vinyl on dash beginning to crack

[PlatinumM35]

My dash on my 06' is beginning to crack and practically is melting. I was cleaning the other day and notice the cracks. My fingernail scraped the vinyl and it took a small chunk out of the vinyl. Has anyone had this issue? Also, has anyone had their dash reupholstered?

[GenericM35]

I wonder if you (or the previous owner?) used something that might've caused this. My 2006 still looks brand new :S

[wingFeather]

No issues with that here in sunny hot California.

[PlatinumM35]

I have had my m for two years and I usually just clean it with a damp cloth so I don't get why its cracking. Anyhow a local upholstery shop said they could match the color of the vinyl and paint and sand the affected areas. I was thinking of having the whole thing redone. What do you guys think?

[fla77]

I think 80 to 90% of M owners have this issue...my 2007 and every other besides one in the 20 plus car search I did before finding my m35 had cracks in the dash somewhere or the marks from where something marked up the dash when it was in melt mode! I spoke with Infiniti of America and they said that what needs to be done to have a service campaign like the fx35 has for its cracking and bubbling dash is for people to take their cars to the dealership pay the service charge to have them look at dash and have them tell you if it can be repaired or replaced and how much for both. I when to Infiniti and had them look at it and they gave me the two things that were up for a service campaign for my VIN number and that was it but did address the dash and how the fx35's have the same issue but they have a campaign for them...well then I called Infiniti of America and they said they cant go by all the people on the word of all the people on the internet complaining about this b.c its not noted....so they told me that they can note what I am saying but without a work order that they can see from a Infiniti dealership showing that there are cracks...etc. that they can only note and I would have to go back and service they car with that being a concern etc. so that it can be confirmed through a dealership....now I want to get a petition going for this because just b.c im Florida doesn't mean a car as expensive as a m35 or m45 should have this issue....so what everyone needs to do is have your car serviced...it wont take Infiniti but 5 minutes do service it to tell you what it will cost to repair or replace and then call Infiniti of America to give them your service number and please post hear showing you have so that can work just as good as a petition.....please repost my coment on other forums because this will be the only way everyone with an M35/45 will get a new dash replaced....and we should have to own a car they know has issues...LOOK UP THE SERVICE CAMPAIN FOR THE FX35.....there are MANY...probably like 80% of M owners out there with their dash cracked or chucks out of their dash b.c you were cleaning your dash and your finger nail dug into a melted dash.....!!! Please post showing you have don't those two things so everyone that has a M35/45 with these issues can soon get their dash replaced!!!! God Bless

[jettblackm]

I have a 2006 M35 and my car is near mint condition but just started getting dash cracks. I have seen it on other M's around town as well. Have you had any luck with the dealer since your last post. From what I hear they want about $1,600 to replace dash.

[greglb]

I have a 2006 M35s. Dove gray leather / black vinyl dash. I am the original owner and the car looks mint except for the dash, which is practically disintegrating. Of course the local dealer told me it is because I live in South Florida. That's BS since what I did share with him in response is that my windshield has been tinted for years with 3M Prestige PR70, which although virtually clear and undetectable, blocks 99.9% of all UV rays and provides about a 60% heat reduction as well. So the issue is definitely a defect. For you M owners without the problem, consider yourself lucky. I'm going to join fla77 in his efforts to petition for a service campaign. If FX35 owners got it done, we should be able to as well.

[Larz]

I have no issues with my dash (yet). I have that same clear protection on my windscreen and it is absolutely staggering how much FL heat is reduced, how much glare from oncoming traffic is reduced, and how much cooler the windscreen and the dash are even sitting in direct sunlight.
The only trouble with my dash is the size of afingernail where the passenger dash meets the wood trim at the edge. That's cuz one of my rottys (Tala) took a tiny bite out of it. I can't in good conscience take it to Infiniti and claim it was wear and tear. Besides they will see that the rest of the dash is still soft and supple without cracks.

