1997 Infiniti Qx4

1997 Infiniti QX4 4-DR. 4x4

Overall

Not Rated

Front Crash

Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

STEERING:COLUMN

NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1996-2004 PATHFINDER AND MODEL YEAR 1997-2003 INFINITI QX4 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. IN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT ARE USED, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT MAY ENTER AN ASSEMBLY LOCATION HOLE IN THE UPPER STRUT HOUSING, CAUSING WATER TO COLLECT AT THE MATING SURFACE OF THE STRUT HOUSING PANEL AND THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. OVER TIME, THIS SNOW/WATER AND SALT INTRUSION MAY RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING IN SOME SUBJECT VEHICLES.

Campaign: 11V244000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

ON CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, TENNESSEE, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WEST VIRGINIA , WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DURING THE COATING PROCESS OF THE FUEL FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY, AN INSUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF COATING MAY HAVE BEEN APPLIED AT THE LOWER MOUNTING BRACKET. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN OPENING IN THE COATING WHICH CAN ALLOW WATER TO ENTER AND MAKE CONTACT WITH THE BARE METAL OF THE TUBE.

Campaign: 07V435000

STEERING,SUSPENSION

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.

SUSPENSION

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 ...

STEERING,SUSPENSION

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

SUSPENSION

CAR SUSPENSION SHIMMIES, SHAKES AND WHOLE CAR ROLLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

STEERING,SUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ALL 1997 THRU 2003 FRAME SUSPENSION, SUSPENSION BODY PANELS WERE IMPROPERLY UNDERCOATED TO PREVENT RUSTING. WARNING WAS ISSUED IN 2011, AS THIRD OWNER OF VEHICLE, I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. CAUSING IMMINENT BODY HARM AND POSSIBLY DEATH. INFINITY WAS TOTALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR FOLLOW THRU, AND SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR MY $20,000 LOSS, NOT TO MENTION RISK TO MY LIFE. THANKS A LOT YOU MONEY MONGERS! YOU SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR FAILURE OF NOTIFICATION.

STEERING,SUSPENSION

MASSIVE RUST OF FRAME AND UNIT BODY SUSPENSION COMPONENTS CAUSING A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING, BRAKING AND CONTROL OF VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CAUSE IS NO RUST UNDER COATING, POOR DESIGN, POOR WELDS, PRONE TO TEAR LOOSE FROM FIREWALL AND FRAME CAUSING CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND POSSIBLY MY OWN DEATH. THEN THEIR REFUSAL TO COMPENSATE IN ANY WAY FOR THEIR DESIGN ERRORS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THERE WAS A SUDDEN DROP OF MY VEHICLE HEIGHT AT THE DRIVERS SIDE WHEEL ALMOST CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. A WARNING LETTER AVAILABLE IN 2011 WAS NEVER SENT TO ME, POSSIBLY MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO REPAIR. UPDATED 03/10/16.*JB

TIRES

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.

SUSPENSION

I OWN A 1997 INFINITI QX4. WHILE TRAVELING 45 MPH OR MORE, THE VEHICLE BEGINS TO WOBBLE AND VIBRATE VIOLENTLY, SEEMINGLY FROM THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MECHANICS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHERE THE REAR SHOCKS AND PASSENGER SIDE BUSHINGS AND TRAIL STABILIZER BAR AND FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE THE WOBBLE, SHAKE, FISHTAIL AND EARTHQUAKE. " I BOUGHT THIS 1997 INFINITI QX4 FROM CARS UNLIMITED HERE IN HOUSTON, TX. THE OWNER IS[XXX]AND I BOUGHT 'AS IS'. ALTHOUGH DEALER OWNER WAS NON-INTEGRAL, LIED AND TOLD ME VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND SAFE, HE IS NOT LIABLE UNDER RULE BY THE AS IS. THIS VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO OVER 6 MECHANICS BY NOW. ALL TELL ME VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. I TRIED MAKING IT SAFER SINCE I AM STUCK WITH IT BY CHANGING THE SHOCKS AND THE TRAILER STABILIZER BAR AFTER I LEARNED IT HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE BAR WAS BENT. THAT BY NO MEANS FIXED THE EARTHQUAKE SWAYING AND THE AWFUL REAR END FISH-TAILING ALL OVER THE ROAD. CAN'T DRIVE IT IN THE RAIN. CAN'T GET CAUGHT IN THE RAIN, IT SLIDES INTO OTHER PEOPLE'S LANES. COPS LOOK AT ME CRAZY AS IF I'M DRUNK. I DRIVE 40 MILES OR LESS TO KEEP FROM GETTING PULLED OVER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WHO HANDLED THE PREVIOUS DRIVERS' CLAIM SHOULD HAVE SALVAGED IT. IT LOOKS SUPER PRETTY ON THE OUTSIDE. WILL FOOL A LOT OF WOMEN INTO BUYING IT. NOT SAFE! *JS

STEERING,SUSPENSION

I BOUGHT A 1997 INFINITI FROM CARS UNLIMITED; OWNER[XXX] I BOUGHT 'AS IS'. ALTHOUGH DEALER OWNER WAS NON-INTEGRAL, LIED AND TOLD ME VEHICLE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION AND SAFE, HE IS NOT LIABLE UNDER RULE BY THE AS IS. VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO OVER 6 MECHANICS BY NOW. ALL TELL ME VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. I TRIED MAKING IT SAFER SINCE I AM STUCK WITH IT BY CHANGING THE SHOCKS AND THE TRAILER STABILIZER BAR AFTER I LEARNED IT HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE PASSENGER SIDE BAR WAS BENT. THAT BY NO MEANS FIXED THE EARTHQUAKE SWAYING AND THE AWFUL REAR END FISH-TAILING ALL OVER THE ROAD. CAN'T DRIVE IT IN THE RAIN. CAN'T GET CAUGHT IN THE RAIN, IT SLIDES INTO OTHER PEOPLE'S LANES. COPS LOOK AT ME CRAZY AS IF I'M DRUNK. I DRIVE 40 MILES OR LESS TO KEEP FROM GETTING PULLED OVER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WHO HANDLED THE PREVIOUS DRIVERS' CLAIM SHOULD HAVE SALVAGED IT. IT LOOKS SUPER PRETTY ON THE OUTSIDE. WILL FOOL A LOT OF WOMEN INTO BUYING IT. NOT SAFE! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 INFINITI QX4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT HOUSING WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT MADE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE AND LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V244000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE CONTACT HAD MADE ADEQUATE REPAIRS TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE STRUT HOUSING, PER THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MOST RECENTLY, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE STRUT TOWER HAD ALSO BECOME DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE STRUT HOUSING TO BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY ADDED A PROTECTIVE COATING TO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE STRUT HOUSING WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN FOR INSPECTION UNDER THE RECALL BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 174,000.