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AUTO SUSPENSION DEFECTS


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Defective Suspension Lawsuits

Suspension Defects & Recalls: A Hidden Cause of Accidents

Automotive suspension failure can be caused by design defects, manufacturing defects, or poor vehicle maintenance. In recent years, a number of car manufacturers have recalled vehicles due to faulty suspension systems, which have led to serious accidents and injuries.

Many issues with auto suspension involve poor workmanship at auto plants, and others are attributed to poor design. Either way, a defective suspension component or system can lead to a failure on the roadway and increase the risk of collision and injury for drivers and passengers.

Anyone injured in a road accident that resulted from a defective automotive component may be able to file claims against a manufacturer, distributor, dealership or negligent mechanic.

  • Pulling One Side While Drive
  • Uneven Tire Pressure
  • Uneven Tire Wear
  • Poor Wheel Alignment
  • Bad Tire Rods 
  • Bad Steering Rack
  • Brake Caliper Sticking 
  • Control Arm Damage

Causes of Suspension Damage

  • Potholes 
  • Defective Design 
  • Poor Maintenance 
  • Overloading of the Vehicle 
  • Rust
  • Age 
  • Chemical Changes in the Metal 

Following a serious car accident, victims should contact an experienced auto defect lawyer to investigate.

Joe Lyon is a highly-rated and experienced product liability attorney, well-versed in the science and economic impact such an injury or death has on the victim’s life and family. 


Defective Suspension Recalls


  1. In January, 2017, Land Rover and Range Rover units were recalled over a suspension issue which could lead drivers to lose control of their vehicle. The recall statement said if the vehicle is exposed to a heavy impact such as a deep pothole, the front suspension may fail. If the front suspension fails, the front wheel could separate from its lower joint and lead to a loss of vehicle control.
  2. In 2016, Ford Motor recalled about 81,000 sport-utility vehicles to fix a suspension issue. The defect affected 2014-15 Ford Explorer and Ford Police Interceptor SUVs, and was linked to at least one injury. The vehicles’ rear suspension toe links were reportedly poorly welded and may fracture, resulting in loss of vehicle control.
  3. In July, 2016, Mitsubishi recalled over 174,000 cars and SUVs over a corrosion issue. The recall included the 2002-2007 Lancer, 2004 Lancer Wagon, 2003-2006 Lancer Evolution, 2003-2006 Outlander, and 2007-2013 Outlander V-6. According to Mitsubishi, the front lower control arm might detach from other suspension components after being exposed to salt water, making road salt a danger to car owners.
  4. In August, 2016, Toyota Motor recalled 337,000 vehicles—Toyota RAV4 SUV from the 2006-11 model years and the 2010 Lexus HS250h. Toyota first recalled these vehicles in 2012 because of a wobbly rear suspension. The company recalled them in 2013 because the nuts used to adjust the rear wheel alignment weren’t tightened properly. In 2016, Toyota found that rust can form on the suspension arm threads if the nuts for the rear wheel alignment weren’t tightened correctly. In severe cases, the suspension arm may separate from the vehicle and cause the driver to lose control.
  5. In June, 2017, Mazda issued two recalls for over 100,000 units of their 2004-2008 RX-8 sports coupe. Mazda said there may be “inappropriate caulking” on the suspension’s front lower control arm’s ball joint, which may cause the socket to crack. If that occurs, and a heavy load is applied to the suspension, the ball joint may separate and make cause a loss of control. The second recall noted a problem with the fuel pump—heat from the engine and exhaust may cause the fuel pump’s pipe to deteriorate and cause a fuel leak.
  6. In June, 2016, Kia recalled 14,000 2012 Sedona units, noting road salt could corrode the front control arms, and ultimately lead to control arm failure. A suspension failure could result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
  7. In June, 2016, Hyundai recalled almost 15,000 2011 Elantra and Sonata units because the front suspension coil springs may be susceptible to corrosion. The company said that over time corrosion could cause the springs to fail, potentially damaging front tires and causing rapid air loss or tire failure.

