NHTSA Complaint #10480753 — 2006 INFINITI M35

SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAILURE - DURING HIGHWAY DRIVING WITH 205LB DRIVER, THE DRIVER'S SEAT FRAME FAILED AND FELL APPROX. 1/2 INCH IN LEFT REAR OF SEAT. UPON INSPECTION, APPLYING MINIMAL SIDE PRESSURE TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK IN THE DIRECTION OF THE PASSENGER WILL LIFT LEFT REAR OF SEAT APPROX. 2 INCHES AND FLEX THE SEAT LATERALLY. APPLYING PRESSURE THE REAR OF THE HEADREST TOWARD THE FRONT OF VEHICLE WILL RAISE ENTIRE SEAT APPROXIMATELY 4 INCHES AT THE REAR. A FRONTAL ACCIDENT WILL CAUSE THE WEIGHT OF THE SEAT TO BE TRANSMITTED INTO THE BODY OF THE DRIVER AND INCREASE SEAT BELT LOADS AS WELL AS NULLIFY HEAD RESTRAINT PROTECTIONS. IN THE WORST CASE, THE FRONT SEAT BOLTS MAY ALSO FAIL DUE TO THIS KNOW NISSAN SEAT FRAME WELD PROBLEM RESULTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. UPON CONSULTATION WITH AN INFINITY DEALERSHIP OVER THE TELEPHONE, THE SERVICE REP. IMMEDIATELY IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS A FAILURE IN A SEAT FRAME WELD. THE REPLACEMENT PART # 87450EH00A COSTS $759.99 AND LABOR $212.50. THE REP. INDICATED MULTIPLE INFINITY'S HAD BEEN REPAIRED WITH THIS PROBLEM. INFINITY PARTS DEPARTMENT ALSO INDICATED THIS WAS A KNOWN FAILURE IN A SEAT WELD AND THEY KEEP THE PART REGULARLY STOCKED FOR REPAIR. ALSO SEE PE08065 THE 2006 NISSAN MURANO HAS SIMILAR FAILURES. ENCLOSED ARE SIMILAR M35 AND MURANO SEAT FAILURES. ODI ID NUMBER : 10243332 ODI ID NUMBER : 10452830 ODI ID NUMBER : 10466301 ODI ID NUMBER : 10480060 ODI ID NUMBER : 10434271 ODI ID NUMBER : 10432735 ODI ID NUMBER : 10424657 ODI ID NUMBER : 10402453 ODI ID NUMBER : 10382566 ODI ID NUMBER : 10296221 ODI ID NUMBER : 10480152 ODI ID NUMBER : 10479311 ODI ID NUMBER : 10477742 ODI ID NUMBER : 10475191 ODI ID NUMBER : 10475187 ODI ID NUMBER : 10475041 ODI ID NUMBER : 10473627 ..AND ATLEAST 50 ADDITIONAL ODI'S FOR 2006 NISSAN MURANO ARE AVAILABLE. *TR