2017 Infiniti Q50

Affected: Steering/Electrical/Direct Adaptive Steering, 50K miles While driving my 2017 Infinity Q50s under normal driving conditions, the vehicle suffered an instantaneous, catastrophic, and total failure of the power steering assist system without any prior warning or dashboard fault indicators. The sudden loss of steering assist immediately caused the steering wheel to become incredibly heavy and virtually locked, requiring extreme, dangerous physical exertion to maintain minimal control over the direction of the vehicle. Due to the violent and unpredictable change in steering dynamics at speed, I was forced out of my lane and ran over a curb and came moments away from experiencing a severe, life-threatening collision. The vehicle was rendered entirely undrivable and presents an immediate, catastrophic crash hazard. It had to be flatbed-towed to Infinity Valencia dealership. I am the original owner of this vehicle, and it has been meticulously maintained with exceptionally low mileage of 50,000 mile. Infinity previously issued mandatory federal safety recalls identical Direct Adaptive Steering (DAS) "steer-by-wire" software and module failures on the 2014-2016 model years (e.g., NHTSA Campaign number 16V433000). While the manufacturer asserted that the underlying engineering and software defects were fully resolved for the 2017 production year, this incident definitely proves that the catastrophic safety defect remains active, unmitigated, and present in the 2017 model year. Infinity Consumer Affairs and corporate databases currently lack proactive safety campaign for this specific VIN, leaving consumers entirely expose to a known, severe safety liability. I am filing this formal complaint to urge the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to open a formal defect investigation into the 2017 Infinity Q50/Q50s steering architecture and compel the manufacturer to expand the safety recall before this unmitigated defect results in fatal accident.

WHEN STARTING UP FROM BEING PARKED THE WHEELS STEER THE CAR TO THE RIGHT WHILE I HAVE TO PULL THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT TO KEEP THE CAR DRIVING STRAIGHT. THE MOMENT I REMOVE THE PRESSURE FROM PULLING THE WHEEL LEFT THE CAR TAKES AN IMMEDIATE RIGHT TURN. THIS IS NOT A FRONT END ALIGNMENT ISSUE AS THE PROBLEM WILL CORRECT ITSELF. IT HAS TAKEN AS SHORT AS A COUPLE OF MILES OR AS LONG AS A FEW SHORT TRIPS FOR IT TO CORRECT ITSELF. IT HAS HAPPENED FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THIS SAFETY ISSUE STARTED WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS STILL WARM. WHEN THE STEERING DOES CORRECT ITSELF I CAN FEEL THE STEERING WHEEL BEING PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND THEN THE CAR DRIVES STRAIGHT AGAIN WITHOUT ME APPLYING PULLING PRESSURE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 INFINITI Q50. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RAY CATENA INFINITI OF EDISON (900 US-1, EDISON, NJ 08817, (732) 603-9600) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT FELT UNEASY ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE. SHE SPOKE WITH HER STATE'S ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE BEFORE CALLING NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,276. *TT CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN THE POWER STEERING FAILED/MALFUNCTION THE FIRST 2 TIMES, THE THIRD TIME ON MAY 2ND I WAS LEAVING THE BANK PARKING LOT WHEN IT FAILED AGAIN. IT WAS TOWED 3 TIMES TO THE DEALER (RAY CATENIA INFINITI IN NJ) THE CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER. I DID CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER AND AFTER THE FIRST 2 FAILURES THE OFFERED ME AN EXTENDED WARRANTY OF 7 YRS/ K100 MILES, I WAS ABOUT TO ACCEPT WHEN IT HAPPENED THE FOR THE 3RD TIME AGAIN. I AM VERY AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE, THE NEXT TIME I MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY. I DON'T HAVE THE TIRE INFO SINCE THE CAR IS IN THE DEALER'S SHOP. *JB *DT*JB