[EniGmA1987]

I live in hot Southern California (it was already hitting 92 degrees today) and park in the sun all day, my dash is perfectly fine with no issues. My dad'd M35 does not have an issue with this either.

[Larz]

I can't help but wonder if it's the result of the previous owners using cheap cleaners and protectants like Amor-All, etc.
Not making accusations !!! A mate of mine used Amor-All on his beige dash in his Jeep only top find the sun reacted with it like olive oil and darkened most of his dash - it looked as if it was burned by the sun. Regardless, I wish you guys the best with this effort. I've seen new OEM dashes for about $600 - no idea how difficult it is to replace it yourself.

[Ricksi30]

So I have searched here and on the FX forum but can't find anyone who has tried redoing the dash on their own. Has anyone tried this? My local dealer wants just over 2k to replace it and that is not even close to a number I'd be willing to spend, even though I HATE dash mats I can't justify 2k for a dashboard. They said the labor is 800 and the dash is 1300, I've seen used dashes for ~500 but I would hate to pay that and then have it crack again as I've seen several people on their third or fourth dash on the fx forums. Any help is greatly appreciated.

-Thanks, Rick

[Larz]

I am very sorry to report that I have now found tiny cracks on my dash - near the edges where it meets the wood trim pieces. Allow me to say: buggah .... Buggah .... BUGGAH
The larger area along the top surface has no cracks and this would be the first place that heat would have caused it so I can only surmise that the previous owner used something that has compromised the outer surface. These cracks were NOT there about a month ago (last time I detailed the inteior).
I am considering covering the dash (from the widscreen dow to the wood trim) in black suede as is found in high-end super cars. I found a suede headliner material that is UV protected, foam backed, and comes in a sheet that is 63" by 60" which seems to be enough to cover the entire dash in one continuous piece with no seams. Here is what I've found so far:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUEDE-HEADLINER ... 756wt_1163

I also plan to visit a local car upholstery shop and have them give me an estimate for covering the entire dash using their black suede. I, too, am not happy about $2000 to have a new OEM dash installed. I will update just in case others might be considering this.

[svard75]

The cracking comes from heating/cooling trends. If the dash is hot and you blast the AC that process causes the material to eventually harden and crack. Thermoshock. Adding certain penetrating chemicals speed this process up. Most of the wipes contain some form of petrol which penetrates and reacts especially under heat. If you have to park outdoors keep a windsheild cover handy or always look for a tree parking. Otherwise drive around with the windows down to gradually cool the interior prior to turning on the AC full blast.

[surfcity61]

my 2007 M35 has been cracking for two years. The dealer has told me to pound salt because the original mfg warranty expired long ago. I have their Elite extended warranty but the dash wasn't covered. Even worse, I have not found a single upholstery place that will touch this dash. That means it has to go back to a dealer. They extended the mfg warranty on the FX35, how can they ignore this problem? I had two Fords for 22 years and the dashes never showed any signs of wear/tear. I cover my car and use a sun screen. They told me that it was due to the heat in Florida. How can they make a car whose interior looks like crap after 50-70k miles? I am sick over this.

[szh]

Warning to all: Armor-All ... please do not ever use it. This product can cause leather and vinyl to harden and crack.

Z

[Ricksi30]

Are there any tutorials that help with removing the dash to DIY?

[Ricksi30]

I hate to keep bumping this but I'd really like any help I can get. At the very least does anyone know of a good dash mat? I've looked at a few but they all seem to cover the center channel speaker.

[steelcity]

Warning to all: Armor-All ... please do not ever use it. This product can cause leather and vinyl to harden and crack.

