In October 2020 Nissan became aware of a problem with certain front steering knuckles and rear axle housing manufactured at their Yokohama, Japan Plant. Nissan conducted a plant audit and determined that a gap in a particular furnace door caused low temperature conditions during the heat treating process. Axle components located in the low temperature area of the furnace experienced an insufficient amount of heat which resulted in poor hardness. These components have been installed on certain 2020-2021 Nissan and Infiniti vehicles.

If the front steering knuckle or rear axle housing receives an impact such as hitting a curb, the steering knuckle or rear axle housing could deform. If the steering knuckle is deformed, the steering wheel may become off-center, impairing the driver’s ability to steer the vehicle. If the rear axle housing is deformed, it will cause wheel mis-alignment.

If the deformation is not detected and the vehicle continues to be operated, the damaged steering knuckle or rear axle housing may cause the wheels to separate from the vehicle.

Vehicles Affected Include
2020 Nissan Murano
2021 Nisssn GT-R
2020 Infiniti QX60
2021 Infiniti QX50
2021 Infiniti Q50

Dealers will inspect and replace the front steering knuckle and rear axle housing, as necessary. The NHTSA recall campaign number is 21V-402.

Owners of certain 2020-2021 Nissan Armada and 2020-2021 Infiniti QX80 SUVs equipped with V8 engines could experience a fuel system problem that could result in an unexpected engine stall. Nissan learned of a potential issue on these vehicles in June 2020 and initiated an investigation which has lead to the recall of approximately 24,000 vehicles.

According to the defect report, the fuel pump module was not designed to manufacturer specifications and could fail. During the impeller manufacturing process, a buildup of molten plastic on the injection moulding machine cylinder tip could cause the density of the impeller to be out of specification. Fuel inside the fuel pump can cause the impeller to swell, increasing friction between the impeller and inlet cover. Eventually the fuel pump will bind internally and the engine will stall.

Owners receiving notices will be asked to return to the dealers to have the fuel pump module replaced. Nissan’s number for this recall is R21A2, Infiniti’s number for this recall is R21A3 and the NHTSA campaign number is 21V-373.

In February, Nissan initiated an investigation into reports of an illuminated Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL), reduced power and engine stalling in some 2021 Infiniti Q50 And Q60 vehicles. This investigation has resulted in a recall affecting approximately 13,000 vehicles.

According to the defect report, the engine control module (EMC)in the subject vehicles has a software function that prevents unintended acceleration based on monitoring torque input. A problem was found with the EMC software which prevented it from correctly reducing engine speed after an excessive torque detection. As a result, the vehicle would go into limp mode, reducing engine power, illuminating the MIL and eventually stalling. Nissan has received one report of an accident without injuries potentially related to this issue.

Infiniti will be notifying owners to return to their dealerships to get the ECM software reprogrammed. Infiniti’s number for this recall is R20C5 and the NHTSA campaign number is 21V-234.

Of all the Infiniti Q50 vehicles, the 2014 hybrid model has the highest number of manufacturer recalls and owner complaints. The systems with the highest defects include steering, electrical, air bags and braking.

Steering problems is the number one driver complaint of the 2014 Q50 hybrid. The vehicles Direct Adaptive Steering (DAS) is an advanced “steer by wire” system developed to enhance feel and feedback, but drivers say it is unpredictable and unreliable. Temporary loss of steering because the system goes out of calibration and resets, the vehicle unexpectedly pulls left or right and the vehicle fails to steer in the intended direction, are also common complaints.

Repeated failure of the electrical equipment on the 2014 Q50 hybrid have owners frustrated. The top complaint is unexpected software shutdowns which leave drivers without an instrument panel, climate control and audio control. The vehicle must be shut off and restarted before it can be restored. Failure of the vehicle sensors is common as well. These sensors are used throughout the vehicle to help the driver maintain safety while driving. If they are not working properly it can cause unexpected problems with the Occupant Classification System (OCS), driver assist and the backup camera system.

Airbag problems are a common complaint on many many vehicle makes and models, and the Infiniti Q50 hybrid is not immune. Errors affecting the OCS have drivers concerned about their passenger safety, even after having the Air Bag Control Unit and the OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) reprogrammed under NHTSA recall 16V-244

According to some 2014 Q50 owners, the electronic braking system in their vehicles have made their cars difficult to handle. Brake booster pump failures cause reduced braking power and longer stopping distances, and the emergency collision warnings and impact mitigation activates while driving, making it difficult to avoid collisions or make quick maneuvers around obstacles.

Do you think your Infiniti Q50 is a LEMON?… Fill out the above form or call us now for a free case evaluation.

Nissan will be asking the owners of certain 2015-2019 Infiniti and Nissan vehicles, equipped with ADVICS ABS actuators, to return to their dealerships for a problem affecting the braking system. These vehicles were previously recalled under NHTSA campaign number 18V-601, but were not repaired. This new recall (19V-807) also expands the previous population. The affected models include:

  • 2017-2019 Infiniti QX60
  • 2016-2018 Nissan Maxima
  • 2015-2018 Nissan Murano
  • 2017-2019 Nissan Pathfinder

Due to manufacturing variation, the ABS actuators may contain an oil seal with inadequate sealing performance. The seal could prematurely wear and leak brake fluid. If this occurs, the ABS warning lamp will illuminate to warn the driver, but if the warning is ignored, the brake fluid leak could create an electrical short in the actuator circuit. In rare instances, this could lead to a fire.

Note: When brake fluid leaks onto the circuit board, the ABS warning lamp will remain illuminated for more than 10 seconds after engine is started. If this occurs, owners should park their vehicle outdoors away from other vehicles or structures and to not drive the vehicle.

Nissan will be contacting the owners of certain 2012-2013 Infiniti M35 hybrid vehicles about a software update affecting the propulsion system. These vehicles are equipped with a power train that warns the driver in the event of a cooling system malfunction. If the warning lamp is ignored and the vehicle continues to be operated, the power train control module logic will shut off the engine to prevent damage. If the engine unexpectedly stops while driving, the brake and steering systems remain operational, however, there is an increased risk of an accident. Continue reading

Certain 2013-2017 Chevrolet, Infiniti and Nissan owners will be contacted by the manufacturer about a problem affecting the airbag deployment system. The front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may not deploy or could deploy incorrectly during a crash. Continue reading