DETROIT (May 24, 2013) — General Motors Co. is recalling more than 27,000 2013 model-year Cadillac SRX crossover vehicles, equipped with 18-inch wheels, because of the risk of loose wheels caused by potentially loose wheel nuts.
The affected vehicles were assembled in between Jan. 31, 2012, and March 18, 2013, GM said in its recall notice.
GM said it has been examining the issue since last October, when its engineering department discovered a condition of loosening wheel nuts on two durability test vehicles.
If the lug nuts loosen, they may fall off or cause the wheel studs to fracture. Either condition would allow the wheel to separate from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash, GM said.
GM has determined the problem has multiple, overlapping causes, including: a blue tint teflon topcoat on the suspect wheel nuts, a nut torque at the lower end of the acceptable range and a "rarely occuring" rotor dimensional characteristic. The condition affects only those vehicles with 18-inch wheels.
GM said the recall effects 18,871 vehicles in North America and 7,397 that were exported beyond North America.
GM said the problem will be addressed by dealers' performing an inspection and a tire rotation.
GM said it knows of no crashes or injuries due to the issue and that no wheels have separated from the SUVs built on car-based platforms.