NHTSA Complaint #702338 — 1992 INFINITI Q45

THE 1992 INFINITI HAS A TIMING CHAIN THAT IS KEEP IN PLACE WITH PLASTIC GUIDES. THE GUIDES ON MY CAR FAILED AND THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THAT THE PLASTIC GUIDES ARE NOT A DEFECT. YET, THEY CHANGED TO METAL GUIDES STARTING IN 1993. ANOTHER INIFINTI DEALER (NOT MY DEALER) SAID THAT THEY ADVISE THEIR CUSTOMERS TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC GUIDES AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE. MY DEALER DID NOT RECOMMEND THAT TO ME, SINCE THERE WAS NO FORMAL INFINITI SERVICE ADVISORY OR RECALL. IN THE 3 AND A HALF YEARS SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE CAR, I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR ALL ITS MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING OIL CHANGES AND RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE PROCEDURES. I FEEL THAT SUCH A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE ON SUCH AN EXPENSIVE CAR INDICATES THAT THE USAGE OF THE PLASTIC GUIDES ON THE TIMING CHAIN WAS A VERY BAD DESIGN. I WOULD LIKE THE GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE HOW MANY INFINITI Q45S THAT HAVE THIS PLASTIC GUIDE HAVE FAILED. I BELIEVE THAT THE PERCENTAGE WILL BE HIGH, AND THEREFORE INFINITI SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THEM WITH THE CURRENT DESIGN WHICH IS A METAL GUIDE WITH A MUCH LOWER FAILURE RATE. THANKS.