Some nine months after sales of the brand-new 2014 Acura RLX began in the States and the Japanese carmaker has issued a voluntary recall for 7,387 cars to replace rear suspension bolts that may not have been tightened properly.
We checked the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) website today, and while there’s no mention of a recall, we did find a complaint from an owner of the car that we believe is related, possibly even sparking the issue at hand.
The unnamed owner says the incident described below happened on October 5, 2013:
“I was driving down the freeway when the back-end of the car became very loose and out of control. The car was swerving back and forth violently. I was able to gain control avoiding the cars to the left of me and the ditch to the right. I was able to get the car under control and I slowed the speed way down,” the owner wrote in the complaint listed on NHTSA’s website.
“I pulled off the highway and into a driveway to inspect. I found the passenger rear tire tilted inwards towards the car at about a 20 degree angle and found the tie rod that connects the car to the new all wheel steering device disconnected and laying on the ground. The bolt either came out or sheered off. The car was towed to the dealer and inspected. They told me it was a defect and repaired it under warranty. Acura client care received the photos and a description from the dealer. I was informed the bolt probably vibrated loose.”
In a press statement, Acura said, “no customer crashes or injuries have been reported related to this issue” (we asked Acura about the complaint and are waiting for a response).
Acura added that during assembly, one or more of the eight bolts that attach several rear suspension components might have not been tightened properly. “A bolt that is not properly fastened could loosen over time and fall out, possibly allowing a portion of the rear suspension to move out of proper alignment, increasing the risk of a crash,” said the automaker.
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