2017 Infiniti QX30

The defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Infiniti QX30 vehicles. The steering shaft bore hole for the universal joint bearing may allow excessive movement that, over time, could result in the separation of the bearing and universal joint.

The risk

A separated universal joint bearing can cause a loss of steering control and increase the risk of a crash.

The remedy

Dealers will replace the lower steering shaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 30, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is PG1CF.

Nissan North America, Inc. · up to 1,959 vehicles across all model years covered

The defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling 2017-2018 Infiniti QX30 vehicles. The driver's air bag may unexpectedly deploy due to insufficient grounding of the steering components if an electrostatic discharge occurs and the air bag clockspring is broken.

The risk

If the driver air bag inadvertently deploys, it can increase the risk of injury and a crash.

The remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will add sufficient grounding to the steering components, free of charge. The recall began March 26, 2018. Owners may contact Infiniti customer service at 1-800-622-6200, option 7.

Nissan North America, Inc. · up to 17,507 vehicles across all model years covered

The defect

Nissan North America Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Infiniti QX30 vehicles. The affected vehicles have a driver-side curtain air bag inflator initiator that may fail to ignite during a crash, preventing the air bag from deploying.

The risk

If the air bag fails to deploy in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.

The remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver-side curtain air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on May 2, 2017. Owners may contact Infiniti customer Service at 1-800-662-6200.

Nissan North America, Inc. · up to 79 vehicles across all model years covered

The defect

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2017 Infiniti QX30 vehicles manufactured August 11, 2016, to September 27, 2016. The affected vehicles have a passenger air bag inflator initiator that may fail to ignite during a crash, preventing the air bag from deploying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

The risk

A passenger air bag that fails to deploy in the event of a crash can increase the risk of injury.

The remedy

Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March 21, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Nissan North America, Inc. · up to 509 vehicles across all model years covered

Still open engineering analysis · opened September 17, 2021

the air bags

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

56,000 miles

The contact owns a 2017 Infiniti QX30. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning light remained illuminated. Additionally, while reversing into the garage there was a popping sound coming from the steering column and the horn became inoperable. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was not yet contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000.

NHTSA complaint 11753683. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

100,000 miles

The contact owns a 2017 Infiniti QX30. The contact stated that an unknown warning light was illuminated. Additionally, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked abnormally. The vehicle steadily moved forward even after releasing the steering wheel and the accelerator pedal. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA complaint 11732668. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

I opened my sunroof cover and the back of my headliner dropped. The back window is already small and the headliner hangs in front of it obstructing the view. It seems like everyone has this same issue or defect which is pretty pricey to repair.

NHTSA complaint 11697438. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

I am submitting this complaint regarding a safety and quality concern with my 2017 Infiniti QX30. The interior headliner in the rear section of my vehicle has begun sagging significantly, which obstructs rear visibility and creates a potential driving hazard. Based on my research and discussions with service professionals, this issue appears to be a manufacturer defect rather than normal wear. I have also learned that the Mercedes-Benz GLA 250—which shares a platform with the Infiniti QX30—experienced the same headliner sagging issue. In fact, this problem was considered a safety concern due to restricted rear visibility. Despite this being a known issue on a mechanically and structurally …

NHTSA complaint 11690911, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

The contact owns a 2017 Infiniti QX30. The contact stated the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V419000 (Steering) for the lower steering shaft and was repaired under recall. After the recall repair, the steering wheel occasionally seized intermittently, the horn failed to operate, and the buttons on the steering wheel were inoperable. Additionally, the mileage, tire pressure, and other functions on the instrument panel were inoperable. The vehicle was returned to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the steering column needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint 11686974. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.