Has the Axle Breakage Issue of the Envision Been Completely Resolved?
4 Answers
No, not only the Envision had axle breakage issues, but the American-made Kuga also experienced similar problems at the time. Here is more relevant information: Front Suspension: The Envision's front suspension uses a MacPherson strut independent suspension, which is standard for this class. However, the Envision has reinforced its front suspension by adding a steel reinforcement to the open-ended axle of the front suspension's lower control arm bushing, avoiding the risk of bolt detachment due to stress concentration at the bolt hole. The subframe adopts a high-strength full-frame subframe, and the overall performance is satisfactory. Currently, the Envision no longer experiences the previous axle breakage issues. Rear Suspension: The rear suspension uses a multi-link independent suspension with aluminum alloy material, effectively reducing the unsprung mass and improving the suspension's overall responsiveness. The lower rear control arm is made of double-layer stamped steel plates, with the shock absorber and spring arranged above, while the control arm is lightened to further enhance the suspension's damping capability.
I previously drove an older-generation Envision and encountered suspension noise issues. The axle fracture incidents mainly occurred in some 2014-2017 models, especially those with defective split control arm bushing designs. Later, the manufacturer issued a recall notice and replaced them with integrated bushings free of charge. All facelifted models after 2018 received upgraded components, and there haven't been large-scale axle fracture complaints since. However, those unrepaired older cars in the used car market remain concerning. If buying used, I strongly recommend checking the recall records thoroughly or directly opting for newer models - the chassis now feels noticeably more stable during high-speed cornering.
I'm a technician at a repair shop and have handled dozens of Envision chassis repairs over the past five years. To say it's completely resolved depends on the timeline—after the 2018 facelift switched to integrated bushings, we genuinely haven't seen any axle fracture cases since. But owners of older models still need to be cautious: vehicles that underwent recalls but didn't get their bushings replaced on time still pose risks as rubber components age. We've encountered cases where a 2016 model owner forgot about the recall, resulting in a control arm detachment. I recommend checking bushing conditions every two years, especially for those frequently driving on rough roads—after all, the suspension system is critical to driving safety.
Having focused on automotive safety for over a decade, the Envision's axle fracture issue was essentially a batch problem caused by design flaws. After General Motors' 2017 recall, they implemented three improvements: replacing split bushings with single-piece forged components, reinforcing control arm material thickness, and optimizing suspension geometry. These modifications have proven stable in current models, with third-party crash test data confirming the suspension meets strength standards. While any vehicle may experience occasional failures, statistically the new Envision's axle fracture probability is now comparable to other SUVs in its class.
