NHTSA Complaint #11374309 — 2013 CADILLAC SRX

LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL DUE TO TOE-LINK ADJUSTMENT FAILURE. FOR MONTHS BEFORE THE LOSS OF CONTROL INCIDENT, THE REAR OF THE 2013 CADILLAC SRX WOULD WOBBLE SLIGHTLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (50+ MPH). THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE CADILLAC DEALER DID A VISUAL INSPECTION BUT SAW NO OBVIOUS PROBLEMS AND SPECULATED THE CAR WAS FOLLOWING THE ROAD RUTS OF WORN PAVEMENT. ON A HIGH SPEED DIVIDED HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXITED A BRIDGE SECTION FOR REGULAR PAVEMENT AND THE STEERING WHEEL COCKED ABOUT FIVE DEGREES TO THE LEFT BUT THE WHEELS REMAINED POINTED STRAIGHT. A CALL WAS PLACED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE PROBLEM EXAMINED. RETURNING TO THE SAME HIGHWAY AN HOUR LATER IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, ACCELERATION ON THE ENTRANCE RAMP (DOWNHILL) AT ABOUT 40 MPH CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHICH DARTED BACK AND FORTH VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE COULD BE SLOWED TO A STOP AND DID NOT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE OR THE GUARDRAIL. THE LEFT REAR TIRE WAS AT AN EXTREME ANGLE OF CAMBER WITH THE TOP OF THE WHEEL INWARD TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE LEFT TOE LINK ADJUSTMENT PART WAS APPARENTLY WORN ON THE THREADS. BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT PARTS WERE REPLACED.