NHTSA Complaint #10469190 — 2010 CADILLAC SRX

SRX 4-SPONTANEOUS SHEAR OF RIGHT REAR TIE ROD/BAR WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH ON MAJOR MULTI-LANE HIGHWAY, DAYLIGHT, DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS. NO BELLS OR WHISTLES. LOST CONTROL OF DIRECTION OF TRAVEL SWERVING BETWEEN LANES AS SPEED SLOWED AND/OR ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKES. NOTED LOUD SQUEALING NOISE AND REAR-END SPARKING FOR SEVERAL MILES UNTIL A SAFE OFFROAD STOP WAS ACCOMPLISHED. DEFENSIVE DRIVERS BEHIND AND BESIDE ME AVOIDED IMPACT AND CATASTROPHIC EVENT. FLAT BED REQUIRED. OFFLOAD OF VEHICLE FROM THE FLAT BED AND MOVEMENT TO REPAIR BAY, REQUIRED MECHANIC'S TO "MANUALLY" KICK THE WOBBLING, MARKEDLY TILTED WHEELS UPRIGHT TO DIRECT AUTO TRAVEL IN A STRAIGHT LINE. DEALER EVALUATION FOUND RIGHT REAR TIE BAR SHEARED, AND LEFT REAR TIE BAR LINK LOOSE. DEALER MECHANIC REPORTED CORROSION AND PART DEFECT, SPECIFICS OF REPORT NOT SHARED. DEALER REPORTED "REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY AND VEHICLE OPERATES AS DESIGNED." PERSONAL VEHICLE USE SPECIFICS INCLUDE NO OFFROAD USE, ONLY DEALER SERVICE, SEVERAL ELECTRICAL WARRANTY REPAIRS, MOST RECENT DEALER SERVICE WAS OIL CHANGE/LUBE 6/23/2012 , AND AIR BAG MODULE REPLACEMENT (WARRANTY) 7/5/2012. *TR