2004 Infiniti QX56

INFINITI QX56: INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL ON VEHICLE CAUSES ALL OF INSTRUMENT PANEL TO MALFUNCTION AND THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY STOP RUNNING. THIS OCCURS EVEN WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT BEING USED. THE LASER GUIDED SYSTEM CAUSES ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE CAUSING GAUGES TO FLUCTUATE RANDOMLY AND ALERT LIGHTS TO GIVE FALSE READINGS. DEALER DEEMS IT A "POOR DESIGN" AND CONSIDERS VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNLESS THE SYSTEM IS REPLACED. THE SYSTEM IS BEING REPLACED WITH THE EXACT SAME PART SO THE LIKELIHOOD OF RECURRENCE IS VERY HIGH. MULTIPLE VEHICLES AFFECTED; DEALER HAD SEVERAL VEHICLES IN THE SHIP WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI QX56. WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AS IF THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING OR BRAKING ABILITY. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2-3 ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED A SECOND TIME APPROXIMATELY 2-5 MINUTES LATER. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AGAIN. APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES LATER, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF FOR THE THIRD TIME. ON THE SECOND CRANK, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT DROVE HOME AND CALLED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE A REPAIR APPOINTMENT. WHEN HIS WIFE DROVE THE VEHICLE, THE FAILURE RECURRED, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL FAILURE OF THE IPDM. THEY REPLACED THE IPDM WITH GOODWILL PARTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,012 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,944. UPDATED 10-07-08 *BF UPDATED 10/09/08. *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH UNDER CLEAR DRIVING CONDITIONS AND TOWING A TRAVEL TRAILER, INFINITI QX-56 HAD AN EXTENSIVE ELECTRICAL FIRE IN FRONT, INTERIOR CONSOLE, WHICH CAUSED MAJOR/EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. IF NOT EXTINGUISHED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR INJURY OR DEATH TO THE OCCUPANTS AND TOTALED THE VEHICLE. INFINITI REPLACED ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS (APPROX $12,000 OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE). *JB *NM

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP COMPLETELY. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM KICKED IN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK