NHTSA Complaint #11219379 — 2006 INFINITI M35

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, I WAS TURNING LEFT AND THE DRIVER SEAT ALL OF A SUDDEN JUST COLLAPSED; FEELING LIKE THE ENTIRE SEAT BROKE/FELL APART. I WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND LUCKILY NO OTHER CAR WAS COMING MY WAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING BUT HAVING TO SIT UPWARDS ALL THE WAY HOME LOSING SEVERAL INCHES OF VIEWING (BARELY LOOKING AT/OVER THE STEERING WHEEL). I GOT HOME TO CHECK OUT SEAT AND DETERMINED THE SEAT COLLAPSED TO THE FLOOR AND CAN'T BE RAISED; THE SEAT IS UNEVEN TOO. YOU CAN NOW PUSH THE BACK OF THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT UPWARDS AT LEAST 10 INCHES OFF THE GROUND. RESEARCHED THE ISSUE TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND DETERMINED THIS IS A COMMON SAFETY ISSUE WITH INFINITI DRIVER SEATS WHERE THE BACK BAR WELD BREAKS PREVENTING THE SEAT FROM BEING RAISED AND NOW REMAINS UNEVEN. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AS A POSSIBLE REAR END COLLISION/IMPACT WILL CAUSE CATASTROPHIC INJURIES (POSSIBLY DEATH) SINCE YOU WILL BE FORCED UPWARDS INTO THE SEAT BEAT AREA; NOT HOW THE SEAT AND SEAT BELT WERE DESIGNED TO RESTRAIN THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE WITH A SEAT IN MY LIFETIME. I AM SHOCKED THIS ISSUE IS RECURRING WITH INFINITI, YET NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. I AM OFFICIALLY REPORTING THIS ISSUE AND I DID TAKE TO THE INFINITI DEALER WHO DIDN'T OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH FIXING THE ISSUE, ONLY TO ORDER NEW REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE SEAT. I DECLINED THE $2,122.43 REPAIR FOR THIS BROKEN SEAT WELD. IF NHTSA THINKS THIS ISN'T A SAFETY ISSUE; SINCE NO RECALL, I WILL CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND ADVISE MY PERSONAL ATTORNEYS OF SUCH SO IN THE EVENT ANY BODILY INJURY OCCURS, I WILL HAVE RECOURSE.