Brake Line Recall

Last year, Subaru issued a brake line recall on Foresters from 2009 to 2013, and on WRX and STI models from 2008 to 20014. If you own one of these vehicles, you probably got a recall notice and took it into the dealership right away. Keep up the good work, because you're going to have to do it again.

Subaru has issued a second recall on brake lines for the same vehicles that were recalled last year. Almost 199,000 vehicles are affected by this recall.

The reason for the recall is pretty simple. When it snows, cities and highway departments do their best to make the roads as safe as possible. Often, the solution is spraying salt solution that will help prevent ice from forming on streets. The recalled Subaru vehicles have a gap in the fuel tank protector that can potentially allow water to splash up onto the brake lines.

As anyone who's sat through a high school chemistry class can tell you, salt and metal don’t mix. Salty water from treated roads can rust brake lines, which could cause them to leak over time. However, if you own one of these vehicles, don't live in fear at the thought that your brake lines might be leaking. 

An indicator light will alert you in the event that your brake lines are leaking, and you will still be able to brake, it will just require a heavier foot. It won’t be like in the movies when brake lines get cut. Still, the best way not to worry about your brakes is to bring your vehicle in to the dealership.

A wax will be applied to the break line connector to increase the resilience to rusting. As you may remember, this is the same fix as last year's recall. The difference is that dealers have been given updated and more efficient repair instructions to ensure that brake lines will be protected.