2007 Subaru Legacy Brakes Problems

Brake line failed unexpectedly and catastrophically while driving 2007 Subaru Legacy. Vehicle would have been covered per recall [XXX]; however, it was registered in Virginia so was not 'included' in the recall despite being exposed to comparable levels of snow and road salt in a rural southwestern part of Virginia less than 50 miles from the original recall region. Car was purchased new from a dealership in West Virginia (part of the recall region) and frequently operated in that region. Failing to include parts of Virginia that receive just as much, if not more, snow and corrosive road treatment in recall [XXX] was an error that resulted in a major safety hazard. The brake line failed at the exact location described in recall [XXX], at the 4-way connector block under the fuel-tank protector. The location of the failure is not visible during normal brake service, leading to corrosion in that location going unnoticed and unrepaired. Other substantial portions of the brake line system are polymer-coated to prevent corrosion; however, the small section at the 4-way connector block is not, permitting hazardous corrosion to the point of failure in this case. The recall notice [XXX] should be extended to include additional regions where roads are treated with corrosive salt anti-ice products so owners of these vehicles can have them inspected and/or repaired prior to an unexpected catastrophic failure as I experienced. The design of the braking system with substantial portions of polymer coated lines leads owners and repair staff to believe there is no problem with corrosion of the brake lines and no need for additional inspection or repair, and removal of the fuel-tank protector to expose the portion of the non-coated and corrosion-prone brake line system in the recall is not included as part of the standard maintenance program per the manufacturer. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

SUBARU USA AND THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HAVE ISSUED A RECALL ON SPECIFIC SUBARU'S THAT IDENTIFIES THE BRAKE SYSTEM WILL FAIL WITHOUT NOTICE. THE BRAKE LINES ON MY VEHICLE THAT FALL UNDER THE RECALL HAVE FAILED AND I DID ENCOUNTER A "NO BRAKE" SITUATION. AFTER BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR OF THE RECALL, THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED ME BACK AND CLAIMED IT WAS NOT THE BRAKE LINES THAT CAUSED THE ISSUE. I CONFIRMED AND TESTED MY CLAIM PRIOR TO BRINGING IN THE VEHICLE THAT THE ISSUE WAS 100% DUE TO THE REAR BRAKE LINE LEAKING. DOYLE FALSIFIED THE ISSUE DURING THEIR EXPLANATION INDICATING IT WAS THE FRONT CALIPER THAT WAS LEAKING, WHICH WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I HAVE MULTIPLE PICTURES THAT SHOW BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE HIGHLY CORRODED REAR BRAKE LINES. I HAD INDICATED EXACTLY WHERE THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM IN PRINTED DOCUMENTATION PROVIDED TO THE DOYLE SUBARU SERVICE MANAGER. SUBARU STATED THE LEAK WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL.