Product Safety - Rear Suspension Weld Separation

The service procedure in this bulletin has been revised. There are two labels on the adjustment link; one on the short end and one on the long end. The label that requires inspection is the label on the long end (inboard side). If the label is missing on the long end, replace the adjustment link. Please communicate this information to all technicians immediately. Discard all copies of bulletin 06029, issued May 2006.

General Motors has decided that a defect, which relates to motor vehicle safety, exists in certain 2005 Cadillac SRX and STS vehicles. Some of these vehicles have a condition in which a left or right rear suspension toe link assembly could separate because of a weld that was not to specification. If this were to occur, the affected rear wheel would be able to turn in or out, and would affect vehicle control. If this were to happen while the vehicle is moving, it could result in a vehicle crash.

Dealers are to inspect the serial number on the toe link assemblies, and replace the assemblies if necessary.

Involved are certain 2005 Cadillac SRX and STS vehicles built within these VIN breakpoints:

Important:  Dealers are to confirm vehicle eligibility prior to beginning repairs by using GMVIS. Not all vehicles within the above breakpoints may be involved.

For dealers with involved vehicles, a listing with involved vehicles containing the complete vehicle identification number, customer name, and address information has been prepared and will be provided through the applicable system listed below. Dealers will not have a report available if they have no involved vehicles currently assigned.

--- US GM dealers - GM DealerWorld Recall Information

-- Canadian GM dealers - GMinfoNet Recall Reports

-- Export dealers - sent directly to dealers

The listing may contain customer names and addresses obtained from Motor Vehicle Registration Records. The use of such motor vehicle registration data for any purpose other than follow-up necessary to complete this recall is a violation of law in several states/provinces/countries. Accordingly, you are urged to limit the use of this report to the follow-up necessary to complete this recall.

Parts required to complete this recall are to be obtained from General Motors Service Parts Operations (GMSPO). Please refer to your "involved vehicles listing" before ordering parts. Normal orders should be placed on a DRO = Daily Replenishment Order. In an emergency situation, parts should be ordered on a CSO = Customer Special Order.

* Very few vehicles will require adjustment link replacement. Parts should only be ordered when serial number inspection determines that it is necessary to replace the rear suspension adjustment link.

1. Remove the left and right adjustment links from the vehicle. Refer to the Adjustment Link Replacement procedure for 2005 Cadillac STS or SRX in SI.




Important: The adjustment link is installed to two locations of the rear suspension: The short end of the adjustment link is installed to the knuckle or (outboard) side (2). The long end of the adjustment link is installed to the frame or (inboard) side (3). The serial number (1) that requires inspection is located on the label on the long end or inboard side (3) of the adjustment link. Refer to the illustration above. If the label is missing, replace the adjustment link. All toe link serial numbers are to be recorded on the R.O. and transferred to the Comments section when submitting the claim.

2. Locate and record the serial numbers (1) found on the adjustment links. The serial number is the bottom number. If the label is missing, replace the adjusment link.
3. Determine if the adjustment links must be replaced. The serial numbers of the adjustment links requiring replacement are below.

Serial Numbers of Adjustment Link Requiring Replacement:

04122369 through 04122766

04122820 through 04123413

•	If the serial numbers on the adjustment links are NOT within the ranges above, the adjustment links do not need replacing. Reinstall the adjustment links. Refer to the Adjustment Link Replacement procedure for 2005 Cadillac STS or SRX in SI. A wheel alignment is not necessary.

•

If the serial numbers on the adjustment links ARE within the ranges above or the label is missing, replace the adjustment link. Refer to the Adjustment Link Replacement procedure for 2005 Cadillac STS or SRX in SI. Perform a wheel alignment. Refer to the Rear Toe Adjustment procedure for 2005 Cadillac STS or SRX in SI.

4. Record both serial numbers, even if both links are good, in the Comments/Note section when submitting claims.

The General Motors Courtesy Transportation Program is intended to minimize customer inconvenience when a vehicle requires a repair that is covered by the New Vehicle Limited Warranty. The availability of courtesy transportation to customers whose vehicles are within the warranty coverage period and involved in a product recall is very important in maintaining customer satisfaction. Dealers are to ensure that these customers understand that shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation is available and will be provided at no charge. Dealers should refer to the General Motors Service Policies and Procedures Manual for courtesy transportation guidelines.

Submit a Product Recall Claim with the information indicated below:

Refer to the General Motors WINS Claims Processing Manual for details on Product Recall Claim Submission.

General Motors will notify customers of this recall on their vehicle (see copy of customer letter included with this bulletin).

Letters will be sent to known owners of record located within areas covered by the US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act. For owners outside these areas, dealers should notify customers using the attached sample letter.

The US National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act provides that each vehicle that is subject to a recall of this type must be adequately repaired within a reasonable time after the customer has tendered it for repair. A failure to repair within sixty days after tender of a vehicle is prima facie evidence of failure to repair within a reasonable time. If the condition is not adequately repaired within a reasonable time, the customer may be entitled to an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle at no charge or to a refund of the purchase price less a reasonable allowance for depreciation. To avoid having to provide these burdensome remedies, every effort must be made to promptly schedule an appointment with each customer and to repair their vehicle as soon as possible. In the recall notification letters, customers are told how to contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if the recall is not completed within a reasonable time.

All unsold new vehicles in dealers' possession and subject to this recall must be held and inspected/repaired per the service procedure of this recall bulletin before customers take possession of these vehicles.

Dealers are to service all vehicles subject to this recall at no charge to customers, regardless of mileage, age of vehicle, or ownership, from this time forward.

Customers who have recently purchased vehicles sold from your vehicle inventory, and for which there is no customer information indicated on the dealer listing, are to be contacted by the dealer. Arrangements are to be made to make the required correction according to the instructions contained in this bulletin. A copy of the customer letter is provided in this bulletin for your use in contacting customers. Recall follow-up cards should not be used for this purpose, since the customer may not as yet have received the notification letter.

In summary, whenever a vehicle subject to this recall enters your vehicle inventory, or is in your dealership for service in the future, you must take the steps necessary to be sure the recall correction has been made before selling or releasing the vehicle.

Dear General Motors Customer:

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

General Motors has decided that a defect that relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain 2005 model year Cadillac SRX and STS vehicles. As a result, GM is conducting a safety recall. We apologize for this inconvenience. However, we have taken this action for your safety and continued satisfaction with our products.

Your vehicle may have a condition in which a left or right rear suspension toe link assembly could separate because of a weld that was not to specification. If this were to occur, the affected rear wheel would be able to turn in or out, and would affect vehicle control. If this were to happen while the vehicle is moving, it could result in a vehicle crash.

Your GM dealer will inspect the serial numbers on the toe link assemblies and replace them if necessary. This service will be performed for you at no charge .

It is likely that your dealer will need your vehicle longer than the actual inspection time of approximately 40 minutes because of service scheduling requirements. If one or both toe link assemblies require replacement, your dealer will also perform a wheel alignment, which will take an additional hour.

If your vehicle is within the New Vehicle Limited Warranty your dealer may provide you with shuttle service or some other form of courtesy transportation while your vehicle is at the dealership for this repair. Please refer to your Owner’s Manual and your dealer for details on courtesy transportation.

You should contact your GM dealer to arrange a service appointment as soon as possible. Bring the enclosed customer reply form with you when you visit your dealer. The form identifies the repairs required. If you no longer own this vehicle, please let us know by completing the form and mailing it back to us.

If you have questions or concerns that your dealer is unable to resolve, please contact the appropriate Customer Assistance Center at the number listed below. More information about this recall can be found at the Owner Center at MyGMLink, http://www.gm.com/recall

If after contacting your dealer and the Customer Assistance Center, you are still not satisfied we have done our best to remedy this condition without charge and within a reasonable time, you may wish to write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington DC 20590, or call the toll-free Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1.888.327.4236 (TTY 1.800.424.9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Federal regulation requires that any vehicle lessor receiving this recall notice must forward a copy of this notice to the lessee within ten days.

Scott Lawson

General Director,

Customer and Relationship Services

Enclosure

06029