ATTENTION:
GENERAL MANAGER

q

PARTS MANAGER

q

CLAIMS PERSONNEL

q

IMPORTANT - All
Service Personnel
Should Read and
Initial in the boxes
provided, right.

SERVICE MANAGER

q

© 2015 Subaru of America, Inc. All rights reserved.

PRODUCT CAMPAIGN BULLETIN
APPLICABILITY: 2009-2013 Subaru Forester
2008-2011 Subaru Impreza, WRX, and STI
2012-2014 Subaru WRX and STI

NUMBER:
DATE:
REVISED:
NHTSA ID:

SUBJECT: Application of Anti-Corrosion Material to the
Four-Way (2-2 way) Joint Connector of the Brake Line System

WQQ-52R
January 2015
05/06/25
14V-830

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.
Due to incomplete repair instructions previously provided in the WQK-47 recall bulletin,
the WQQ-52 recall will involve applying additional anti-corrosion material to the four-way
(2-2 way) joint connector area of the brake line system on Forester, Impreza, WRX, and STI
vehicles previously repaired under the WQK-47 (14V-311) brake line corrosion recall prior to
the December 23, 2014 WQK-47 recall bulletin revision.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) previously determined that a defect, which relates to motor
vehicle safety, exists on certain 2009-2013 Subaru Forester vehicles, 2008-2011 Subaru
Impreza, WRX, and STI vehicles, and 2012-2014 Subaru WRX and STI vehicles currently or
formerly registered in at least one of the “salt-belt” states or the District of Columbia listed
below.
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa

Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri

New Hampshire
New Jersey
New York
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island

Vermont
West Virginia
Wisconsin

These vehicles may have been manufactured with brake lines that could, over time, corrode
in the area of the four-way (2-2 way) joint connector or in the areas where there are no
resin covers installed if exposed to salt, such as salt used to treat roads in the winter time.
Excessive corrosion could eventually cause perforation of a brake line(s) resulting in a brake
fluid leak.
Should a brake line corrode to the point of developing a perforation, brake fluid will leak from
the line(s) causing the related circuit to eventually lose effectiveness. In this situation, there
would be an increase in the amount of brake pedal travel distance and foot pressure required
to slow or stop the vehicle. This might cause the driver to misjudge the amount of brake
pedal travel required to achieve the desired stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.

AFFECTED VEHICLES
Potentially affected vehicles are identified in the VIN range charts below. Not all vehicles
within the VIN ranges are affected. Coverage for all affected vehicles must be confirmed by
using the Vehicle Coverage Inquiry function on subarunet.com.
Continued...
Product Campaign Bulletin: WQQ-52R; Revised: 05/06/25

Page 1

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 repaired
prior to December 23, 2014 under the WQK-47 (14V-311) brake line corrosion recall.
Please note:
Impreza, WRX, STI, and Forester vehicles affected by the WQK-47 recall which were not
repaired prior to the December 23, 2014 bulletin revision must be repaired under the WQK-47
recall following the complete repair instructions in the revised WQK-47 bulletin.
MODEL

Forester

Impreza

MY

CARLINE(S)

START VIN
(last 8 digits)

END VIN
(last 8 digits)

2009

Forester

9*700001

9*797855

2010

Forester

A*700001

A*918317

2011

Forester

B*700001

B*783898

2012

Forester

C*400002

C*470750

2013

Forester

D*400001

D*446782

2008

4 -Door (except STI)

8*500001

8*530288

2008

5 -Door (except STI)

8*800001

8*838495

2008

5 -Door (STI)

8L809673

8L837138

2009

4 -Door (except STI)

9*500399

9*522884

2009

5 -Door (except STI)

9*800001

9*828092

2009

5 -Door (STI)

9L800020

9L828023

2010

4 -Door (except STI)

A*500001

A*517646

2010

5 -Door (except STI)

A*800003

A*828797

2010

5 -Door (STI)

AL800010

AL826680

2011

4 -Door (except WRX and STI)

B*500001

B*523841

2011

5 -Door (except WRX and STI)

B*800001

B*832332

2011

4 -Door (WRX and STI)

B*500742

B*525817

2011

5 -Door (WRX and STI)

B*801433

B*833719

2012

4 -Door (WRX and STI)

C*002099

C*031281

2012

5 -Door (WRX and STI)

C*200094

C*246471

2013

4 -Door (WRX and STI)

D*002007

D*035278

2013

5 -Door (WRX and STI)

D*200100

D*895579

2014

4 -Door (WRX and STI)

E*002001

E*016827

E*200001

E*270263

2014
5 -Door (WRX and STI)
*Various characters may occupy this position of the VIN.
Product Campaign Bulletin: WQQ-52R; Revised: 05/06/25

Continued...
Page 2

OWNER NOTIFICATION
A copy of the Owner Notification Letter is included at the end of this bulletin.
•

Owner notification will begin on or about January 26, 2015.

