2002 INFINITI I35

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

The contact owns a 2002 Infiniti I35. The contact stated while driving 70–75 MPH on the freeway, the vehicle shut off and failed to restart. Additionally, while driving on another occasion, the vehicle shut off but restarted. The check engine, traction control, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V455000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN for the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 279,000.

NHTSA ID

11610167

Incident

Aug 21, 2024

Mileage

279,000 mi

The contact owns a 2002 Infiniti I35. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V455000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID

11534785

Incident

Jul 26, 2023

THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 INFINITI I35. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TAKING HIS VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V146000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY DOWNSHIFT WITH THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V043000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT ALSO LINKED THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CERRITOS NISSAN (18707 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE SAME INFORMATION AS THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 223,000.

NHTSA ID

11416488

Incident

Mar 1, 2021

Mileage

223,000 mi

THE TCS OFF AND SLIP LIGHTS AFTER A NOTICEABLE MISS WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE FAILS TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLS, REGARDLESS OF TRAVELING SPEED, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING. AFTER STALLING, THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES WILL RESTART ON FIRST ATTEMPT, OTHER TIMES IT TAKES A FEW TRIES OR TURNING THE KEY TO ON POSITION FOR 5 SECONDS AND THEN TURNING IT BACK TO OFF, REPEATING 2-3 TIMES THEN STARTS.THE PROBLEM IS PERSISTENT, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO FAIL AT RANDOM ALMOST EVERY TIME IT'S DRIVEN AS SHORT AS 1 MILE DISTANCE, BUT HAS ALSO BEEN DRIVEN 20 MILES WITHOUT FAILING. WHILE DRIVING A DAILY ROUTE, THE PROBLEM OFTEN OCCURS AT A COMMON LOCATION, WHETHER RELATED TO DISTANCE, TERRAIN, OR COINCIDENCE IS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11175884

Incident

Jan 7, 2019

Mileage

94,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL MY AIR INFLATS BY THEMSELVES

NHTSA ID

11042851

Incident

Nov 1, 2017

I HAD RECENTLY HAD SOME WORK DONE ON MY CAR TO REPLACE THE RIGHT BEARING WHEEL AND THE POWER STEERING LINE, AS THERE WAS A LEAK AND LOUD ROARING NOISE WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AS CONFIRMED BY THE MECHANIC. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (AT ABOUT 65 MPH) WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I FELT A JERKING IN THE CAR, SUDDENLY THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON, AND THE THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOT ALL THE WAY UP. I PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AS SOON AS I COULD BECAUSE I SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD BOUGHT THIS CAR ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO FROM MY UNCLE AND I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE TAKATA RECALL. THEY NEVER MENTIONED ANYTHING ELSE. THEN ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE THIS ALL HAPPEN MY UNCLE SENT ME A LETTER (AS HE HAD MOVED AWAY, REGARDING ANOTHER RECALL ON THE I35. I WAS PLANNING ON TAKING THE CAR TO THE INFINITI DEALER FOR THE RECALL AFTER REPLACING THE POWER STEERING LINE AND FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING. HOWEVER I DID NOT EVEN GET A CHANCE TO DO SO. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW IF MY SITUATION HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH A RECALL.

NHTSA ID

11016236

Incident

Aug 10, 2017

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 INFINITI I35. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID

10897121

Incident

May 13, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 INFINITI I35. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND LET IT COOL OFF BEFORE TAKING IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

NHTSA ID

10876789

Incident

Jun 24, 2016

Mileage

111,000 mi

CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) label. These items may be available from Infiniti by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provides an application form for such replacements. · The “VIN Plate/Label” (metal plate or vinyl label) is attached to the instrument panel or body on the driver side at the base of the windshield (see Figure 1). · The “Certification Label” (vinyl adhesive label) is located on the lower area of the driver side B-Pillar (see Figure 1).

INTELLIGENT KEY NOT DETECTED / ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

WINDOW GLASS WARRANTY INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.