OSHAWA, Ont.: General Motors will be contacting police departments in the US and Canada employing 2008 to 2012, Oshawa-made Impalas in their fleets about a part in the front suspension that could crack and result in a loss of operational control.

documents filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Recall Management Division in the US identify a defect in the front lower control arm on some vehicles that may fracture, which could affect handling, especially at higher speeds, and result in a crash.

In February, the documents state, a GM engineer was assigned to investigate several reports from two police fleets of front lower control arms that had fractured near the handling bushing sleeve.

Computer aided engineering (CAE) analysis determined the control arms used in the Impalas did not meet specifications, but those in base models (used by the public) exceeded durability requirements.

An Associated Press report says that 38,000 vehicles, all made at GM’s Oshawa, Ont. plant, will be recalled.

GM will instruct dealers to replac both front lower control arms at no cost to the police departments.

Dealer bulletins were to be released Aug. 14 followed by recall letters to police departments Aug. 21.

File from Associatd Press