2009 Infiniti G37

I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 35 MILES AN HOUR AND ABOUT TO TURN RIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION WHEN MY STEERING WENT OUT COMPLETELY. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NO LONGER CONNECTED TO THE WHEELS, IT WAS JUST SPINNING AROUND. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN AND DRIVE OVER A CURB AND REST ON THE MEDIAN, DURING RUSH HOUR, IN THE DARK AND CALL AAA. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED: "ON YOUR VEHICLE THE STEERING SHAFT THAT RUNS DOWN FROM THE STEERING WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE COUPLER. WHEN THIS HAPPENED IT DAMAGED THE SPIRAL CABLE AND THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. WE HAVE REATTACHED THE SHAFT TO THE COUPLER AND REINSTALLED THE SAFETY NUT THAT HOLDS IT INTO PLACE, BUT THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR AND THE SPIRAL CABLE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED". THEY SUGGESTED I CALL CONSUMER REPORTS AND I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING BEFORE AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY WRECKS IN THE CAR AND ALL MAINTENANCE WORK IS DONE AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP. I AM SO AFRAID TO THINK OF WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED AND I WORRIED ABOUT DRIVING MY CAR IN THE FUTURE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *TR

SEVERE VEHICLE AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION WHEN MODERATE TO HEAVY BRAKING AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH. MODERATE VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL DURING NORMAL DRIVING ON SEMI-ROUGH SURFACES. AFTER INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE RACK & PINION ASSEMBLY HAD ABOUT ONE INCH OF PLAY AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. MANUFACTURER HAS RELEASED A TSB CONCERNING THIS ISSUE.

A FEW DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT A NEW CAR WITH ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL, I NOTICED A JERK ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN I PASSED A SPEED BUMP AND AT TIMES I FEEL LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL JUMPING ON ME AT ACCELERATION. A FEW WEEKS LATER I FOUND THE ORIGIN OF THE PROBLEM. THE ELECTRIC STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT LOCK IN PLACE SECURELY. IT WILL HAVE TO BE PUSH MANUALLY TO SECURE IT. IF YOU DRIVE AWAY AND FORGET TO SECURE IT MANUALLY THAT IS WHEN THE JERK OCCUR INTO THE SITUATION I DESCRIBED EARLIER. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND TAKE IT IN FOR REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY, IN THE PROCESS TAKING OUT THE WHOLE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AND TOLD THEY CANNOT FIND ANY PROBLEM. THEY CONCLUDED THAT 'COMPARED TO OTHER SIMILAR MODELS THEY ALSO HAVE A SLIGHT PLAY OF THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS IS NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE". I GOT IN TOUCH WITH INFINITY CONSUMER AFFAIRS BUT AFTER A FEW DAYS THEY CAME UP WITH THE SAME CONCLUSION. I THINK IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEALER TO INFORM THE CONSUMER OF THIS KIND OF " CHARACTERISTIC " BEFORE THE CONSUMER MAKE A DECISION. IS THERE A DEFECT OR SAFETY ISSUE INVOLVE IN THIS SITUATION? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR