NHTSA Complaint #10544082 — 2005 INFINITI QX56

A 2005 INFINITY QX56 WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 35 MPH ON A TWO LANE ROAD WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLER RUPTURED INSIDE THE RADIATOR RELEASING THE ATF FLUID INTO THE RADIATOR. THE TRANSMISSION WAS LOSING ATF THROUGH THE RADIATOR'S PRESSURE RELIEF POINTS AN LOST THE ABILITY TO PROPEL THE CAR WITHIN ONE BLOCK. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN INTO A NEARBY DRIVE AND WAS UNABLE TO MOVE AFTER THAT POINT. THE RUPTURE COULD HAVE LEAD TO A CRASH SITUATION. THE SECOND PART OF INCIDENT IS THE COOLANT CONTAMINATED THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED A SHORT TERM FRICTION MATERIAL FAILURE 4 MONTHS LATER. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED AND TRANSMISSION CLEANED AND FLUSHED. THE TRANSMISSION WORKED UNTIL AUGUST 20, 2013. THE TRANSMISSION LOST CONTACT WITH 5TH BAND AT 60 MPH ON A INTERSTATE AND WAS NO LONGER PROPELLING THE CAR. A SHIFT INTO THE 4TH BAND GOT THE CAR OFF THE ROAD AND IT WAS TOWED FOR REPAIR. THE ANTIFREEZE HAD DISSOLVED THE FRICTION MATERIAL CONSTRUCTION AND CORRODED VALVE PARTS. IT WAS REBUILT AND THE DESTRUCTION CONFIRMED. BOTH INCIDENTS COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. INFINITY SENT US NO WARNING AND SAY THERE IS NO PROBLEM OR RECALL. THE REPAIR SHOP HAS REPAIRED 5 OTHER INFINITY QX56 CARS FOR THE SAME FAILURES BEFORE MY CAR WAS REPAIRED. NISSAN N. AMERICA HAS SIMILAR FAILURES IN THE PATHFINDER MODEL,AS CONFIRMED BY TWO INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS CONTACTED. A WARNING: IF COOLANT DRIPS ARE NOTICED UNDER THE RADIATOR CHECK THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE CONNECTIONS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE RADIATOR, IF THE ARE WET AND OR LEAKING COOLANT, HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO A SHOP AND CHECKED FOR PROBLEM. CATCHING THIS PROBLEM AT THIS POINT MAY ONLY REQUIRE THE RADIATOR TO BE REPLACED, AND NO CRASH HAZARD. *TR