•

Notification letters will be sent to owners of vehicles showing a WQK-47 repair
completion date prior to the December 23, 2014 bulletin revision.

•

Notification letters will be mailed in April, 2015 for additional affected vehicles
identified by claims submitted throughout the 90-day claim submission period.

RETAILER AFFECTED VIN LISTS
Each Subaru retailer will receive an affected VIN list from their Zone office around the time
initial owner notification begins. Vehicles will be assigned to retailers in the affected VIN list
as follows:
•

Original vehicle owners are assigned to the original selling retailer when their current
address is within a 100 mile radius of that retailer.

•

If the original selling retailer is inactive, the VIN has been assigned to the nearest
active retailer.

•

For any new owners or when original owners live more than 100 miles from the
original selling retailer, the VIN has been assigned to the nearest active retailer.

Important: Retailer affected VIN lists include owner name and address information for
vehicles affected by this recall. This information will enable retailers to follow-up with
owners of potentially affected vehicles. The lists contain owners’ names and addresses
obtained from State Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle
registration data for any other purpose is unlawful. Accordingly, retailers are required
to limit the use of these lists for the purpose of completion of this safety recall.

SUBARU RETAILER PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITY
Subaru retailers are to promptly perform the applicable service procedures defined in
this bulletin to correct all affected vehicles in their inventory (new, used, demo & SSLP).
Additionally, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall is taken into the retailer’s new or used
inventory or into the retailer 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 (Subaru Service Loaner Program) vehicles listed in a recall/
campaign that are in the retailer’s 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 this Product Campaign
Bulletin.
Continued...

Product Campaign Bulletin: WQQ-52R; Revised: 05/06/25

Page 3

Please be advised that it is a violation of Federal law for a retailer to deliver a new motor
vehicle covered by a recall under a sale or lease until the defect is remedied. Therefore,
any authorized Subaru retailer failing to perform the applicable service procedures as
defined in this bulletin to correct all affected vehicles in their inventory (new, used, demo
& SSLP) 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.

SPECIAL TOOLS INFORMATION
All Subaru retailers previously received one spray gun and one nozzle at no charge to perform
the WQK-47 recall repairs. The same spray gun equipment will be used for the WQQ-52
repairs. Additional spray guns and nozzles will be available on a limited basis therefore they
will be on hold in the SOA Parts system. Please contact the Parts Information Coordinators at
(1-866-SUBARU2) 1-866-782-2782 for additional information.
PART NUMBER

DESCRIPTION

SOA635134

WQK-47 Spray Gun (does not include nozzle)

SOA635135

WQK-47 Nozzle

PARTS INFORMATION
Nox-Rust® R576-108 Rust-proofing Material:
The Nox-Rust® R576-108 rust-proofing material is available through the “Genuine Subaru
Automotive Chemical” program. The part number listed below provides enough material to
perform five applications.
Controls for use of Nox-Rust® R576-108: The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) which
provides storage and handling procedures for this product is included at the end of this
bulletin.
For parts ordering purposes, retailers should use the part number listed below.
ORDERING
PART NUMBER

APPLICABILITY

DESCRIPTION

SOA868V9355

All models

Nox-Rust® R576-108

For claim reimbursement purposes, retailers should use the part number listed below which
represents rust proofing materials sufficient for one vehicle application.
CLAIM
PART NUMBER

APPLICABILITY

DESCRIPTION

CLAIM
QUANTITY

SOA635098

All models

Nox-Rust® R576-108

1

Continued...
Product Campaign Bulletin: WQQ-52R; Revised: 05/06/25

Page 4

SERVICE PROCEDURE
This Campaign involves a cleaning, inspecting and testing of the brake pipes where they connect
to the four-way (2-2way) joint connector. Corrosion may develop in areas of these brake pipes
not protected by a resin cover and eventually perforate them causing brake fluid seepage. If
seepage is verified during the inspection procedures, the affected brake pipes must be replaced.
If no seepage is verified, application of a protective rustproofing wax material to these specific
sections of the brake pipes will be required to complete this Campaign. The inspection and
rustproofing procedures are all performed through the inspection cover opening on the right-hand
(passenger side) of the plastic fuel tank cover. The following illustrations provide an overview
of the affected areas.
Assembling of
Spray Gun:

360-degree Nozzle Set

Air Tube

Nozzle Tip

This knob does
not turn
Discharge knob

IMPORTANT: Be
careful not to damage or
deform the nozzle tip.
Air
Needle

Air Vent (0.7mm in dia. x 3):
Check visually from
the back side.

Installation of an in-line
air pressure regulator is
highlyc recommended to
ensure air pressures do not
exceed the maximum use
pressure as stated by the
spray gun manufacturer (71