perform the applicable service procedures to correct all affected vehicles in their inventory
(new, used, demo) prior to the vehicle being placed in service may be subject to civil penalties of up to
$7,000 per violation (i.e., for each vehicle), as provided in 49 CFR §578.6 and will also be in breach of
the Subaru Dealer Agreement.

Owner Notification

Subaru is in the process of acquiring updated owner address information. When available, Subaru will
notify potentially affected vehicle owners by first class mail. This is expected to occur during the last week
of January, 2015. Retailers will be advised in advance of owner notification.