Tesla Suspension Defects

Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles manufactured between September 2013 and October 2018 are allegedly equipped with front and rear suspension control arm assembly components that may be prone to loosen, wear, crack and/or break and cause motorists to lose control during operation.

Plaintiffs’ complaints have been submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and alleges a Tesla suspension defect poses an unreasonable safety risk. According to the lawsuit, Tesla has “concealed” the suspension defect from customers and regulators.

The Tesla suspension defect can lead to issues without warning and has the potential to cause a sudden loss of steering control while a vehicle is in motion. The rear or front control arms can separate from the steering knuckle, according to the claims. In effect, the defect could lead to the wheels on the vehicles fold inward or detach.

In October 2020, the China State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) announced that it would recall about 40,000 Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles due to a suspension defect. The agency reported that the ball studs of the rear connecting rod of the front suspension showed cracking, increasing the risk of accidents.

The lawsuit mentions that in 2016 Tesla required customers to sign non-disclosure agreements in exchange for repairing failed suspension components. Tesla eventually ended this practice, though has reportedly continued to downplay the seriousness of the suspension issues.

GM Suspension Recall

A GM suspension recall covers 2012 and 2013 Buick Regal, the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and the 2010 through 2013 Buick Lacrosse midsize cars that were sold or registered in a number of “salt-belt” states. The rear toe links can rust and fail on 213,000 GM vehicles.

A coating on the toe links can chip away, exposing the metal and allowing rust to develop, compromising the structure. Rust can cause the links to fracture. The recall covers vehicles sold in several states. 

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ABOUT THE LYON FIRM

Joseph Lyon has 17 years of experience representing individuals in complex litigation matters. He has represented individuals in every state against many of the largest companies in the world.

The Firm focuses on single-event civil cases and class actions involving corporate neglect & fraud, toxic exposure, product defects & recalls, medical malpractice, and invasion of privacy.

NO COST UNLESS WE WIN

The Firm offers contingency fees, advancing all costs of the litigation, and accepting the full financial risk, allowing our clients full access to the legal system while reducing the financial stress while they focus on their healthcare and financial needs.

photo of attorney Joe Lyon reviewing suspension defects
A Voice for Those who have suffered 

Why are these cases important?

Serious injuries and accidents often result through no fault of the injured party, yet the injured victim suffers from life altering physical, mental and financial losses. Such economic and human losses can have devastating financial consequences on individuals and families if not properly compensated. Tort law allows those individuals to seek just legal recourse through personal injury lawsuits.

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Questions about Suspension Defects & Recalls

Has My Car Been Recalled?

Consumers can follow recall news or search for current and past recalls on the Web sites of the NHTSA, as well as on other car safety advocate outlets. Look on your car windshield for a 17-character Vehicle Identification Number. Your VIN is also located on your car’s registration card.

If your car has been recalled and you have suffered an injury, contact an auto defect attorney to investigate a potential claim

Can I File an Auto Defect Lawsuit?

You may not be aware that your car is defective. It is not always obvious when your seat belt or other safety component fails to function as intended. It can take an expert in auto engineering to determine what contributed to an accident or injury.

You can contact The Lyon Firm, and we will work diligently to review your auto accident case. If an auto defect was in part responsible for an auto injury, a lawsuit can be filed and a large settlement is likely.

If negligent manufacturers and automakers are directly responsible for an auto-related injury, a product liability and personal injury lawsuit may be filed and compensation may be recovered for accident victims. Plaintiffs may seek compensation that may include property damages, past and future medical expenses, lost wages and future earnings, and pain and suffering.

The Lyon Firm takes pride in representing consumers to make America’s roads safer by holding negligent auto manufacturers accountable for auto defects that lead to accidents and injuries. When car makers fail to institute basic safety measures and fail to test auto components before releasing cars tot he public, they may be targeted in product liability lawsuits.

Did a suspension Defect Cause my Accident?

Auto defects have been known to cause accidents in tire failure, tread separation accidents, brake malfunction, suspension failure and sudden acceleration cases.

Auto defects may not cause every accident, but they can play an integral part in causing injury in the event of an accident. This is common in defective seat back collapse, seat belt defects and airbag defects. When these crucial safety features fail to function as they were intended.

what happens if suspension fails?

Serious safety risks exist with suspension failure events, including losing control of a vehicle or even wheels detaching from the vehicle. 

Who is Responsible for Auto Defects?

Auto manufacturers and car makers can be held liable in auto defect lawsuits. Many automakers outsource some of their production and may not always be aware of some defects. Honda, for example, purchased all their defective airbags from Takata.

Some defective auto part suits name other defendants like negligent auto dealerships or auto repair shops who alter car parts or fail to properly repair automobiles and leave a serious safety risk.

What Cars are Defective?

The list of defective automobiles changes each year, and it is more likely that certain components are defective rather than an entire brand name. Nowadays many car makers use the same third-party suppliers, which compounds safety issues when a defective auto part is produced.

What are the Most common Auto Defects?

In recent years, the most common auto defects have been faulty airbags. Millions of cars were recalled for defective airbags. Other common auto defects are defective throttles, defective car software, and tire failures. Tire failure has been an issue in many car accidents and truck accidents.

Why Hire an auto defect Attorney?

A Cincinnati Auto Defect Lawyer can assist in not only reviewing your accident and injury case, but is able to hold large corporations accountable for the negligent actions in releasing unsafe products to the public.

Auto companies must be held liable in order to keep the roads safe in America. So not only can The Lyon Firm seek compensation for injured plaintiffs, but we can file lawsuits to punish car makers for failing to properly test their auto parts before they are sold to the public.

When car makers fail to produce reliable cars and fail to provide basic road safety features, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and product liability attorneys can hold them responsible and help mitigate injuries and future damages.

The majority of accidents and injuries on the road are preventable, but defective auto design and manufacturing defects may leave victims with huge medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and, in many cases, permanent injuries.

Can I join the Tesla lawsuit?

If you have been injured due to any auto defect related to a Tesla, you should contact an attorney to investigate your case. You may be able to join a class action or file an individual claim. The Tesla class action lawsuit involves current and former Tesla Model S and Model X owners nationwide.

Defective Suspensions:  Injuries and Settlements

It is estimated that thousands of road accident victims are injured in auto-defect related crashes every year.

Following an accident, it is advisable to contact an experienced lawyer to investigate and provide a victim with the resources they need to prepare for potential legal action. Common defective suspension related accident injuries may include:

$ Confidential Settlement

Defective Suspension: Quadriplegia and Wrongful Death. 

(Youngstown, Ohio)

Confidential Settlement provided for more comprehensive medical care, end stage care, and emotional closure for surviving spouse of thirty years.

Extensive litigation demonstrated that the auto dealership had failed to diagnose and repair a defective right-rear trailing arm despite evidence of damage. Notably, the new car was unable to be properly aligned and the alignment test showed the right rear tire was out of specification.

Despite the test results and customer complaints, the auto dealership maintained the car was safe to drive and did not require additional work. However, the auto dealer never warned the driver of the issue.

It was then proven that the damage to the trailing arm was a significant contributing factor is causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle in a one-car accident. Following discovery and mediation, the case was resolved for a confidential seven figure amount.

$ Confidential Settlement

RV Suspension: Overloaded Tow Capacity: Instability

(Hebron, Ohio): Joe Lyon was lead counsel in a case against a notable RV Dealership for the negligent pairing of the tow vehicle and the recreational camper. 

The Dealer installed the hitch and recommended the use of a tow vehicle that was not within the towing specifications for the camper.  As a result, the excess weight caused the camper to sway and roll over in a tragic highway accident. The driver was catastrophically injured and ultimately passed away from his injuries. 

The case was resolved in mediation following extensive discovery.