NHTSA Complaint #10597115 — 2001 INFINITI QX4

MY 13-YEAR-OLD AND SEVERELY RUSTED INFINITI 4WD SUV HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR CORROSION PROBLEMS AT THE DRIVER-SIDE STRUT TOWER. I WILL BE TOWING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR AN INSPECTION BECAUSE I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. MY CAR HAS A FIST-SIZED HOLE THROUGH THE FENDER WELL IN THE AREA DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE, SO IT IS PROBABLY NOT REPAIRABLE. BUT MY CAR ALSO HAS A RUSTED OUT AND SEVERELY WEAKENED UNIBODY FRAME AT ANOTHER CRITICAL AREA THAT WOULD CERTAINLY CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL AND PROBABLY A CRASH WHEN IT IS FINALLY STRESSED TO THE BREAKING POINT. THIS AREA IS ON THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE WHERE THE MOUNTING PAD FOR THE A-FRAME REAR PIVOT POINT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME. I HAVE MADE THE DEALERSHIP AWARE OF THIS AND SENT THEM SOME PICTURES, AND THEY REFERRED ME TO THE MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. HE TOLD ME THAT THE DEALERSHIP MAY REFUSE TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR, AFTER EVALUATING MY CAR, UNLESS I HAVE THE "OTHER DAMAGE" (WHICH WOULD RENDER THE CAR UNSAFE) REPAIRED PRIOR TO THEIR INSPECTION. IF THEY DON'T DO THE RECALL REPAIR, OR DETERMINE THAT IT IS BEYOND REPAIR (BASED ENTIRELY ON THE AREA AFFECTED BY THE RECALL), MY CAR MAY BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THE REPURCHASE PROGRAM REMEDY. I MAY BE REQUIRED TO TOW MY CAR OFF OF THEIR LOT TO AVOID STORAGE FEES. THIS SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURER LOOPHOLE, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO DO THE RECALL BECAUSE OF OTHER PROBLEMS, AND DISQUALIFY MY CAR FOR A REMEDY? THEY HAVE ACCEPTED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LACK OF CORROSION PROTECTION IN ONE CRITICAL AREA, BUT NOT FOR OTHERS? WHAT COULD I, AS A CAR OWNER, HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THIS DAMAGE? I FEEL IT'S THE MANUFACTURER THAT IS AT FAULT. A $35,000 CAR SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 13 YEARS! SO I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT IN CASE OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS I AND TO HELP FORCE THE MANUFACTURER TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THIS SERIOUS MANUFACTURING FLAW AND ISSUE A RECALL. *TR