NHTSA Complaint #10499613 — 2004 INFINITI QX56

I HAVE A 2004 INFINITI QX 56 WITH 88000 MILES ON IT. ON THURSDAY 2/14/13 STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO THE RIGHT AT 180 DEGREE. ON FRIDAY 2/15/13 SLIP INDICATOR AND VDC APPEARED ON THE DASH.CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN I GOT TO THE DEALER THE STEERING WAS COMPLETELY LOST. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO A 360 DEGREE FREELY AND THE TIRES DID NOT MOVE. THE SERVICE DEPT. CAME BACK AND TOLD ME THAT THE STEERING COLUMN/SHAFT WAS GONE AND WOULD COST APPROX. $4000.00 TO FIX. I CONTACTED INFINITI CONSUMER AFFAIRS ON 2/19/13 AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD OPEN A CLAIM AND HEAR BACK IN A BUSINESS DAY. I CALLED ON 2/21/13 AND STILL HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. IN THE MEANTIME THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT MY COST. AT THAT MILEAGE AND THE TOP OF THE LINE VEHICLE OF INFINITI I DON'T THINK THAT PROBLEM SHOULD OF HAPPENED. I AM GRATEFUL THAT I WASN'T ON THE ROAD 2 MINUTES MORE THAN I WAS BECAUSE IT COULD OF BEEN A LOT WORSE. ON 2/21/13 WHEN I RECEIVED A CALL FROM SERVICE THAT THE VEHICLE IS READY I WAS TOLD THAT IT ALSO NEEDS A POWER STEERING PUMP IN ADDITION TO THE REPAIR STATED ABOVE. I BELIEVE THAT IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE STEERING. *TR