2011 Infiniti EX35

My drivers side door lock actuator does not allow the drivers door to be opened if its below 30 degrees Fahrenheit. We just got a bomb cyclone bringing snow and for the second winter in a row (new actuator installed last winter for same complaint) my actuator has failed. I di not know what is going on with infiniti’s parts but every person i know who has newer infiniti has to get their actuator changed every year because the car locks them inside. If there were to be a crash or a fire or some type of emergency, I…along with every infiniti owner would have to attempt to escape their car through another door or risk death.

The door lock actuators fail to work for the doors both inside and outside if the temperature gets below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. (Also within this weather, my outer door handle which is physically attached to said actuator) has broken off. I've repaired one actuator with an aftermarket one but the drivers door actuator is only made by Infiniti. The cost of the part alone is $800 the labor is another $300. The risk is that in the case of a crash, engine fire, and/or severe mechanical failure, I will be unable to exit my vehicle and will subsequently die should such an situation occur. I've spoken to several mechanics that tell me it's quite common with Nissans and infiniti's. I've seen on dozens of forums that they believe there should be a recall on this since it's been happening for 20+years and isn't covered under warranty due to being a wear and tear part.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 INFINITI EX35. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V349000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

THIS CAR HAD AN UNEXPLAINED EPISODE OF SUDDEN ENGINE POWER LOSS AND DECELERATION FOLLOWED BY ENGINE SHUTDOWN AND TEMPORARY INABILITY TO RESTART THE ENGINE. WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH ON A SLIGHTLY INCLINED HIGHWAY, I SUDDENLY FELT THAT THE CAR NEEDED TO DOWNSHIFT BUT IT WAS NOT DOING SO. AS I CONTINUED TO EXERT ADDITIONAL PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR BEGAN TO NOTICEABLY AND QUICKLY LOSE ENGINE POWER. THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WORKED NORMALLY, AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, BY WHICH TIME THE ENGINE HAD STOPPED RUNNING. I ESTIMATE I TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY ONE HALF MILE FROM THE FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE. THERE WERE NO UNUSUAL SOUNDS OR ODORS. IF ANY WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, I DID NOT NOTICE THEM. ACCESSORY ITEMS SUCH AS THE RADIO, AIR CONDITIONING, NAVIGATION SYSTEM, AND POWER WINDOWS STILL OPERATED. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES UNSUCCESSFULLY TO RESTART THE CAR. THE ENGINE DID NOT TURN OVER. I DID NOT NOTICE ANY UNUSUAL LIGHTS OR MESSAGES ON THE DASHBOARD, BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT DEPRESS AS IT NORMALLY DOES DURING THE STARTING PROCESS. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER WHO ARRIVED A LITTLE MORE THAN AN HOUR LATER STARTED THE CAR NORMALLY. THERE WAS NO HESITATION IN STARTING, AND THE ENGINE RAN SMOOTHLY. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINUTES AFTER I STARTED THE CAR FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT DAY. IT HAD BEEN DRIVEN LESS THAN 5 MILES IN THE PREVIOUS 5 DAYS, BUT OTHERWISE THERE WAS NOTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THE DRIVING CONDITIONS. SINCE THIS INCIDENT, THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN ABOUT 700 MILES ON THE HIGHWAY AND BEEN USED FOR SEVERAL DAYS OF LOCAL SHORT TRIPS WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. IT HAS BEEN CHECKED AT A GENERAL PURPOSE AUTO REPAIR FACILITY AND THEN BY AN INFINITI DEALER. NOBODY HAS FOUND ANYTHING TO INDICATE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 INFINTI EX35. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE POSITIONED VERY CLOSE TO ONE ANOTHER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PEDALS WERE POSITIONED AT THE SAME HEIGHT LEVELS. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND ACCIDENTALLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AS WELL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO REMEDIES FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.