1997 INFINITI QX4 Problems

The contact owns a 1997 Infiniti QX4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V244000 (Steering, Suspension). The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH and other various speeds over bumps in the roadway, the vehicle was shaking abnormally with the steering wheel becoming difficult to turn to the left or to the right. Additionally, the contact heard abnormal metal on metal grinding sounds particularly while turning the vehicle to the left or the right. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer and was advised that the vehicle had failed a safety inspection and he would be contacted by a third party to buy back the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 154,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

the rear end started to sway and shake ... made the car uncrontrlable, I reacted instantly and took my foot off the gas peddle and gripped the steering firmly like driving on snow...it came back under control as I was braking softly ....what a scary incident ...

The contact owns a 1997 Infiniti QX4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V244000 (Steering, Suspension). The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH and other various speeds over bumps in the roadway, the vehicle was shaking abnormally with the steering wheel becoming difficult to turn to the left or to the right. Additionally, the contact heard abnormal metal on metal grinding sounds particularly while turning the vehicle to the left or the right. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer and was advised that the vehicle had failed a safety inspection and he would be contacted by a third party to buy back the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 154,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

I HAD MY CAR SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY DETAILING IT. I'VE ALWAYS TOOK EXCEPTIONAL CARE OF MY VEHICLES AND ONE THING I'VE ALWAYS DONE WAS MADE SURE THE UNDERCOATING WAS TOP-NOTCH. AS I PROCEEDED TO UNDERCOAT THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT FENDER WELLS ON MY 97 QX4 I NOTICED SOME RUST FORMING BEHIND THE STRUT TOWER. SOME OF IT WAS FLAKY AND SOME OF IT WAS RAISED RUST. I TOOK MY SCRAPER AND LO AND BEHOLD FOUND A HOLE BEHIND THE STRUT TOWER. I CONTINUED TO SCRAPE AND CLEAN THE HOLE AND THE AREA ACCORDING TO THE RECALL CAMPAIGN FROM INFINITY AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT VEHICLE SAFETY AND THE RUST BEHIND THE STRUT TOWER ON DRIVERS SIDE.I HAVE YET TO CHECK MY PASSENGER SIDE SINCE THE DRIVER SIDE HAS ISSUES I WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND NOTIFY YOU GUYS. I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE STRUT TOWER ON NISSAN PATHFINDERS AND INFINITI QX4S 96 THROUGH 2004. I HAVE A 96 PATHFINDER ALSO THAT JUST LAST WEEK I TALKED TO A REPRESENTATIVE FROM NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AND IT STILL HAS A OPEN RECALL CONCERNING THE STRUT TOWER. I LIVE IN TENNESSEE AND BY THE RECALL TENNESSEE IS NOT LISTED AS ONE OF THE SALT STATES BUT YET THAT IS WHERE MY PATHFINDER IS REGISTERED AND IT HAS A RECALL THAT NEEDS TO BE PERFORMED ON THE STRUT TOWER SO I'M WONDERING IF MY QX4 WHICH IS A 97 MODEL HAS HAD A RECALL PERFORMED ON IT OR IF THE RECALL EVEN CONCERNS MY QX4 IT CLEARLY HAS RUST BEHIND THE STRUT TOWER ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND REGISTERED IN TENNESSEE. PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS ISSUE I HAD MY SEAT BELTS REPLACED IN MY QX4 6 MONTHS AGO AND WHEN I HAD IT IN THERE I SAID SOMETHING ABOUT CHECKING MY STRUT TOWERS BUT ON MY TICKET THEY GAVE ME IT DOESN'T LIST ANYTHING ABOUT THEM CHECKING THE STRUT TOWERS CAMPAIGN # R1109 NHTSA # 11V-244 APPLIED VEHICLES 97-03 QX4 (JR50) I NEED TO KNOW WHAT MY NEXT ACTION SHOULD BE AND WHETHER OR NOT THIS RECALL HAS BEEN PERFORMED PLEASE HELP GOD BLESS AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH

AT 6:45 A.M CAR TRAVELING DOWN FREEZELAND ROAD, LINDEN, VA AT ABOUT 30MPH. WEATHER CONDITIONS: CLEAR, DRY. ROAD CONDITIONS: NO DEFECTS, OIL OR OTHER TRACTION FAULTS THAT WOULD CAUSE ACCIDENT. QX4 AS DESCRIBED BY WITNESS TO POLICE LOOKED AT THOUGH REAR OF VEHICLE BODY WAS ACTING INDEPENDENT OF BODY FRAME. AT THIS POINT DRIVER COULD NOT RECOVER, HAD NO TIME TO BRAKE, STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND. QX4 WOULD NOT RESPOND AND CONTINUED STRAIGHT UP AN EMBANKMENT, HIT LARGE BOLDER AND FLIPPED ONTO PASSENGER SIDE. DRIVER WAS PULLED FROM VEHICLE BY RETIRED EMT. DRIVER SUSTAINED RIGHT KNEE INJURIES INCLUDING FRACTURE TO LOWER LEG DIRECTLY BELOW KNEE, LIGAMENT DAMAGE STILL BEING EVALUATED. DRIVER WAS NOT GIVEN CITATION BY VIRGINIA STATE POLICE, DUE TO DRIVER AND WITNESS STATEMENTS. STATE POLICE INDICATED THAT IT APPEARED TO BE A MAJOR MECHANICAL FAILURE. POLICE TROOPER INDICATED THAT 99 OUT OF 100 DRIVER IN SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE RECEIVED A TICKET FOR WRECKLESS DRIVING. CAR HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. IT IS CURRENTLY IN IMPOUND AT A FRONT ROYAL LOT. *TR

CONTINUED FAILURE TO PASS EMISSIONS INSPECTIONS; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON; REPLACED MANIFOLD AND OTHER PARTS, BUT VEH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 INFINITI QX4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V244000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT IN ADDITION TO THE FAILURE BEING ADDRESSED IN THE RECALL, THE FRONT PORTION OF THE FRAME WAS ALSO SUFFERING FROM RUST AND CORROSION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ADDITIONAL FAILURES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL, BUT THE ADDITIONAL FAILURES WERE NOT BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

CONSUMER STATED WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED THE HEAT SHIELD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE HEAT SHIELDS ON THE INFINITI QX4 WERE DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PASSPORT ON TWO OCCASIONS AFTER HEARING A RATTLING NOISE. THE FIRST TIME THEY RE-SECURED THE HEAT SHIELDS AND LESS THAN A MONTH LATER THE NOISE WAS BACK. THE CONSUMER WAS OFFERED TWO OPTIONS TO REPLACE THE HEAT SHIELD OR HAVE THE HEAT SHIELD REMOVED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT IF THE VEHICLE HAS NO HEAT SHIELDS IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE AND IT IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN. *CB *JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 INFINITI QX4 EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LTX M/S TIRES, SIZE: PT245/70 R16 (NA). WHILE ADDING AIR TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE, THE CONTACT NOTICED TREAD SEPARATION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED ALL FOUR TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ONLY REPLACED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

MY 1997 INFINITI QX4 STARTED TO HAVE A SIDE TO SIDE WOBBLE. IT GOT WORSE OVER TIME. NOW I CAN BARELY DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY. AT SPEEDS OF ABOUT 50-65 IT WOBBLES TO THE POINT THAT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. I BOUGHT AN INFINITI FOR THE SAFETY AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN IT ANYMORE. I HAVE REPLACED SHOCKS, TIRES, HAVE DONE TIRE BALANCING, WHEEL ALIGNMENT. NONE HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO REMOTELY FIX THE PROBLEM. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. A RECALL IS NEEDED FOR THE PATHFINDER AND QX4. *TR

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON JANUARY 24TH 2010, WHILE TRAVELING N. ON STATE HWY 87 GOING TOWARDS PAYSON, AZ ALTHOUGH THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF SNOW IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS THE ROADS WERE CLEAR AND APPEARED DRY. THE INCIDENT BEGAN WHEN I APPARENTLY ENCOUNTERED A PATCH OF BLACK ICE AS I BEGAN ACROSS A BRIDGE. I FELT THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE QUICKLY SLIDE LEFT. BECAUSE OF MY EXPERIENCE IN HANDLING THIS VEHICLE AND HOW WELL THIS VEHICLE HANDLES, I WAS EXTREMELY CONFIDENT IN MY ABILITY TO RECOVER FROM THE SLIDING WITHOUT INCIDENT. (I WAS THE 2ND OWNER & HAD IT 10YRS) I HAD COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE 1ST AND 2ND CORRECTIONS, HOWEVER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 3RD & WHAT WOULD'VE BEEN THE LAST CORRECTION I FELT SOMETHING BREAK IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL AREA. (IMAGINE BEING UP ON ALL FOURS AND YOUR LEFT ARM COLLAPSES OUT FROM UNDER YOU) AT THAT MOMENT I NO LONGER HAD CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE WHATEVER HAPPENED CAUSED THE FAIL SAFES IN THE VEHICLE TO INSTANTLY SHUT EVERYTHING OFF! THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, THERE WAS NO POWER FOR ANYTHING! NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, NO POSSIBLE WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM CRASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS PROPELLED ACROSS THE HWY FROM THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND AS IF THE DRIVERS CORNER WAS PINNED TO THE ROAD, IT TURNED JUST ENOUGH TO FACE THE CONCRETE MEDIAN, WHICH IT HIT HEAD-ON AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE FORCE OF THE ENGINE PUSHING THROUGH THE FIRE WALL, SNAPPED MY RIGHT FEMUR. I WAS AIR LIFTED FROM THE SCENE WITH LIFE THREATENING INJURIES & TAKEN TO THE VALLEY. MY HUSBAND WHO WAS THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS TRANSPORTED TO PAYSON VIA AMBULANCE. ON THE MORNING OF THE 26TH HE SUDDENLY HAD TO BE AIR LIFTED TO THE VALLEY, WHERE HE DIED JUST A FEW HOURS LATER FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THE ACCIDENT. IT WAS 1 1/2YRS LATER BEFORE I FOUND OUT IT WAS THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT THAT BROKE & CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CRASH.

