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Brand new car, don't know if I should keep it. Not sure it's safe.

10846 Views 56 Replies 22 Participants Last post by  Radar
What what you do? I really hate to bring this up because I was and really want to be a big supporter of this car. I actually like how it looks, feels and drives.
But, it happened.

It was cold last night (below 10degreesF) and the car started fine, I took my kids out for breakfast before school and when we returned to the car, I could tell it was starting to act funny. It was drivable, but just acted weird, with occasional misc warnings and errors. The steering felt weird too.

I dropped the kids off and headed straight to the dealership, noticing that while driving down the highway at 65mph, my steering wheel was at a 90 degree angle even though I was driving straight or at least trying to.

This is a Q50S Hybrid AWD with nav and tech with only about 100 miles on it.
The dealer says a software update will fix this problem.

I just don't know. I think I can still get out from under this car, it's only days old. I want the car, I like the car, but I don't know that I can ever trust the car again. I find it nearly impossible to think that problems like this will not arise again over years and tens of thousands of miles of driving.

Should I believe the dealer and trust the bugs will be worked out and worked out quickly (I don't have time to be in and out of the dealer all the time) or undo this before it can't be undone?

This sucks...
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With no guarantees the problem will be fixed "quickly" I would suggest trading it for one without DAS.
Hybrid w/o DAS is not possible correct? Also, we lose the Tech package and the touring package.

DAS (dumbazz steering) should be a separate package all on it's own.
Hybrid w/o DAS is not possible correct? Also, we lose the Tech package and the touring package.

DAS (dumbazz steering) should be a separate package all on it's own.
So true, I would buy this same car in a heartbeat if it had everything it has now without DAS and I atually liked the DAS.

If this were a mechanical thing, I would work though it, but being a software/computer issue is a different story.
So true, I would buy this same car in a heartbeat if it had everything it has now without DAS and I atually liked the DAS.

If this were a mechanical thing, I would work though it, but being a software/computer issue is a different story.
I echo your thoughts completely. I'd say try and return it - I'm not convinced the system is safe. Is it cool and innovative - definitely. But the AWD is supposed to be designed for cold weather areas - you kind of need your steering...
So true, I would buy this same car in a heartbeat if it had everything it has now without DAS and I atually liked the DAS.

If this were a mechanical thing, I would work though it, but being a software/computer issue is a different story.
Someone posted on here a recall is going to happen tomorrow for DAS.
I guess we'll wait and see if that happens or not.

Otherwise from what I have seen posted it seems pretty standard that they do the software upgrade first.

Probably the best thing to do is if you think it's acting up, pull over in a safe spot, and hit the SOS button.
Make them come get the car and give you a loaner car while they look at it.

I've only seen one post on this forum where someone said they actually had an issue while driving and lost all steering.
Like the DAS clutch stayed engaged but DAS didn't work.
And that I think was fairly early in that big DAS thread so it seemed like an early production Q50.

I would assume things are relatively safe.
There haven't been any reports of people getting into crashes due to loss of steering.
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What what you do? I really hate to bring this up because I was and really want to be a big supporter of this car. I actually like how it looks, feels and drives.
But, it happened.

It was cold last night (below 10degreesF) and the car started fine, I took my kids out for breakfast before school and when we returned to the car, I could tell it started acting funny. It was drivable, but just acted weird, with occasional misc warnings and errors. The steering felt weird too.

I dropped the kids off and headed straight to the dealership, noticing that while driving down the highway at 65mph, my steering wheel was at a 90 degree angle, although was driving straight or at least trying to.

This is a Q50S Hybrid AWD with nav and tech with only about 100 miles on it.
The dealer says a software update will fix this problem.

I just don't know. I think I can still walk get out from under this car, it's only days old. I want the car, I like the car, but I don't know that I can ever trust the car again. I find it nearly impossible to think that problems like this will arise again over years and tens of thousands of miles of driving.

Should I believe the dealer and trust the bugs will be worked out and worked out quickly (I don't have time to be in and out of the dealer all the time) or undo this before it can't be undone?

This sucks...
Kc2dc

I don't believe that Infiniti sells a car with your current options but without DAS - so you may have no alternative but to wait until the issues are fixed/resolved with the DAS or settle for something less desirable if they let you swap the car for a different model. My suggestion: if you can - try to return the car, cancel the deal and get your money back.

I believe Infiniti will ultimately resolve the DAS issues or either drop the technology in future model years, but why should you drive a vehicle with defective steering until they fix this. If it were just the InTouch system or some other component not directly involved with safety or your ability to drive the vehicle in a conventional manner, perhaps, but these recent DAS related issues do not seem to be in that category. Since your car is such a recent purchase you may have options to return the vehicle that others who have had the car much longer cannot readily pursue. IMO

Regards,
Orrin
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How many people here are living in subzero temperatures and driving a Q50 without DAS and not experiencing problems?
How many people here are living in subzero temperatures and driving a Q50 without DAS and not experiencing problems?
For what it's worth, the loaner I had for a week was a standard Q50 without DAS. It worked as expected. Essentially the same car minus folding seats, dimming side mirrors and auto-wipers. No issues with it
Someone posted on here a recall is going to happen tomorrow for DAS.
I guess we'll wait and see if that happens or not.

Otherwise from what I have seen posted it seems pretty standard that they do the software upgrade first.