Z

+1 on that

You are better off conditioning it. Key is to keep it away from the sun. Turtle Wax makes that F21 Formula with "sun stop" which restores shine and has great UV protection for vinyl and even leather.
(I don't put it on my leather though)

[seldomseen]

Dash cracking is a common issue for the M/Q/FX due to the dashboard composite and thin vinyl covering. Infiniti only offered a good will warranty to address the dashboard issues to FX owners. The dashboard on the M/Q/FX were likely to crack if you resided in an area that has very cold winters and hot summers. The dash composite expands due to temperature changes ultimately causing the thin vinyl to crack/split. Also, using interior dressings/protectants that contain petroleum distillates and/or silicones only accelerated dashboard cracking/splitting too. The good news is that a experienced vinly repair shop can mend the cracks and also paint the repair work to match the dash color.

[brianallentaylor]

I'm experiencing the same issues with my '06 M35. What started out as one crack is now 4-5. I've contacted a vinyl repair shop who says they can fix the cracks for $400 but I'm hesitant to have the work as the cracks may continue to appear.

Has anyone had any luck working with Nissan/Infiniti? This is no doubt a manufacturing issue.

[svard75]

This is not a manufacturing issue since vinyl cracking is world renown to occur on any brand of vehicle. It's the rapid heating and cooling that causes it to crack. Adding petroleum based wipes into the mix just helps accelerate that process. My car has almost reached 200K KMS and since brand new it's never had any products applied. I've driven it to Florida a couple of times and always use the windshield cover when parked in the sun and only if I can't find shade. Fortunately up here our worst days are more humid than hot so perhaps that helps keep the material from cracking but I only use a water dampened cloth to clean the surfaces and a swiffer duster for the gauges and other surfaces.

[Larz]

I agree completely. You can't expect ANY car company to replace items like dash covers. All they can do is manufacture a dash cover that is as resistant as possible from temp changes and I'm sure Infiniti has already been doing that.
Luckily, my dash only has a hair-line crack about 1 inch long at the edge by the air con vent (but it still makes me crazy). I always use my windscreen cover and it not only protects me from direct sun, but that cover, plus my clear windscreen tint keeps the dash from getting warm and allows the air con to blow cold air in seconds to cool the car quickly.
I got an 'estimated' quote form my dealer for a new OEM cover: $1500 - $1800. Final estimate can only be provided after they actually order it. I declined that offer, LOL. I'm still considering having an auto upholstery shop look into the cost of covering my exitsing dash in suede or alcantara but that project is on my back burner at the moment.

[pilot5.0]

2006 M45 Sport 92K. Always garaged. Always use sun shade. Two cracks at passenger side A/C vent. Wish you could cover, but passenger airbag won't work correctly. Keep posting if there is a recall. I'll sign it

[lvindel]

I have the same problem with my 2008 M35. Dealer was no help, Infiniti USA was worse...offensively insulting. My car has 19400 miles. Dashboard problem, power lumbars went out (both at same time...go figure!) and dealer wants $2200 per seat to replace guts. Gonna be tough for me to consider another Nissan product!

[Cash440]

I agree with steelcity - Using a good UV protectant is very important when it comes to maintaining your dash especially as these cars get older. I give mine a wipe down with Meguiar's UV protectant every couple of months, and the dash looks like new.

[stevstep77]

I have the same issue with my M. Happened one summer day went to push the AUTO for the a/c and missed hit the black vinyl and dug a chunk out of it. I called myself fixing the issue using some vinyl repair kit. Didn't turn out too well but its covered and doesn't look like a white chunk in the middle of my dash just a off color repair job . But i do agree with everyone that Ininfiti should do something about this issue.

[DEPTULA58]

I have a 2008 Infiniti M35 with only 38K miles on it. It has always been garaged and is a Florida vehicle. In the last month my Dash has cracked everywhere. Near the Air Bag especially. I am afraid of the safety of my front passengers. The Air Bag could deploy by itself of not deploy at all in the case of an accident. If Infiniti recalled all the 2006-2010 FX35 and FX45 because of the same dash problems? Why did they not recall the 2006-2010 M35 with the same issues? This is a Safety Issue.

