Chrysler Top Ranked for EV Car-Shopping Experience Stellantis NV’s Chrysler brand ranked highest in the 2021 Pied Piper Omnichannel PSI® for Electric Vehicles (EVs) Auto Industry Study. The study answered the question, “What happens when EV customers shop for a vehicle by first visiting the brand’s website or a dealership website, and then visiting a dealership in person?” BMW was ranked second of the 21 battery electric or plug-in hybrid EV brands evaluated, followed by BMW’s Mini brand. How customers shop completely changed in the late 2000s with widespread acceptance and use of smartphones. More recently, brands that traditionally relied only on in-person sales have embraced new online digital retail tools. For the auto industry this has meant the appearance of “Buy Now” or “Buy from Home” buttons on brand and dealer websites, along with other online digital retail tools like inventory search, payment calculator, trade-in value estimator, test-drive request and others. Source: Pied Piper Management Company
Cadillac SRX, Saab 9-4X Recalled Again for Toe Links by David A. Wood, CarComplaints.com
A General Motors rear toe-link recall has been issued a second time for 2010-2016 Cadillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4X vehicles. More than 380,000 vehicles are recalled because the rear suspension toe-link adjusters may not have been tightened properly. Owners are warned to not drive their vehicles if they experience any of these warnings: • Service Traction Control message • Service Stabilitrak message • Stabilitrak warning light stays on or flashes intermittently • Service Rear Axle message • Chimes in combination with warning messages • Sway or wander while driving • Loud metallic or other unusual noise from the rear suspension • Off-center steering wheel • Uneven wear between the rear tires A customer who experiences these warnings should have the vehicle towed to a GM dealership. GM recalled 2010-2015 Ca-
dillac SRX and 2011-2012 Saab 9-4x vehicles in September 2014 because the jam nuts in the rear toe-link adjusters may not have been torqued to specification. GM dealers were told to inspect the toe links and increase the torque or replace the toe links if they were loose or damaged.
After the 2014 recall GM received reports of loose toe links in vehicles that had been repaired, so the automaker checked dealer repairs and determined some dealers had failed to follow instructions. GM revised the service procedures and also made them available to independent repair shops. GM further updated the service information in October 2020 to instruct technicians to always
replace the toe links rather than adjusting them after an alignment or other service. Then in November 2020, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into toe-link problems on 2010-2015 Cadillac SRX SUVs. At least nine SRX owners said the rear toe-link adjusters separated in vehicles that had been repaired during the recall. On June 7, NHTSA informed GM it had received additional toelink complaints and the problem was severe enough to conduct another recall. All the vehicles recalled in 2014 will need to be repaired again. Dealers will replace the adjustable toe links with non-adjustable toe links once owner recall letters are mailed Aug. 9. Cadillac SRX customers may call 800-458-8006 and Saab 9-4X customers may call 800-9559007. GM’s recall reference number is N212340980.
Order Audi Genuine Parts from these select dealers.
CALIFORNIA Audi Rocklin Rocklin
866.948.0048 916.836.1286 916.836.1293 Fax M-F 7:30am-6pm Sat 8am-5pm parts@audirocklin.com
Santa Monica Audi Santa Monica
877.842.9692 310.481.8216 310.393.6982 Fax M-F 7:30am-6:30pm Sat 8am-4pm wholesale@santamonicaaudi.com
WASHINGTON
Circle Audi
Audi Seattle
562.597.4892 562.343.5088 Fax M-F 7:30am-5pm wholesale@circleaudi.com www.circleaudi.com
206.634.8200 206.547.1581 Fax M-F 7am-6pm parts@uvwaudi.com www.audiseattle.com
Long Beach
Seattle
Niello Audi
Sacramento
800.590.8611 916.480.2851 916.483.1963 Fax M-F 8am-6pm audi.parts@niello.com
Audi Part Professionals are experts on collision parts, replacement components and mechanical items.
Regardless of the age of your customer’s Audi, Audi dealers have access to over 200,000 part numbers and are supported by a nationwide network of distribution centers to help ensure non-stocked parts are delivered the next day.
autobodynews.com / AUGUST 2021 AUTOBODY NEWS 47
