BULLETIN NOTES
This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below. The changes are noted in Red text.
Previous TSBs:

Date(s) Issued:

Previous TSBs:

Date(s) Issued:

02-004/22

05/24/22 and 11/18/22

02-004/11

07/11/11

02-002/20

01/09/20

02-005/09

06/05/09

02-001/19

01/02/19

02-004/08

05/18/08

02-006/18

03/26/18

02-001/04

01/14/04

02-004/16

02/15/16

APPLICABLE MODEL(S)/VINS
2013-2024 CX-5
2007-2023 CX-9

DESCRIPTION
Some customers may complain of signs of oil on the struts or shock absorbers. In most cases the oil that is present is
normal, and a result of the oil that remains on the shaft during the normal sweeping process of the shaft seal.
Follow the inspection guidelines below to determine if the condition is a result of the normal sweeping process or a failure
of the shaft seal.

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REPAIR PROCEDURE
Inspect the strut/shock absorber by using the following guidelines to determine if strut/shock absorber replacement is
necessary or not.
• If it is determined to be oil seepage, the strut/shock absorber does NOT need to be replaced.
• If it is determined to be oil leakage, the strut/shock absorber DOES needs to be replaced.
NOTE: Warranty claims submitted for oil seepage strut/shock absorbers will be denied or subject to debit.
OIL SEEPAGE:
Oil seepage is caused by the following factors, but DOES NOT require component replacement:
• A small amount of oil seeps outside through the dust lip during normal operation.
• The oil film thickness is uneven due to production variations of the rods and seals.

(1) Dust Lip
(2) Garter Spring
(3) Main Lip
(4) Rod
(5) Oil
(6) Oil Film
(7) Oil Seepage
(8) Rebound direction

When a shock absorber gets compressed and then rebounds, most of the oil on the rod (4) is wiped off by the main lip
(3) and some oil (6) remains inside the space between the main lip and the dust lip (1). When a shock absorber
rebounds (8), most of the remaining oil on the rod is wiped off by the dust lip and a very small amount of oil goes outside
as seepage (7). This thin oil layer can be wrongly taken as oil leakage, however, seepage of up to 1/3 of the extent of the
oil seal zone (as shown in the table below) doesn’t affect the normal functioning of the mechanism.
OIL LEAKAGE:
Oil leakage is caused by the following factors and DOES require component replacement:
• Rod damage (dent, etching, rust, or foreign substance)
• Lip damage
• Seal deterioration (an abrasion or hardening)

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HOW TO DETERMINE OIL SEEPAGE vs OIL LEAKAGE:
TYPE: STRUT
Appearance

Description

Replacement Required

Oil Seepage (Normal):
A thin layer of oil film seeps out from below the bump
stop and runs down the sides, but does not reach the
spring seat. The surface appears dirty due to oil and
dust, but it is not wet with oil dripping / running down
the sides and the damping function is still performing
correctly.

NO
These situation will not worsen
since it is just an alternation
between damping and drying.
Clean and dry the unit as much
as possible.

Oil Leakage (Mild):
Oil leaks out from below the bump cap and runs down
the sides past the spring seat. The surface appears
wet with oil dripping / running down the sides.
Oil Leakage (Moderate):
Oil leaks out from below the bump cap and runs down
the sides well past the spring seat. The surface
appears wet with oil dripping / running down the
sides.
Oil Leakage (Severe):
Oil leaks out from below the bump cap and runs down
the sides past the spring seat, nearly the full length of
the strut. The surface appears wet with oil dripping /
running down the sides.

YES
The oil leak will worsen over
time.

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TYPE: SHOCK ABSORBER WITH SPRING SEAT
Appearance
Description
Oil Seepage (Normal):
A thin layer of oil film seeps out from below the bump
stop and runs down the sides, but does not reach the
spring seat. The surface appears dirty due to oil and
dust, but it is not wet with oil dripping / running down
the sides and the damping function is still performing
correctly.
Oil Seepage (Normal):
A thin layer of oil film seeps out from below the bump
stop and runs down the sides, but does not run past
the spring seat. The surface appears dirty due to oil
and dust, but it is not wet with oil dripping / running
down the sides and the damping function is still
performing correctly.

Replacement Required

NO
These situation will not worsen
since it is just an alternation
between damping and drying.
Clean and dry the unit as much
as possible.

Oil Leakage (Mild):
Oil leaks out from below the bump cap and runs down
the sides to the spring seat. The surface appears wet
with oil dripping / running down the sides.
Oil Leakage (Moderate):
Oil leaks out from below the bump cap and runs down
the sides past the spring seat. The surface appears
wet with oil dripping / running down the sides.

YES
The oil leak will worsen over
time.

Oil Leakage (Severe):
Oil leaks out from below the bump cap and runs down
the sides well past the spring seat, nearly the full
length of the shock absorber. The surface appears
wet with oil dripping / running down the sides.

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TYPE: SHOCK ABSORBER
Appearance

Description
Replacement Required
Oil Seepage (Normal):
A thin layer of oil film seeps out from below the dust
cover and runs down the sides of the shock
absorber. The surface appears dirty due to oil and
dust, but it is not wet with oil dripping / running down
NO
the sides and the damping function is still performing
These situation will not worsen
correctly.
since it is just an alternation
between damping and drying.
Oil Seepage (Normal):
Clean and dry the unit as much
A thin layer of oil film seeps out from below the dust
as possible.
cover and runs approx. 1/3 way down the sides of the
shock absorber. The surface appears dirty due to oil
and dust, but it is not wet with oil dripping / running
down the sides and the damping function is still
performing correctly.
Oil Leakage (Mild):
Oil leaks out from below the dust cover and runs down
the sides of the shock absorber. The surface appears
wet with oil dripping / running down the sides.
Oil Leakage (Moderate):
Oil seeps out from below the dust cover and runs
YES
approx. 1/2 way down the sides of the shock absorber.
The oil leak will worsen over
The surface appears wet with oil dripping / running
time.
down the sides.
Oil Leakage (Severe):
Oil leaks out from below the dust cover and runs down
the sides of the shock absorber, nearly the full length
of the unit. The surface appears wet with oil dripping /
running down the sides.

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