December 10, 2020 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V764000
A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver’s ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V764
Manufacturer General Motors, LLC
Components SUSPENSION
Potential Number of Units Affected 213,128
Summary
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Buick Regal, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately to fracture.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners will be mailed an interim notification on February 15, 2021. A second notification will be mailed when parts are available, currently expected to be around March 21, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM’s number for this recall is N202308930.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Check if your Vehicle has a Recall
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Safety Recall N202308930
Rear Suspension Toe Link May Break
These questions and answers are being provided to help GM dealers respond to inquiries from involved vehicle owners about the Safety recall identified above.
| Q1) | Which vehicles are involved? |
| A1) | Certain 2010 – 2013 Buick LaCrosse, 2012 – 2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles that were ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin (collectively, “Corrosion States”).
|
| Q2) | What is the issue or condition? |
| A2) | These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately to fracture.
|
| Q3) | What symptoms may be experienced? What warning signs may be associated with the issue or condition described? |
| A3) | None
|
| Q4) | What is the remedy/repair? |
| A4) | Dealers will replace rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners.
|
| Q5) | What is the safety risk? Is the vehicle safe to drive? |
| A5) | A rear toe link fracture may reduce the ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
|
| Q6) | Does the customer have to pay for this remedy/repair? |
| A6) | No, this inspection/repair will be done at no cost to the customer.
|
| Q7) | Is the remedy/repair available now? |
| A7) | No, when a remedy is available and sufficient quantity of parts are available, the recall bulletin will be released, and dealers can begin repairing vehicles.
|
| Q8) | What should customers do until recall repairs can be completed? Are there any special instructions? |
| A8) | If special instructions are provided, they will be included in the notification letters to customers.
|
| Q9) | How can customers check to see if their vehicle is involved in this field action? |
| A9) | When we have a list of Vehicle Identification Numbers (“VIN list”) for the affected population, customers who own a vehicle involved in the field action will be notified by mail by General Motors. As soon as we have the VIN list, customers can check the GM Owner Center at https://my.gm.com/recalls or NHTSA’s recall website at https://vinrcl.safercar.gov/vin/ to determine whether their vehicle is involved in this safety recall.
|
| Q10) | If customers are concerned, can they get a rental car or courtesy transportation? |
| A10) | Courtesy transportation is available for customers whose vehicles are involved in this recall and are within the warranty coverage period for the warranty which is associated with this recall. Please refer to Warranty Administration Bulletin #17-NA-073: Field Action Courtesy Transportation Policy for further information.
|
December 10, 2020
Chronology of Defect / Noncompliance Determination
573.6 (c) (6) (7)
Describe the chronology of events leading up to the defect decision or test data for the noncompliance decision:
In June 2020, GM learned that Opel was investigating rear toe-link fractures on certain Opel Insignia vehicles, which use the same toe link design as the subject vehicles. GM had previously investigated rear toe-link fractures on the subject vehicles in 2018 but closed the investigation due to a very low number of potential field complaints found (2), no accidents or injuries, and no identifiable defect trend. Once Opel notified GM of their investigation, which was based in part on a recent toe-link failure in Europe, GM submitted the issue as a potential safety issue through GM’s Speak Up For Safety (SUFS) program on June 17, 2020. On August 4, 2020, GM opened a new investigation into rear toe link fractures in the subject vehicles.
On August 20, 2020, GM learned of an additional toe link fracture on a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu with 261,762 miles that occurred on August 18, 2020. On September 14, 2020, GM obtained the rear toe link from that August 18 incident and began a part analysis. On September 15, 2020, GM’s investigator found documentation from cosmetic corrosion testing conducted in 2013 that identified a supplier process in which e-coat material was applied in excess of specifications. The supplier subsequently fixed its e-coat process in March 2013. On October 12, 2020, GM completed an initial review of field data and the overall rate of toe-link failures was still low. On October 15, 2020, a third-party testing company, Element Materials Technology, completed its analysis of the returned toe link from the August 18 incident and confirmed that it fractured as the result of material thinning due to heavy corrosion. GM’s investigator reviewed the investigation with the Open Investigation Review board on November 9, 2020, and the board requested further information on the toe-link failure rates in high corrosion states to determine if the rates were higher in those areas. The toe-link failure-rate analysis in Corrosion States was completed and reviewed on November 30, 2020, and it showed a notably higher toe-link failure rate than in non-corrosion states.
On December 3, 2020, GM’s Safety and Field Action Decision Authority decided to conduct a safety recall for vehicles that were ever registered in Corrosion States and that may have received toe links with excessive e-coat material.
GLOBAL SAFETY FIELD INVESTIGATIONS
DCS5624
URGENT – DISTRIBUTE IMMEDIATELY
Date: December 21, 2020
Subject: Stop Delivery Order for Upcoming Safety Recall N202308930
Models: 2010 – 2013 Buick LaCrosse
2012 – 2013 Buick Regal
2013 Chevrolet Malibu
To: All General Motors Dealers
STOP DELIVERY ORDER
On December 10, 2020, General Motors released an upcoming safety recall message for recall number N202308930. At the time, we did not have the list of affected vehicles. Today we are including the VINs and issuing the stop delivery notice. Effective immediately, stop the delivery of certain 2010 – 2013 Buick LaCrosse, 2012 – 2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles in used vehicle inventory.
It is a violation of federal law for a dealer to deliver a new motor vehicle or any new or used item of motor vehicle equipment (including a tire) covered by this notification until the defect is remedied.
General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in the certain 2010 – 2013 Buick LaCrosse, 2012 – 2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles that were ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin (collectively, “Corrosion States”). These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately to fracture. A rear toe link fracture may reduce the ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
To correct this condition, dealers will replace rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners.