GAS PEDAL STICKS FROM A COMPLETE STOP DURING SLIGHT ACCELERATION. IF I TRY TO FEATHER IT BEFORE FULL ACCELERATION, IT STILL JUMPS FORWARD. TECHNICIAN SAID IT'S IN THE CABLE. *TR

AT 6:45 A.M CAR TRAVELING DOWN FREEZELAND ROAD, LINDEN, VA AT ABOUT 30MPH. WEATHER CONDITIONS: CLEAR, DRY. ROAD CONDITIONS: NO DEFECTS, OIL OR OTHER TRACTION FAULTS THAT WOULD CAUSE ACCIDENT. QX4 AS DESCRIBED BY WITNESS TO POLICE LOOKED AT THOUGH REAR OF VEHICLE BODY WAS ACTING INDEPENDENT OF BODY FRAME. AT THIS POINT DRIVER COULD NOT RECOVER, HAD NO TIME TO BRAKE, STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND. QX4 WOULD NOT RESPOND AND CONTINUED STRAIGHT UP AN EMBANKMENT, HIT LARGE BOLDER AND FLIPPED ONTO PASSENGER SIDE. DRIVER WAS PULLED FROM VEHICLE BY RETIRED EMT. DRIVER SUSTAINED RIGHT KNEE INJURIES INCLUDING FRACTURE TO LOWER LEG DIRECTLY BELOW KNEE, LIGAMENT DAMAGE STILL BEING EVALUATED. DRIVER WAS NOT GIVEN CITATION BY VIRGINIA STATE POLICE, DUE TO DRIVER AND WITNESS STATEMENTS. STATE POLICE INDICATED THAT IT APPEARED TO BE A MAJOR MECHANICAL FAILURE. POLICE TROOPER INDICATED THAT 99 OUT OF 100 DRIVER IN SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE RECEIVED A TICKET FOR WRECKLESS DRIVING. CAR HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. IT IS CURRENTLY IN IMPOUND AT A FRONT ROYAL LOT. *TR

1997 INFINITY QX4 LOST LEFT FRONT WHEEL. *TS ONE OF THE LUG STUDS SNAPPED OFF.*JB

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT DIDN'T HOLD IN A SIDE COLLISION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT DIDN'T HOLD IN A COLLISION. *AK THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER TWICE. THE FIRST TIME IT ROLLED THE SEAT BELT HELD IN PLACE, THEN RELEASED. THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED AND SUFFERED SEVERAL LACERATIONS, A SHATTERED LEFT HUMEROUS AND TORN LIGAMENTS. *JG

INTERMITTENTLY WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO STOP RIGHT AWAY. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF BRAKE PROBLEM. *AK

BRAKES REPLACED DUE TO EXPERIENCING A TICKING & SQUEALING NOISE. *YC

FRONT WINDSHIELD HAS VISIBLITY PROBLEMS. OWNER CANNOT SEE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. WINDSHIELD HAS BEEN REPLACED 4 DIFFERENT TIMES. CAUSE OF PROBLEM UNKNOWN POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS REAR ENDED WHILE TRAVELING LESS THAN 20 MPH. UPON IMPACT BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATS BROKE IN THE RECLINING POSITION. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT THE DEALER. *AK

THERE WAS A PROBLEM THAT I BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALER. THE 4-WD LIGHT CONTINUED TO BLINK ONCE I HAD TRAVELED 20+ MILES. THIS WAS NEVER RECTIFIED. ON THE DATE OF INCIDENT I WAS DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT GROOVED HIGHWAY AND THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL AXLE BROKE, AND THE WHEEL CAME OFF, CAUSING ME TO VEER INTO THE CEMENT EMBANKMENT. *AK

WHILE ACCELERATING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE THROTTLE WOULD STICK IN THE IDLE POSITION CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH

VEHICLE SLID ON BLACK ICE DOWN A VERY STEEP ROAD, LOST CONTROL, AND WENT UP A MOUNTAIN WALL, FLIPPED OVER, AND HIT A TLELPHONE POLE. CAR HIT DEAD CENTER, AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK