Warren, MI – August 16, 2021 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has remedied issues with 171.766 vehicles including the 2011-2012 Saab 9-4x and the 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX that were dealing with rear suspension issues. Additionally, 88 of these GM vehicles have been categorized as unreachable, and 31 have been removed from the recall. One group of these 2011-2012 Saab 9-4x and the 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX was remedied in 2021, and another group was remedied in 2022 due to these issues with the rear suspension toe link may loosen and separate.
Warren, MI – August 16, 2021 – General Motors (NYSE:GM) has issued a recall for 380,498 cars to fix a part of the rear suspension – which connects the vehicle to the wheels – that may come loose and result in a loss of control. The affected vehicles include:
- 2010 Cadillac SRX
- 2011 Cadillac SRX
- 2012 Cadillac SRX
- 2013 Cadillac SRX
- 2014 Cadillac SRX
- 2015 Cadillac SRX
- 2016 Cadillac SRX
- 2011 Saab 9-4X
- 2012 Saab 9-4X
This recall is a result of an investigation by an auto safety regulator the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration on the back of consumer complaints. A large number of these vehicles were first recalled in September 2014 over the same concern.
The affected component is the “adjustable rear suspension toe link” with part number 20867273.
Recall summary
The affected vehicles are equipped with rear toe links that may have been adjusted improperly during a service. A toe link keeps the suspension stable and the tires on the ground, as reported.
After the 2014 recall, the company continued to receive additional reports that the toe links were still loose and the NHTSA opened an investigation in 2020, after getting nine complaints from owners.
As a result, GM has recalled all of the vehicles that were part of the original recall, as well as some additional model years.
Risks
A loose toe link may cause the vehicle to veer uncontrollably. An affected vehicle may start swerving from side to side, increasing the risk of colliding with other vehicles and oncoming traffic. This is very dangerous. In fact, the NHTSA cited that two of the nine complaints it received resulted in a crash.
Warning signs
GM has mentioned that a driver will notice one of these warning signs if the toe link on their vehicle is loose:
- Traction control, rear axle or Stabilitrak service message
- Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) stays on or flashes
- Chimes with any of the above messages and MILs
- Vehicle sways or veers while driving
- Off-center steering wheel
- Uneven wear between the rear tires
- Loud metallic noise from the rear suspension
In the event that you notice any of these signs, slow down and bring your vehicle to a halt. Have your vehicle towed immediately to a GM dealership; do not drive it there.
Related complaints
There have been several complaints from owners about losing control while driving. One 2015 Cadillac SRX driver reported a harrowing experience where she and her husband were driving down the highway, heard a loud bang and then completely lost control of the vehicle. The car crossed three lanes of the interstate, hit the side of a tractor trailer, which pushed them back across three lanes and then came to a stop in the left lane. Fortunately, they came out of the incident unharmed.
Other GM recalls
Earlier this month, GM issued a Buick, Chevrolet and Cadillac recall for multiple models over a faulty airbag warning light. All models were part of the 2021 model year.
The repair
GM dealerships will replace the affected adjustable toe link with a non-adjustable unit, free of charge. This will prevent the toe links from coming loose or breaking in the future.
Customers were notified on August 9, 2021.
Is your vehicle part of the recall?
A loose toe link can have serious consequences. To find out if your vehicle is a part of this GM recall, use MotorSafety’s free vehicle lookup tool.
