2004 Infiniti QX56

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITY QX56. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC TO HAVE THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000. THE CONSUMER AT HIS OWN EXPENSE, HE HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT CONTROL LOWER ARMS. THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED IN MAY 2010. HOWEVER, HE WAS INFORMED THAT FOR HIS MODEL THE PARTS WERE NOT DEFECTIVE, AND THEREFORE DID NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL. ALSO, ALL FOUR BELT PRE-TENSIONS HAD TO BE REPLACED ON BOTH SIDE. THE CONSUMER STATED ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS THE PRE-TENSIONS FAILED. EACH TIME THEY FAILED, IT RENDERED THE AIR BAGS NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $8000 DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A $10 SWITCH INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REVERSE COMPONENT. THE WIPER FLUID MOTOR WAS DIAGNOSED AS BEING INOPERABLE. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WOULD REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A SECOND OPINION AND WAS TOLD A HOSE HAD COME OFF AND RE-ATTACHED IT FREE OF CHARGE THE ENTIRE BRAKE ASSEMBLY, DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR, LIFT GATE MOTOR, TACHOMETER, DRIVER SIDE DOOR LOCK, HVAC CONTROL, BLOWER RESISTOR AND EXHAUST HEAT SHIELD ALL HAD TO BE REPLACED. . UPDATED 04/27/12

AT THE BEGINNING OF JUNE 2008, I NOTICED SPOTS ON MY GARAGE FLOOR UNDER THE CAR, TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE; I THOUGHT IT MUST BE THE OIL FILTER AND IT NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. I CONTINUED TO NOTICE THIS FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEKS. I WENT UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE LEAKY FLUID HAD CASCADED ALL UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. I WENT INTO HAVE IT SERVICED, DEALER SAID THAT IT WAS ATF FLUID, DEALER TIGHTENED A CLAMP. PROBLEM CONTINUED TO PERSIST, WENT INTO SERVICE, DEALER REPLACED HOSE. PROBLEM CONTINUED TO PERSIST, WENT INTO SERVICE, DEALER SAID THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE RADIATOR SYSTEM DUE TO DESIGN DEFECT IN THE HOSE AND CLAMP CONNECTION...TOTAL COST FOR THIS REPAIR $1086.96. WROTE LETTER TO INFINITY CONSUMER AFFAIRS, STATING I SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS REPAIR AS IT WAS A NHTSA 10012879 BULLETIN AND MANUFACTURE DESIGN FAILURE.....THEIR REPLY: "SORRY CANT HELP YOU". THEY WOULD ONLY COVER THIS REPAIR TO THE LEAKING ATF FLUID IF THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY ((I NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHILE MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY, BUT TOOK IT IN TO HAVE THE WORK DONE WITHIN 60DAYS OF MY WARRANTY EXPIRING, WITH ONLY 40K MILES ON THE CAR ' I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST THE OIL FILTER NEEDING TO BE TIGHTENED)) THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE MANUFACTURE NEEDS TO COVER IN FULL, REGARDLESS OF THE CAR BEING IN OR OUT OF WARRANTY; IF THIS LEAK CONTINUED TO PERSIST, THE FLUID COULD COME IN CONTACT WITH THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CAUSE A FIRE. *TR