1998 Infiniti I30 Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 INFINITI I30. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, SMOKE AND FIRE BEGAN TO RISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ALTERNATOR SYSTEM FAILED AND CAUSED THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V129000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR). THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 145,000. UPDATED 01/25//12 *BF

INFINITI I30 AIR BAG RED LIGHT ON DASH BLINKING INDICATING FAULTY AIR BAGS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW IF THE AIR BAGS ARE FUNCTIONAL OR IF IT IS JUST THE LIGHT. INFINITI WANTS > $600 TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG WHICH ONLY SEEMS TO LAST A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. MANY OWNERS HAVE INDICATED THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB: HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/REVIEWS/INFINITI/I30/R71712/COMMENTS/ HTTP://FORUMS.NICOCLUB.COM/AIR-BAG-SIGN-BLINKING-ON-1998-INFINITI-I30-T285511.HTML HTTP://X.INFINITIHELP.COM/FORUM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP/AIR-BAG-LIGHT-FLASH-1250.HTML?S=E57EE447DB4834484BF21B4FA7BD8AA0&P=4558

IN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009, I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH INFINITI AND NHTSA REGARDING A STRUCTURAL DEFECT TO THE FRAME OF MY 1998 INFINITI I30T. BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN, THE FRAME ROTTED AND COMPLETELY SEPARATED UNDER THE ENGINE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. MECHANICS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE ENGINE AND/OR TRANSMISSION COULD FALL OUT CAUSING THE OPERATOR TO LOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT CAUSING SERIOUS BODILY INJURIES AND/OR DEATH. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE NISSAN MAXIMAS AROUND THE SAME YEAR ALSO HAD THE SAME ISSUE BECAUSE THEY UTILIZED THE SAME FRAME. I CANNOT BELIEVE INFINITY, NISSAN AND/OR NHTSA HAVE NOT INITIATED RECALLS ON THESE VEHICLES GIVEN THE RECENT RECALLS AND SERIOUS ACCIDENTS OF VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR ISSUES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN DEATHS (I.E. FORD WINDSTAR VANS AND HONDA PASSPORTS). WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO ISSUE A RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES TO PROTECT THE OPERATORS? *TR

I OWN A 1998 INFINITI I30. ON THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2010, MY DAUGHTER NICHOLE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENTLY THE CAR ACCELERATED TO OVER 4000 RMP WITHOUT HER APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE WITH ALL PRESSURE SHE COULD MUSTER (2 FEET) AND EVENTUALLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY, WITH SMOKE POURING FROM ALL FOUR WHEELS. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AN AUTO MECHANIC, WHO FOUND THAT THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE WAS BAD. WHEN THE MECHANIC STARTED THE CAR IN THE SHOP, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY RACED TO 5000 RMP. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN A CASE WHERE WHEN THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE GOES BAD, THAT IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO RACE. INSTEAD, HE SAYS THE ENGINE JUST DIES. IN THE PROCESS OF STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT PADS WERE FRIED AND WORN DOWN TO BARE METAL, AND DESTROYED THE FRONT ROTORS. THE REAR DISC PADS WERE ALSO FRIED, BUT THE REAR ROTORS CAN BE SALVAGED.

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WAS TOLD SENSOR WENT BAD. MADE REPAIR. ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER, AIR BAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM. WAS TOLD AIR BAGS WERE NON-FUNCTIONAL WHEN AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. *TR