Until further instructions are received, involved vehicles that are in dealers’ possession (new or used vehicle inventory, GM Certified Used, courtesy transportation vehicles, dealer shuttle vehicles, etc.) must be held and not delivered to customers, dealer-traded, released to auction, used for demonstration purposes or any other dealer use. All GM Certified Used vehicles currently in the dealers’ inventory within the Certified Pre-Owned Inventory System (CPOIS) will be de-certified.
The Investigate Vehicle History (IVH) screen in the Global Warranty Management (GWM) system will be updated for this upcoming recall on December 22, 2020. This
action has been taken to assist dealers with determining which vehicles are involved so they can properly respond to customer inquiries.
Question and Answer Document (Q&A)
Attached to this message you will find a document that addresses the ten most likely questions customers may have regarding this Safety Recall. Please use this information as an aid to confidently answer customer concerns.
Until the recall bulletin is released, the Investigate Vehicle History (IVH) screen in the Global Warranty Management (GWM) system will display “N/A” under Release Date and “Incomplete – Remedy not yet available” under Status. This means the required repair is not yet available and dealers should not attempt to perform any repairs.
We do not have replacement parts at this time, but we are working closely with the supplier to obtain the required parts as quickly as possible. When parts are available, the recall bulletin will be released and dealers can begin repairing vehicles. Once that happens, dealers will replace rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners.
END OF MESSAGE
GLOBAL SAFETY FIELD INVESTIGATIONS
**********************************************************************
GLOBAL SAFETY FIELD INVESTIGATIONS
DCS5609
URGENT – DISTRIBUTE IMMEDIATELY
Date: December 10, 2020
Subject: Upcoming Safety Recall N202308930
Models: 2010 – 2013 Buick LaCrosse
2012 – 2013 Buick Regal
2013 Chevrolet Malibu
To: All General Motors Dealers
General Motors has notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about an upcoming safety recall. The GM recall number is N202308930.
General Motors has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in the certain 2010 – 2013 Buick LaCrosse, 2012 – 2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles that were ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin (collectively, “Corrosion States”). These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately to fracture. A rear toe link fracture may reduce the ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
We do not have replacement parts at this time, but we are working closely with the supplier to obtain the required parts as quickly as possible. When parts are available, the recall bulletin will be released and dealers can begin repairing vehicles. Once that happens, dealers will replace rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners.
We do not have a VIN list of affected vehicles at this time, but we are working with the supplier to obtain the affected VINs as soon as possible. Once that happens, the Investigate Vehicle History (IVH) screen in the Global Warranty Management (GWM) system. This action will be taken to assist dealers with determining which vehicles are involved so they can properly respond to customer inquiries.
Question and Answer Document (Q&A)
Attached to this message you will find a document that addresses the ten most likely questions customers may have regarding this Safety Recall. Please use this information as an aid to confidently answer customer concerns.
END OF MESSAGE
GLOBAL SAFETY FIELD INVESTIGATIONS
7 Affected Products
Vehicles
| MAKE | MODEL | YEAR |
| BUICK | LACROSSE | 2010-2013 |
| BUICK | REGAL | 2012-2013 |
| CHEVROLET | MALIBU | 2013 |
9 Associated Documents
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Safety Recall N202308930 Rear Suspension Toe Link May Break
RMISC-20V764-3258.pdf 103.557KB
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Open in new tab Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – Dealer Notification re Upcoming Safety Recall N202308930
Loading...Defect Notice 573 Report
RCLRPT-20V764-9158.PDF 214.751KB
Loading...Miscellaneous Document – Chronology of Defect / Noncompliance Determination (Toe Link Corrosion)
RMISC-20V764-4632.pdf 152.259KB
Loading...Recall Acknowledgement
Loading...Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – Dealer Notification re Stop Delivery Order for Upcoming Safety Recall N202308930
Loading...Recall 573 Report
RCLRPT-20V764-8947.PDF 214.827KB
Loading...Miscellaneous Document – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Safety Recall N202308930 Rear Suspension Toe Link May Break
RMISC-20V764-3728.pdf 103.557KB
Loading...Recall 573 Report
RCLRPT-20V764-4787.PDF 214.827KB
Loading...Latest Recalls Documents
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=20V764&docType=RCL
For the most up to date documents from NHTSA for this Recall, click the lick above
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- Durability is superior for cars, trucks and SUVs; road salt, oil, and a host of other common under car contaminants will eventually destroy the rubber bushings on your vehicles, not to mention the weight and torque forces that typically compress rubber
- Hyper-Flex replacement polyurethane components stand up well to contaminants that often destroy rubber and have been engineered to give longer-lasting performance and not compress permanently
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- Durability is superior for cars, trucks and SUVs; road salt, oil, and a host of other common under car contaminants will eventually destroy the rubber bushings on your vehicles, not to mention the weight and torque forces that typically compress rubber
- Hyper-Flex replacement polyurethane components stand up well to contaminants that often destroy rubber and have been engineered to give longer-lasting performance and not compress permanently
- Hyper-Flex is offered in a variety of durometers (firmness or softness), depending on product application; performance tested and race proven; used for all of Energy Suspension products that require a higher level of performance and durability
- If you are modifying, building a new vehicle for scratch or restoring an old one, Energy Suspension's Hyper-Flex performance polyurethane should be the 'ground zero' focus of your present and next vehicle plans
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- Durability is superior for cars, trucks and SUVs; road salt, oil, and a host of other common under car contaminants will eventually destroy the rubber bushings on your vehicles, not to mention the weight and torque forces that typically compress rubber
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Last update on 2021-02-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Last update on 2021-02-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
