RoadVitals

2012 INFINITI M37 Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Jun 23, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
37%
of 30 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 INFINITI M37 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Steering
Filed Jun 23, 2021
Crash reported

When the steering wheel is adjusted up, down or the telescopic adjustment is used a loud pop is heard, the casing comes apart and it is no longer possible to turn the wheel left or right.

NHTSA ID
11421979
Incident
Feb 11, 2020
Steering
Filed Jan 3, 2021

WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS ADJUSTED TO A NORMAL SETTING THE CASING POPS AND IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN THE WHEEL.

NHTSA ID
11386304
Incident
Nov 11, 2019
Mileage
70,121 mi
EngineSteering
Filed Jan 21, 2019

I PURCHASED MY CAR USED WITH APROX 45,000. MILES ON THE ODOMETER, I TEST DROVE IT & IT RAN & HANDLED PERFECT. AS SOON AS I TOOK THE CAR HOME I BROUGHT IT TO MY MECHANIC TO CHECK IT OUT, I GOT THE OIL & FILTERS CHANGED & CAR INSPECTION, ALL WAS GOOD. I OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 YEARS & MAINTAINED IT REGULARLY. ONE MORNING I STARTED IT UP & IT STARTED POPPING & JUMPING (THE DAY BEFORE IT HAD RUN PERFECTLY) & MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. AT THIS TIME THERE WAS APPROX 65,000. MILES ON THE ODOMETER, THERE WAS LESS THAN 1000 MILES SINCE MY LAST OIL CHANGE. I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC & THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NO OIL IN IT..THE OIL WAS COMPLETELY GONE. THERE WAS NO OIL SPOTS IN MY DRIVEWAY AT ALL WE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHERE THE OIL COULD HAVE GONE IN LESS THAN 1000 MILES SINCE MY LAST OIL CHANGE. THE MECHANICS FILLED IT WITH OIL, I DROVE IT ONLY LOCALLY A FEW WEEKS & WHEN I CHECKED IT AGAIN THE OIL WAS GONE..WITH NO OIL STAINS IN MY DRIVEWAY. I CALLED INFINITY, THEY TOWED IT TO INFINITY DEALERSHIP IN NJ, THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS DUE TO NEGLECTING TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED & I NEEDED A NEW MOTOR WHICH COST APPROX $12,000. I TOLD THEM I HAVE RECEIPTS OF THE OIL CHANGES & THEY SAID THEN IT WAS NEGLECTED PRIOR TO MY OWNING IT WHICH I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW THAT COULD BE AFTER OWNING THE CAR FOR OVER 3 YEARS WITHOUT A PROBLEM, THEY THEN ACCUSED ME OF NEGLECTING THE CAR BECAUSE I DIDN'T BRING IT TO THEM FOR MAINTENANCE. NO ONE I SPOKE TO CAN UNDERSTAND HOW IT COULD RUN COMPLETELY OUT OF OIL IN LESS THAN 1000 MILES & IT DIDN'T START RUNNING BAD GRADUALLY IT LITERALLY HAPPENED OVERNIGHT. ONE MECHANICS I SPOKE TO SAID IT MAY BE A DEFECT TO LOOK UP RECALLS, I SAW A SIMILAR ISSUE ON SOME MODEL INFINITIES BUT MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I NOW HAVE LESS THAN 69,000. MILES ON AN INFINITY WHICH NEEDS A NEW MOTOR THAT COSTS MORE THAN THE CAR VALUE.

NHTSA ID
11171140
Incident
Jun 1, 2018
Mileage
65,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 20, 2018

I'D LIKE TO REPORT A PROBLEM THAT HAS OCCURRED WITH MY 2012 INFINITI M37 WHICH SEEMS TO BE PRETTY FATAL. THE PLASTIC COVER THAT COVERS THE STEERING WHEEL'S ROD CRACKS OPEN WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TILTED TO A LOWER POSITION. ONCE THE COVER IS CRACKED, STEERING WHEEL RUBS ON TO THE PLASTIC BEHIND IT AND MAKES THE STEERING WHEEL NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. IF SOMEONE FACED THIS ISSUE BY CHANGING THEIR STEERING WHEEL POSITION WHILE DRIVING, IT WILL SURELY LEAD TO A FATAL ACCIDENT. THIS ISSUE SEEMS TO HAPPEN TO OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL ACCORDING TO THE FORUM LINK ATTACHED: HTTP://FORUMS.NICOCLUB.COM/STEERING-WHEEL-RUBBING-PLASTIC-HOUSING-T609452.HTML I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT INFINITI REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND THE ANSWER I RECEIVED WAS THAT THERE'S NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THAT PART OF THE VEHICLE IS BARELY USED NOR TOUCHED WHICH MAKES THIS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT BUT NO ONE WANTS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE I'D LIKE TO ASK NHTSA TO GET INVOLVED AND HELP US OUT ON THIS MATTER. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I WILL AWAIT FOR YOUR RESPONSE.

