James R. Healey

USAToday

Subaru recalled 660,328 of its 2005-2014 cars because salt used to clear roads in winter can corrode the brake lines, cause leaks and make the brakes less effective.

Subaru says it knows of no accidents or injuries as a result of the defect.

The recall covers:

2005-2009 Outback and Legacy

2008-2011 Impreza

2008-2014 Impreza WRX/STI

2009-2013 Forester

It only affects cars in what Subaru considers the "salt belt" states -- though its list is somewhat extensive: 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.

Salt water could splash on the brake lines through a gap in the fuel tank protector, resulting in excessive corrosion of the brake lines, the automaker says.

Dealers will check for brake-fluid leaks. If there are none, dealers will rust-proof the areas with anti-corrosion wax.

If dealers find brake fluid seepage, they will replace the lines and rustproof the key areas with anti-corrosion wax.

The repairs are free, but Subaru isn't sure when they will begin.

Subaru first notified the National Highway Traffic Safety administration June 10, then amended the recall June 27 to include more models.

Contrary to the hair-trigger recall atmosphere in the industry and among regulators, Subaru says it usually makes no public announcement of recalls. If they are discovered in NHTSA records -- as in this case -- it will comment.

The current safety spotlight is due to General Motors ignition switch recalls in February and March, which sparked a federal probe and wound up with GM paying the maximum $35 million fine for foot-dragging. People within GM knew the switches might fail back in 2001.

So far this year, GM has issued 54 recalls for 25.69 million vehicles in the U.S. It links the defects involved with 16 deaths.