Glock issued an announcement about a voluntary recall or exchange program for the recoil spring assembly on all of Gen4 pistols sold before July 22, 2011. In the announcement sent out to Glock armorers, the company stated their product development team modified “various elements” of the recoil spring assemblies to “…ensure each pistol’s performance meets the company’s demanding standards.”
The Gen4 Glock 26 and 27 pistols are not part of this recoil spring recall.
[Be sure to read my full Glock 17 review here.]
The recoil spring assemblies can be replaced by the owner of the firearm, and the firearm does not need to be shipped back to Glock.
The replacement part is free, and the complete instructions on obtaining the new recoil spring assembly is located at the Glock site.
There are a variety of different Glock Gen 4 recoil spring assemblies in circulation. Glock provided the following graphic to help identify which part you need:
Ever since the Gen 4 pistols started shipping, there have been complaints about reliability from some people, especially with the 9mm model 17 and model 19 pistols. Several discussion threads on the topic have been posted on various shooting and law enforcement web sites. It would appear that this voluntary exchange is to address these reliability problems. If so, let’s hope this snuffs out all of the complaints because the guns will be rock-solid reliable now.
The third generation Glock pistols chambered in .40 S&W and fitted with a weapon light were found to be unreliable by a number of police agencies. A number of people believe Glock introduced the new recoil spring assembly found on the Gen4 pistols to correct the third generation problems. Glock, like most privately owned companies, often keeps such information to themselves. The exact reasons for much of what the company might do is a area of speculation in most cases.
6 replies on “Glock Gen4 Recoil Spring Recall”
[…] voluntary recall on the recoil spring assembly of Gen 4 Glock pistols started on September 6 and affects all Gen 4 […]
You’re back! Look forward to getting the goods on the goods. The Glock recall was very good timing as we are doing inspections on Glocks right now.
[…] seems Glock has experienced some reliability problems with certain springs and calibers (see Gen 4 Glock recall information here) in the Gen 4 guns. Â I hope the problems have been wrung out and the new G21 will run […]
Gen4 recall of Glock 23 and Glock Tac-Las. Light
I am ready to purchase the complete Gen 4 group of Glocks and hope that any and all problems have been resolved. My starting point will be the .40 cal group anyone having comments please advise. Hoping also for a Glock green laser in smaller sizes as well as large.