Probably the best thing to do is if you think it's acting up, pull over in a safe spot, and hit the SOS button.
Make them come get the car and give you a loaner car while they look at it.

I've only seen one post on this forum where someone said they actually had an issue while driving and lost all steering.
Like the DAS clutch stayed engaged but DAS didn't work.
And that I think was fairly early in that big DAS thread so it seemed like an early production Q50.

I would assume things are relatively safe.
There haven't been any reports of people getting into crashes due to loss of steering.
Had my wife or son been driving, neither would have known what to do. Asking them to pull over on a busy urban interstate in the middle of winter where there is still ice and snow and limited visibility is probably more dangerous than just driving it some place. And that's if they could. When this car goes numb, it's really goes. You lose all connection with the car and the car just freaks out and nothing works right and the steering just barely functions. What if the backup steering clutch doesn't engage properly? What if the DAS goes out while going around a cloverleaf? How does this thing even calibrate itself especially on the fly. My steering wheel was almost upside down, what if the steering computer just gets completely dis-oriented. I have an RC quad copter drone and that thing will often have a mind of its own for no reason out of the blue. This car reminds me of an RC vehicle only you are inside it.

These are all questions I never really thought of till today. We have a new Ford Explorer and it too has all the gadgets, it even parks itself and turns the wheels to do it. Other than one or two freezes of the my touch screen, it has worked flawlessly in two years of driving. Is that not a drive by wire? Seems like the same technology to me. Maybe its steering is simply mechanical with motorized assist while the Q50 is a totally different technology being so independent from the steering wheel.
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For what it's worth, the loaner I had for a week was a standard Q50 without DAS. It worked as expected. Essentially the same car minus folding seats, dimming side mirrors and auto-wipers. No issues with it
Any extreme cold weather?
There probably isn't much you can do besides tell them to take the car now and give you a lender.
Or have them come pick up the car with a tow truck.


My brothers Boss has one of the ford trucks with the electrict steering.
We were talking about this after I told him I got a Q50 that has electric steering.
He said his bosses electrict steering stopped working wihle driving and he had to have it towed to the ford dealer.
It sounds like Ford may have some kind of issue as well.

With infiniti, the forums kicked up really badly when that artic front hit a week or two ago.
Then went kind of quiet a few days when the arctic front moved out.
And now it's flaring back up again now that people are expeiencing really cold weather again.
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Yes, I know the Ford Explorer has had its own issues, I guess we lucked on those. I Just wondered if the steering was the same technology. Another reason to live in a warmer climate!
If you can get out of the car, do it. I am at the end of my rope with mine. See my thread here:

http://www.infinitiq50.org/forum/ne...-fix-my-many-issues-car-worse.html#post376945
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Infiniti really has no clue what they're doing with what could be a wonderful, game-changing technology... if it's developed and tested properly.

I just booked an MB E-class rental car. That will be my first experience with the brand. Guess where my money (and likely that of several friends/family members) is likely gonna go in a few years if Infiniti can't get their stuff together?:D
There probably isn't much you can do besides tell them to take the car now and give you a lender.
Or have them come pick up the car with a tow truck.


My brothers Boss has one of the ford trucks with the electrict steering.
We were talking about this after I told him I got a Q50 that has electric steering.
He said his bosses electrict steering stopped working wihle driving and he had to have it towed to the ford dealer.
It sounds like Ford may have some kind of issue as well.

With infiniti, the forums kicked up really badly when that artic front hit a week or two ago.
Then went kind of quiet a few days when the arctic front moved out.
And now it's flaring back up again now that people are expeiencing really cold weather again.
It's like they didn't even test the **** car for cold weather. Did they even?

The Ford problems outlined by you in that great, informative post explain why they had more cars on Consumer Report's "Least-reliable" list than any other manufacturer this year. Out of the 35 worst-of-the-worst, 13 were Fords! Sadly, there were four Nissans on the list, but thankfully no Infintis. The Q50 is almost guaranteed to make it next year. :(
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Less than 100 miles? I'd park it and tell them to bring you another one exactly like it and you will give them a second chance. Maybe the mechanic missed something during PDI. If they won't do that, drive it back with the crooked steering wheel and park it right in front of the showroom. Wheels pointed straight, steering wheel upside down. Lock the car with a note saying BUYER BEWARE taped to the inside of the windshield, and leave with the keys.
Any extreme cold weather?
Yes. The first time it happened was -5, the next time, after the computer update was 9
I don't think they had a chance to test it in the extreme temps we're seeing now. Unless they took it for a spin with the Ice Road Truckers way up north, I don't see how they could test -5 degrees in a real environment. Maybe they thought, "nobody will drive in these temps except Canadians with the cold weather package, but even then they'll be on snowmobiles and drunk on Molson". ;)
I don't think they had a chance to test it in the extreme temps we're seeing now. Unless they took it for a spin with the Ice Road Truckers way up north, I don't see how they could test -5 degrees in a real environment. Maybe they thought, "nobody will drive in these temps except Canadians with the cold weather package, but even then they'll be on snowmobiles and drunk on Molson". ;)
I call BULLSH*T!

Supposedly this technology was in development for the last 10 years...

They never ONCE experienced brutal sub-zero testing in an entire decade?

Once again....BULLSH*T!
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