1997 Infiniti Q45

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, ONE OF THE DIODES USED IN THE ALTERNATOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED WHEN BUILT. THIS CAN EVENTUALLY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE DIODE AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH COULD MELT THE PLASTIC HOUSING.

Risk. IF THE COMBUSTIBLE GAS EMITTED BY THE MELTING PLASTIC DOES NOT DISPERSE DUE TO AIR FLOW THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, IT COULD IGNITE AND IN TURN IGNITE THE FAN GUIDE IN THE ALTERNATOR.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 29, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OF THE DIODES USED IN THE ALTERNATOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED WHEN BUILT. THIS CAN EVENTUALLY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE DIODE AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH COULD MELT THE PLASTIC HOUSING.

Risk. IF THE COMBUSTIBLE GAS EMITTED BY THE MELTING PLASTIC DOES NOT DISPERSE DUE TO AIR FLOW THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, IT COULD IGNITE AND IN TURN IGNITE THE FAN GUIDE IN THE ALTERNATOR.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR.

Defect. VEHICLE DESRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF WITHOUT PLACING THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IN THE "PARK" POSITION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT."

Risk. IF THIS OCCURRED AND THE DRIVER FAILED TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO 'PARK' OR ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY IF PARKED ON A SLOPE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SHIFT LOCK CONTROL UNIT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 INFINITI Q45. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,915.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 INFINITI Q45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BECAME FULL OF SMOKE AS THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

SOMETIME AFTER I PURCHASING THE ABOVE VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER, 2001, THE ENGINE WOULD FAIL TO START WITHOUT RECHARGING THE BATTERY. AFTER RECHARGING, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT NO MALFUNCTION AND OPERATE NORMALLY FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. THIS CONDITION WOULD REOCCUR INFREQUENTLY, AND HAS SINCE MANIFESTED ITSELF BY SHOWING NO CHARGING FROM THE ALTERNATOR. INFINITI IDENTIFIED THIS PROBLEM WITH A RECALL BEGUN ON 03/15/2002, AS A DEFECTIVE DIODE DAMAGED IN MANUFACTURE. THIS ACTION IS IDENTIFIED AS NHTSA ACTION # PE02034. AT NO TIME WAS I NOTIFIED BY INFINITI OF THIS RECALL, AND THE SYMPTOMS OF MALFUNCTION I HAVE EXPERIENCED ARE CLEARLY A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR/DIODE. I CONTACTED INFINITI ON 11/08/2011 AND THEY DENIED ME ANY ASSISTANCE. I REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE IN REQUIRING INFINITI TO CORRECT THIS MALFUNCTION WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD INFINITI NOTIFIED ME DURING THE RECALL PERIOD. MY OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE WAS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD AND COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN OBTAINED. *TR

THE CAR CAN REFUSE TO START RIGHT AFTER IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND SHUT OFF OR AFTER IT HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A WHILE. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING ALOT IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY,THAT WERE ALL REPLACED EARLY THIS YEAR BY PREVIOUS OWNER. SOMETIMES JUMPING THE CAR WORKS AND OTHER TIMES IT DOES NOT. THE PROBLEM STARTED ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY SIGNS APPEARED ON THE DASH AND DISAPPEARING AFTER THAT,THE CAR STARTED TO REFUSE STARTING AND NEEDED A JUMP. WE INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY DAYS AGO AND THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. BUT IT REFUSED TO START THE NEXT DAY AGAIN AND TOOK 4 ATTEMPTS TO GET IT GOING. IT ALSO SEEMS THAT WHILE AT A STOP SIGN/LIGHT TRYING TO TAKE OFF,THE CAR REFUSES TO MOVE EVEN WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. IT TAKES QUITE AN EFFORT TO MAKE THE GAS PEDAL RESPOND,MAKING THE CAR JERK/LURCH FORWARD WITH GREAT FORCE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 INFINITI Q45. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT BOTH THE BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 101,000.

THE VEHICLE WOULD REV EXTREMELY HIGH WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED. THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR A DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR, BUT THE RECALL EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM( RECALL NO. #02V171000 DAMAGED ALTERNATOR). *NM

PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT BEGINNING IN EARLY 2001, WE ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM WITH OUR INFINITY Q45T. IT HAS CONTINUED TO DEGENERATE SINCE THEN. THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT ENGAGE READILY. WHEN AT A STOPPED POSITION AND WE PUSH ON THE PEDAL, IT ACTS AS IF IT IS CAUGHT OR BEING HELD BY SOMETHING. WITH MORE FORCE APPLIED, IT SUDDENLY RELEASES, CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD. ON 10/29/01 I SPOKE TO A STEVE AT INFINITYS CONSUMERS AFFAIRS OFFICE IN GARDENA, CALIFORNIA ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE ADVISE THIS IS A COMMON AND KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE INFINITY AND IS CORRECTED IF THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINS WHEN THE CAR IS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE. HE ADVISED THAT SINCE MY CAR WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED ON 9/22/97, IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD ONLY BE REPAIRED AT MY COST. FOR INFINITY TO KNOW THEY HAVE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF THIS NATURE AND NOT RECALL THE VEHICLE, MAKES THEM, IN MY OPINION, CRIMINALLY LIABLE.BY COPY OF THIS MEMO TO NHTSA, I AM REQUESTING THEY INVESTIGATE THIS CAR AND TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO RECALL THESE AUTOMOBILES AND HAVE THEM CORRECTED AT THE MANUFACTURERS COST. ADDITIONALLY, I AM REQUESTING THAT APPROPRIATE ACTIONS BE TAKEN FOR INFINITY ALLOWING AN AUTOMOBILE WITH A KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT TO REMAIN ON OUR HIGHWAYS. PLEASE ADVISE THE RESULTS OF YOUR INVESTIGATION AND ACTION TAKEN. THANKS YOU, HOWARD J. & BONNIE J. TRICKETT. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCED SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END SUSPENSION WHILE DRIVING 40 TO 60 MPH, THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO UNEVEN SEVERE WEAR OF THE INSIDE OF TIRES (NO MAKE/MODEL OF TIRE PROVIDED), ONE TIRE BLEW OUT DUE TO VIBRATION PROBLEMS. CONSUMER REPLACED TWO SETS OF TIRES IN 39000 MILES. *MJS

WHEN THE CAR IS SHIFTED IN REVERSE AND AS THE CAR MOVES BACKWARD, THE DRIVER SEAT RECLINES INVOLUNTARILY AND WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY VEHICLE HAD A SIGNAL INDICATING AIR BAG FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER THREE TIMES IN WHICH ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE REBUILT THE AIRBAGS. I PHONED THE MANUFACTURER TO ASK THEM FOR WARRANTIES THAT FIRST THE AIR BAGS HAVE BEEN REPARIED PROPERLY FOR THE LAST TIME AND THAT IF THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE IN AN ACCIDENT, THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO GIVE THIS WARRANTY ,AND REFUSES TO HONOR ANY CLAIMS. *AK

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #98V215000 IN THE MAIL. NOTIFIED DEALER. WAS INFORMED NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THEFT PREVENTION. MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED. WAS INFORMED PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE EARLY NEXT YEAR. *AK

VEHICLE HYDROPLANED THREE TIMES CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND NEAR ACCIDENT DUE TO DESIGN FLAW.