NHTSA ID
11102883
Incident
Mar 7, 2018
Mileage
100,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 19, 2017

WHEN ENTERING & EXITING THE CAR THE STEERING WHEEL WILL ADJUST. WE STARTED NOTICING A NOISE AND THEN IT MADE A LOUD POP. I NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC HOUSING AROUND THE COLUMN WAS IN A BIND. I MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL UP TO BE ABLE TO STEER. THIS IS RIDICULOUS ON THIS TYPE OF CAR. I'VE READ MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOT THERE IS NO RECALL??? IS THERE A RECALL OR NOT? CAN THIS BE FIXED REASONABLY?

NHTSA ID
11024529
Incident
Sep 18, 2017
Mileage
100,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 17, 2017

PLASTIC SURROUNDING STREAMING COLUMN SEPARATED. STEARING WILL NOT TURN ALL THE WAY AND THE PLASTIC IS RUBBING AGAINST EACH OTHER MAKING A NOISE WHILE TRYING TO TURN OR ANY STEARING.

NHTSA ID
10966616
Incident
Mar 16, 2017
Mileage
53,063 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 27, 2016

FAILURE OF THE TELESCOPIC STEERING COLUMN. A BROKEN LIMITER CAUSED THE TILT MOTOR TO EXERT BEYOND IT'S THRESHOLD CAUSING FAILURE DURING ENTRY/EXIT AUTOMATIC OPERATION. STEERING WHEEL NOW RUBS ON PLASTIC TRIM PIECES. REGARDLESS OF WHAT INFINITI CLAIMS, THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OTHERS WITH SAME ISSUE: HTTP://FORUMS.NICOCLUB.COM/STEERING-WHEEL-WON-T-TURN-UNLESS-COLUMN-TILTED-UP-T611149.HTML HTTP://FORUMS.NICOCLUB.COM/STEERING-WHEEL-RUBBING-PLASTIC-HOUSING-T609452.HTML HTTP://FORUMS.NICOCLUB.COM/STEERING-COLUMN-SHROUD-POPPING-UP-T610716.HTML HTTP://FORUMS.NICOCLUB.COM/STEERING-WHEEL-SOUNDS-LIKE-A-MICE-WHEEL-T610742.HTML HTTP://FORUMS.NICOCLUB.COM/STEERING-WHEEL-POWER-TILT-MALFUNCTION-11-M37X-T600860.HTML

NHTSA ID
10919338
Incident
Oct 24, 2016
Mileage
50,000 mi
Steering
Filed Sep 22, 2016

2012 M37 49,700 MILES. WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS IN THE POSITION SELECTED FOR DRIVING, THE WHEEL LOCKED UP.UNABLE TO TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALER SAID UPPER STEERING SHAFT FAILED.

NHTSA ID
10908745
Incident
Aug 26, 2016
Mileage
49,700 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 10, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 INFINITI M37. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TILTED DOWNWARD, IT WAS UNABLE TO BE TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,541.

NHTSA ID
10894718
Incident
Aug 5, 2016
Mileage
72,541 mi
Steering
Filed May 17, 2016

OPENED CAR WITH TOUCH KEY AND TELESCOPIC STEERING WHEEL MADE LOUD POPPING SOUND. STEERING WHEEL DID NOT GO TO SET POSITION AND WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AFTERWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING THANKFULLY AS IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER AFTER THE POPPING SOUND. THE STEERING WHEEL HAD TO BE KEPT IN AN UPWARD POSITION TO STEER AT ALL WITH DIFFICULTY.

NHTSA ID
10865525
Incident
May 6, 2016
Mileage
66,068 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 22, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 INFINITI M37. WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

NHTSA ID
10712300
Incident
Apr 8, 2015
Mileage
62,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .