Recalls Involving Rear Suspensions

Our Law Firm has reviewed a number of cases where potential defects exist with vehicles.

The following is an alert on the following:

• 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX SUV
• 2010-2016 Saab 9-4X SUV

These vehicles were part of an earlier recall. All vehicles in the first recall are included in this new one, along with additional model years.

According to GM, certain SRX and 9-4X SUVs were recalled in 2014 (NHTSA No. 14V571) because part of the rear suspension called a toe link hadn't been properly tightened during the assembly process. After that initial recall, the company received further reports that some toe links were still loose, and it revised the procedures outlined in the initial recall. In 2020 GM continued to receive field reports about suspension-related issues. These included traction control, electronic stability control (called Stabilitrak by GM), or "service rear axle" warnings, malfunctioning taillights, swaying or wandering at highway speeds, uneven rear tire wear, or loud clunking noises over bumps.

Other Vehicles that have had similar recalls or issues include:

• 2018-2019 Subaru Crosstrek
• 2019 Crosstrek Hybrid
• 2019 Forester vehicles

The rear stabilizer bracket bolts may loosen and detach.

• 2013-2017 Explorer

The Ford vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Exposure to road salt can cause the cross-axis ball joint to corrode and seize, resulting in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.

Despite the facts that the recalls focus on these northern states, such failures should be considered in these vehicles in any instance where there is an unexplained loss of control of these and other vehicles have traveled in these states and may have been exposed to these corrosive materials used in many northern states and may have been exposed to these corrosive materials.

• 2013-2018 Ford Flex
• 2013-2018 Taurus police car
• 2013-2018 Taurus SHO
• 201-2018 Lincoln MKT

Most of the recalled vehicles are in North America. Ford says if the suspension moves a lot on the vehicles, the rear toe links can fracture. Toe links help keep the rear suspension stable and the tires on the pavement.

• 2020-2021Tesla Model Y
• 2019-2021 Model 3

The issue stems from the fact that the vehicle's front suspension lateral link fasteners may loosen, causing the steering wheel to loosen and impacting the safety of driving the vehicle.

In many cases the reason that a vehicle left the roadway in a crash may not be known initially. This type failure is one of many possibilities we explore to attempt to make such determinations.

Our products liability attorney is prepared to assist with investigating such cases where serious injuries or deaths have resulted to determine if the vehicle accident was the result of such a failure in these and other vehicles. We also encourage our readers to watch for this type of corrosion in the suspension area of their vehicles.