2018 INFINITI QX30 Electrical Problems

Hello, My 2018 Infiniti QX30 slips into neutral while driving on the road at high speeds and without any warning. The message on the dash is vague “Service required. Do not shift gears. Visit Dealer.” I almost got into an accident more than once while driving the vehicle as low power to the vehicle accompanies this when it happens. I had absolutely no problems with the vehicle leading up to the first occurrence. In fact, I bought the car with less than 10k miles on it from Infiniti directly, where it was a fleet loner vehicle and well maintained. My car today has 56,000 miles and it is only a 2018. Two months and three car shops later, the issue remains unresolved. Infiniti said at first this was just a dead battery. A day later the issue resurfaced, where I also received a transmission control error. My service tech at Infiniti admitted that it is 90% Mercedes under the hood and they only have flowcharts to diagnose the issue. They recommended replacing a steering control column for $2k and could not answer me when I asked what that has to do with the error. I pulled it out for a second opinion and have confirmed nothing mechanical with the transmission, it is electrical. A quick google search for “Infiniti QX30 Service required do not shift gears visit dealer” yields an unprecedented number of complaints on forums of a widespread issue involving the transmission control unit for this vehicle. This issue needs to be looked at from a governing authority and my attempts to speak with the dealership about the issue has fallen on deaf ears. I learned the hard way that from 2017-2019, Infiniti collaborated with Mercedes on this vehicle and 90% of what is under the hood is Mercedes. It is the sister model to the Mercedes GLA who experienced similar issues, and the 2019 Mercedes GLA recalled their models for the same transmission control unit failure. A Google search for the same 2017-2019 era with Mercedes GLA yields starkingly similar forums from those owners.

NHTSA ID

11611876

Incident

Jun 23, 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Infiniti QX30. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle erroneously shifted into neutral(N) and stalled inadvertently. The contact was able to pull to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart. The message "Service Required - Do Not Shift Gears - Visit Dealer" was displayed temporarily. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer and it was diagnosed and determined that the auxiliary battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

NHTSA ID

11574917

Incident

Feb 27, 2024

Mileage

40,000 mi

The auxiliary battery located underneath the interior glove compartment went dead and the car was inoperable. I called Infinity and they would not help me. There was no information relating to this small battery either on internet or Infinity website. I finally had to have a friend drive me to the Coconut Creek Infinity service where they could not give me information but could repair only. The seatbelt on both driver and passenger continually lock up causing undo constriction and stress on eithr passenger. The moonroof electrical retractable interior lining which I have never used maybe 2 times since purchased bunched up two days ago and I cannot get it to close properly. The 2018 Infinity QX30 was purchased December 22, 2020. The warranty is 50,000 miles or 4 years. I have 53,000 miles and Infinity will not honor fixing the moonroof. Many Infinity owners have reported the same moonroof problem on this 2018 Infinity QX30 and because it was in the 1000's it should be a recall for this make/model.

NHTSA ID

11534412

Incident

Jul 23, 2023

The vehicle, with low mileage and no accidents, has had a few engine-related issues over the last few months. Recently, I went to turn it on, and many components of the car wouldn't work (no parking, power steering, engine issues, seats won't move, etc.). I live in a very dangerous city, and my car not working has placed me in a dangerous concern for my well-being. I took it to certified Infiniti dealer who said that the entire electrical harness has been damaged, rendering the vehicle a safety hazard, and quoted me $19,000 in repairs. Infiniti corporate refused to assist in repairing the damage that many people have reported having in this specific Infiniti model.

NHTSA ID

11529022

Incident

May 26, 2023

A variety of dashboard lights illuminated including engine light, ABS, emergency brake failure message etc. Vehicle drove as if power steering had failed. When I brought the car in to the Dealer I was told that the vehicle displayed codes for two concerns: 1) air quality sensor and 2) all 4 wheel speed sensors. The wheel speed sensors had previously been replaced in 2019 while the car was still under warranty. Current estimate for the repair was over $3200. Ultimately, Infiniti corporate paid for the current repair stating these items were “under warranty’ from previous repair. This is the SECOND REPAIR for 4 out of 5 sensors.These failures are red-flagged in the repair estimate as “critical concerns“ by Infiniti service. For context, this is a well-maintained vehicle with under 10,000 miles on it. I am the original owner. My concern is that the underlying cause/s of these failures are not addressed and this will happen again and compromise my safety. My vehicle already has two strikes against it as far as Florida Lemon Law is concerned. This situation feels like a vehicle safety recall waiting to happen.

NHTSA ID

11462066

Incident

Apr 14, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 INFINITI QX30. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT START-UP, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL POPPING SOUND WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ADDITIONALLY, SEVERAL FEATURES ON THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED TO OPERATE AS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000.

NHTSA ID

11412908

Incident

Apr 16, 2021

Mileage

34,000 mi

WHEN I TURN MY CAR OFF THE RADIO IS STAYING ON AND IF I DON'T CRANK IT EVERY 6-8 HOURS THE BATTERY GOES COMPLETELY DEAD AND I HAVE TO RECHARGE IT

NHTSA ID

11311498

Incident

Feb 19, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 INFINITI QX30. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SCREEN BLACKED OUT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVERY TIME THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE FAILURE EVEN AFFECTED THE BACK UP CAMERA SCREEN. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THE SCREEN BLACKED OUT AND THEN RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED OFTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INFINITI OF MASSAPEQUA (4450 SUNRISE HWY, MASSAPEQUA, NY 11758, (516) 797-5200) IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT AN UPDATE TO THE SCREEN AND CAMERA WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE LATER RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AGAIN, WHICH LED TO ADDITIONAL FAILURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,100.

NHTSA ID

11204959

Incident

Feb 7, 2019

Mileage

6,100 mi

PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW TWO MONTHS AGO. DISCOVERED THE LEFT HATCH HARNESS COVER IS CRUSHED. WAS TOLD BY INFINITI REGIONAL MANAGER EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL IS RUN THOROUGH THAT HARNESS AND EVERY TIME THE HATCH IS OPENED AND CLOSED THE WIRING IS GETTING PINCHED. ALREADY HAVE HAD THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR BLACK BACKUP SCREEN, AUDIO PROBLEMS, LIGHTS NOT TURNING OFF, RADIO NOT SHUTTING OFF AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF AND DOOR IS OPENED. WAS TOLD THAT WAS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM AND THAT THE SOFTWARE HAS BEEN UPDATED. INFINITI WON'T REPLACE THE WIRING SINCE NOTHING MAJOR HAS HAPPENED "YET." VERY CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR AND SOMETHING HAPPENING TO THE WIRING SINCE I KNOW IT IS BEING COMPROMISED. CONCERNED ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM A VEHICLE FIRE TO LIGHTING AND SYSTEM CONTROL PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

11123544

Incident

Jul 25, 2018

Mileage

2,200 mi