[M9-A1] Have you ever seen this problem before?

It looks like the rod is sintered metal. If it were dropped, over time the cracks can form. Call SteyrArms, assuming you are in the US. Don't email, CALL them. www.steyrarms.com

Definitely not common, but then again, most folks are probably using older M-A1s with the plastic guide rod. Another option for replacement would be to hit up btguiderods.com - he makes REALLY nice stuff.

Well ... in this case is a not-so-old pistol Its date code is LOD, so is from Feb'09.

And I'm affraid I am very far away from the US. And not so sure Steyr representative here will have any spare parts.

I'm sure Big Taco (btguiderods) would send one your way, so long as it's permissible by local laws and you can receive parcel...

This issue isn't a recoil rod problem, this is the striker rod. The only thing I can think of that could be producing that much abuse to this is a problem with the machining of the slide itself or the back slide cover being cocked to where it is putting pressure on the edge of the striker spring rod instead of it resting flat against the back cover. I wish you luck.

I'll stick with the dropped part guess.

Take a nail, make sure it's straight, measure the diameter of the original striker rod guide end, and file or sand the nail head to fit. You can get the retaining ring in the other end the same way. Other than the spring load, there are no other forces on this part so the substitution should last the life of the weapon.

I've had problems with injection molded metal pieces from my Steyr, but also with a Smith & Wesson. Sintered parts don't like shock is the conclusion I drew. Most weapons manufacturers are moving to MIM since it produces either finished parts, or parts that are nearly finished with only minor second operations necessary. Owners should think of them as essentially ceramics, not from composition, but because they're sensitive to shock.