[Larz]

You might want to check with an engineer regarding the safety of a cracked dash cover as it relates to airbag deployment. I don't see how it could have any effect. The air bag deployment is triggered by sensors, not the condition of the dash covering it.
Actually, the issue on the FX models was not a crack issue but a defective part issue. It seems a significant number FX dashes had a 'bubbling' problem that made the dash appear it was taken out of a fry pan as you can see in the pic below.
.

.
Infiniti did not immediately agree to replace the dashes, but after losing class action suits in states like Missouri, they issued the following letter to owners: It was not an actual recall, but an extension of warranty coverage that limits the number of owners who will qualify.
.

.
Our problem is cracking which is a completely different issue which is caused by age, weather and temps, and even improper care or after market dash dressing applied by owners. Should the dash on a 50-70 thousand dollar car have a cracked dash in less than 15 years of use? Absolutely NOT. But no car maker is going to pay to replace thousands of dash covers for cracking. This is not a safety issue or defect issue. It's probably due to using a less than highest quality part. Replacing the cover is VERY expensive and some here have installed their own dash cover on top of the exiting dash. You can find DIY's in the FAQ section. In the area of the passenger airbag, I scored the underside of the new cover to allow (I hope) the bag to deploy if needed. I may eventually re-do that area to include a 'flap' that is held in place by velcro over the air bag area similar to the pre-made dash covers like "DashMat".

[DEPTULA58]

My 2008 Infiniti M35 Luxury Sedan has only 40K miles and always garaged. 2 months ago the entire instrument panel pad starting cracking all over the entire dash and around the airbag. I called Infiniti USA and they informed me that all 2006-2010 M35 and M45 models had a problem with the foam padding getting hard as a rock over time. With the temperature changes the dash pad cannot expand or contract. So it just cracks and separates. Once it starts cracking it just continues to crack and pieces start to fall out. Infiniti USA instructed me to take the vehicle into the Infiniti dealer where I purchased it. Lokey Infiniti of Clearwater, Florida. To have them write a repair order and have them document the damage. I did that and the Dealer refused to help in any way and told me to call Infiniti USA back and give them the Repair Order Number. I called Infiniti back and they outright refused to help out in anyway since my vehicle was 7 years old. They said they replaced all the dash panels cracking under warranty until the factory warranty expired. They did admit and the Dealer as well that all the 2006-2010 instrument panels from the same manufacturer had their factory warranties extended 8 years and they are still replacing them under warranty. The FX model had vinyl bubbling and blistering problems from defective glue. Infiniti and the Dealer told me that. The problem with the instrument panel cracking is that Infiniti has opened itself up to a Huge Lawsuit. The integrity of the passenger airbag has now been seriously compromised and may deploy unexpectedly or in a frontal collision may not deploy at all or blow the entire instrument panel into pieces and hit the passengers and cause severe injuries and even death. I tried to trade the vehicle to a Dealer that said nobody will take the vehicle on trade unless the instrumental panel is replaced since it is a Huge Safety Liability on them. So, I am Disabled with a Luxury Sedan I am afraid to drive and cannot even trade or sell if I wanted to. I have hired an attorney today to go after Infiniti Motors, USA and Lokey Infiniti Of Clearwater for refusing to reach out to their area Service Rep from Infiniti to try and come up with some kind of Good Will Authorization. The Dealership Service Manager and the Dealer Principal/Owner Phillip Lokey will not return my calls. The National Transportation Safety Board wants to inspect my vehicle for a possible Class Action Lawsuit and Recall. I will keep you all informed of my progress with the Lawsuit.

[avn]

I have a 2008 M35 - - 25,000 miles. It's like new. Same dash problem - - Infinity of USA sent me to the local dealer Sewell Infinity to diagnose. They said, yes you have a melting/cracking dash. Infinity USA said unfortunately the extended warranty had expired - - so sorry. Considering joining the class action suit, b/c Sewell wants $2,400 to replace the dash.