Safety Recall N212346640 – Rear Toe Link May Fracture – 2010-2013 Buick & Chevrolet

December 22, 2021 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V00F000

Rear Toe Links May Fracture

A rear toe link fracture may reduce the driver’s ability to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V00F

Manufacturer General MotorseBay logo, LLC

Components SUSPENSION

Potential Number of Units Affected 4,271

 

Summary

General MotorseBay logo, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse, 2012-2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu 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 an improper amount of 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 fracture.

 

Remedy

Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 27, 2022. 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 N212346640. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recalls 20V-764 and 21V-633.

 

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

 


Condition

General MotorseBay logo has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2010 – 2013 model year Buick LaCrosse, 2012 – 2013 model year Buick Regal, and 2013 model year 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”), Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador (collectively, “Corrosion Region”). These vehicles may have rear toe links that received improper electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the link to be more susceptible to long-term 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.

 

Correction

Dealers will replace rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners.

 

Parts

Quantity Part Name Part No.
1Rear Adjust Link Kit (LaCrosse)85532059
1Rear Adjust Link Kit (Regal, Malibu)85532060

 

Service Procedure

Replace both rear adjust links. Refer to Adjust Link Replacement in SI.

 


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Safety Recall N212346640
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?

General MotorseBay logo has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2010 – 2013 model year Buick LaCrosse, 2012 – 2013 model year Buick Regal, and 2013 model year 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?

These vehicles may have rear toe links that received improper electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the link to be more susceptible to long-term 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?

None

 

Q4) What is the remedy/repair?

Dealers will replace rear suspension toe links and adjuster fasteners.

 

Q5) What is the safety risk?  Is the vehicle safe to drive?

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?

No, this inspection/repair will be done at no cost to the customer.

 

Q7) Is the remedy/repair available now?

Yes, please see the attached bulletin for details.

 

Q8) What should customers do until recall repairs can be completed?  Are there any special instructions?

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?

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 MotorseBay logo.  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?

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.

 


Chronology :

GM expanded safety recall 20V764 on August 12, 2021. During the investigation that prompted that recall expansion, GM’s product investigator discovered the recalled rear toe links on a Buick Regal vehicle that was outside the expanded recall population. GM opened a new product investigation on August 20, 2021 to confirm whether these links were installed on this vehicle as original equipment (and not as replacement equipment) and whether the expanded recall population captured all of the recalled rear toe links.

GM conducted an in-depth investigation and analysis of the relevant manufacturing records, and determined that the scope of NHTSA recalls 20V764 and 21V633 may not have captured all of the rear toe links made by this supplier that may be subject to long-term corrosion risk due to improper e-coating during the manufacturing process.

GM’s investigation included a supplemental vehicle evaluation test on the impact of the subject condition on drivability, and an updated field data analysis, which did not identify any crashes or injuries attributable to this condition in the vehicle population covered by this recall expansion.

On December 16, 2021, GM’s Safety and Field Action Decision Authority decided to expand NHTSA recalls 20V764 and 21V633.

 


7 Affected Products

Vehicles

MAKEMODELYEAR
BUICKLACROSSE2010-2013
BUICKREGAL2012-2013
CHEVROLETMALIBU2013

 


22 Associated Documents

Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – Dealer Message re REVISION N212346640-01 Safety Recall Rear Suspension Toe Link May Break Customer Letter Added

RCMN-21V00F-5549.pdf 55.397KB

 


Miscellaneous Document – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Safety Recall N212346640 Rear Suspension Toe Link May Break

RMISC-21V00F-0335.pdf 100.683KB

 


Miscellaneous Document – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Safety Recall N212346640 Rear Suspension Toe Link May Break

RMISC-21V00F-6704.pdf 102.497KB

 


Safety Bulletin

RCSB-21V00F-2798.pdf 117.254KB

 


Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – Dealer Message re N212346640 – Safety Recall Rear Suspension Toe Link May Break

RCMN-21V00F-1204.pdf 61.194KB

 


Miscellaneous Document – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Safety Recall N212346640 Rear Suspension Toe Link May Break

RMISC-21V00F-2282.pdf 100.683KB

 


Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – Dealer Message re Upcoming Safety Recall N212346640 Rear Suspension Toe Link May Break

RCMN-21V00F-7321.pdf 62.151KB

 


Recall 573 Report

RCLRPT-21V00F-1931.PDF 216.062KB

 


Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-21V00F-1154.pdf 645.519KB

 


Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-21V00F-5801.PDF 216.018KB

 


Safety Bulletin

RCSB-21V00F-8867.pdf 143.475KB

 


ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-21V00F-9723.pdf 83.163KB

 


Safety Bulletin

RCSB-21V00F-9002.pdf 144.201KB

 


Miscellaneous Document – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Safety Recall N212346640 Rear Suspension Toe Link May Break

RMISC-21V00F-6479.pdf 100.683KB

 


Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – Dealer Message re Rear Suspension Toe Link Safety Recalls Rear Suspension Toe Link May Break Revised Buick LaCrosse Labor Time in Warranty Information Table Models: 2010 – 2013 Buick Lacrosse 2012 – 2013 Buick Regal 2013 Chevrolet Malibu

RCMN-21V00F-7631.pdf 59.648KB

 


Safety Bulletin

RCSB-21V00F-0922.pdf 143.562KB

 


Miscellaneous Document – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Safety Recall N212346640 Rear Suspension Toe Link May Break

RMISC-21V00F-9430.pdf 100.683KB

 


Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc) – Dealer Message re REVISION: N212346640-03 – Safety Recall Rear Suspension Toe Link May Break Revised Service Procedure

RCMN-21V00F-5112.pdf 52.037KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2022-1

RCLQRT-21V00F-2129.PDF 211.133KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2022-2

RCLQRT-21V00F-9303.PDF 211.24KB

 


Recall 573 Report – 1/14/22

RCLRPT-21V00F-4659.PDF 216.035KB

 


Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2022-3

RCLQRT-21V00F-6578.PDF 211.327KB

 


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