$500 settlement for airbag recall

[airmanhoward]

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/ca ... 550085001/

[Shanehsmp]

So how does that work? Only if your vehicle was affected?

[airmanhoward]

Not sure how it works. I haven't gotten my recall done due to dash cracking. They would just damage it more doing the recall. I was planning on waiting to see if they send out checks then in will use the $500 for the new dash and suck up the rest.

[rednelb]

I am scheduled to have mine replace next week. I am told it should only take half of a day. I will take pictures of the dash before hand.

Wondering if I would still be eligible for the $500 due to all the pain and suffering it has caused me.

[EdBwoy]

Slightly OT
Airman, yours is definitely a different twist. Most complaints we see here are of people who didn't have cracked dashes, and then the recall work damaged it.

I suppose most people are in your boat (even before the $500 possibility) or just had the work done and didn't post anything here. I wonder if those dashboards got any worse. I remember one member who had very minor cracking prior to the recall, it got much worse after, and was going to get a new dash.

[fooitm35x]

In Ontario they sent me a letter that there is a recall and I had it fixed for free by Infiniti dealership.
They did crack my dashboard and stained my A-pillars - so I had to come back and had them clean pillars and fix my dashboard.

[airmanhoward]

https://ibb.co/j01y4v
https://ibb.co/fkshWa
https://ibb.co/fEBy4v

[fooitm35x]

https://ibb.co/j01y4v
https://ibb.co/fkshWa
https://ibb.co/fEBy4v

OMG! This is crazy!

[airmanhoward]

Rednelb please keep us posted regarding the recall replacement?

[ae7456t]

I am scheduled for airbag recall replacement next week, as well. Loaner car setup for Tuesday morning and lots of pictures of the dash between now and then.

I will certainly give an update upon (hopefully successful) completion.

[airmanhoward]

ae7456t good luck. What city are you in? My local dealer tried me with a Ford fiesta WTF.

[Larz]

Considering that I had to pay over $2,000 for my new dash, it's hard for me to get behind anyone who complains about getting a Ford loaner, LOL. Even if the dealer opened their entire car lot as loaners, there would not be enough cars for every airbag recall customer. I was given a small Dodge SUV while mine was replaced. It was definitely NOT a QX by any stretch of the imagination! But, it was free and I drove it as I would my own car (although the dodge couldn't do what my car does, LOL). I'm wondering if those of us who were already victimized by this mess are eligible to ask for $500 to offset the thousands we are out? I'm taking mine in next week for a mirror issue under my warranty. I'll ask Jeffery how we go about making a claim to that fund.

[midnightclub619]

dang.. i'm wondering if I should go in and ask for a loaner (even if its a ford, hahaa..) they just told me that they will call me when the replacement dash comes in. it still worries me having a passenger in my car during this limbo of waiting. would the dealership own up and approve a loaner?

[airmanhoward]

midnightclub619 how long have yo been waiting?

[rednelb]

I will update everyone with the outcome. I drop it off Monday. So far, no loaner was offered. I work nearby and Infiniti offered to drive me to work as they said it will only take a half day.

I plan on cleaning my entire dash and getting plenty of hi-res photos as well.

[midnightclub619]

midnightclub619 how long have yo been waiting?

Airmanhoward... This will be 3 weeks waiting. They told me about 4-6 wks for the dash to come in

[Larz]

airmanhoward:
To be safe as possible, I did the following:
I placed a container with a few books on the passenger seat until the "pass airbag OFF" light illuminated so the airbag on that side of the dash will remain inactive. I only allowed passengers in the rear seat and avoided carrying anyone at all until my recall / dash install was complete.
I'm fortunate in that we have the SUV and the Caddy to use if we're carrying friends.

As for the settlement payment of $500:
I spoke with Jeffery at my dealership. Per Jeffery, In order to make a claim for all or part of the $500 max payout, there are limitations:
1) Infinity must have damaged a previously 'undamaged' dash when removing or re-installing dash after the recall.
2) If you purchased a dash and Infiniti installed the new dash without attempting to re-install the original dash, you cannot make a claim.
3) If a loaner is offered, you will not likely qualify for lost wages, child care, etc. as you should have arranged a drop off appointment that prevented these losses. Infiniti will decide if these losses were unavoidable (meaning: good luck with that).
Jeffery could not find any info for those who may have minimal damage before and major damage after the recall is performed. Those people will likely have claims dismissed as damage was present prior to servicing.

[airmanhoward]

airmanhoward:
To be safe as possible, I did the following:
I placed a container with a few books on the passenger seat until the "pass airbag OFF" light illuminated so the airbag on that side of the dash will remain inactive. I only allowed passengers in the rear seat and avoided carrying anyone at all until my recall / dash install was complete.
I'm fortunate in that we have the SUV and the Caddy to use if we're carrying friends.
What you are regarding?

[bicsintegra]

my local dealership said the parts would not be in until October to replace the dash, my dash is already cracked in several spots anyway. I am betting the dealership will do more harm than good when and if I get the airbag replaced.

[L'sm35]

my local dealership said the parts would not be in until October to replace the dash, my dash is already cracked in several spots anyway. I am betting the dealership will do more harm than good when and if I get the airbag replaced.

Are you replacing the dash on your dime?

[rednelb]

Update:

I had my airbag replaced yesterday at Infiniti of Cincinnati. Ben was very nice. I didn't need a loaner as I work about 5 minutes away, so they offered to drive and pick me up.

I dropped off the car at 8AM and they called me at 11AM to tell me it was finished. I took pictures of my dash beforehand. Not the best pictures because of time and my busy busy morning. There wasn't any damage to the dash before hand. There were some minor scuffs and blemishes. It is a 10 year old car. Upon picking up, I noticed dents around the vents and other trim where they pried the dash off. Very small. I waiting to get home and compare the pics. Yup!! These little dents are newly created from the dealer. I also noticed a crack that I don't remember seeing before. As well, I would expect Infinti to at least pay attention to detail and re-enter the radio stations and other settings after reconnecting the battery.

So... I feel like I should at least voice my concerns over the damage to the dash. Albeit not as horrible damage like I have seen, if this was a brand new $45k car, I would be livid.
Do I ask for a new dash? I do love this car and although I bough it used, I baby it like it is new. The paint looks like it is 1 year old, the interior looks like it is 2 years old. Not 10. Will these dents turn into cracks after some days in full sun? Uggghhh!

I will let everyone know what happens.

[rednelb]

Update:

Taking the M back. They are going to have the detail guy take a look at it. Should get a loaner this time. My damage isn't awful, but I'm afraid it will get worse.

[ae7456t]

I had a work conflict, this morning, so had to cancel my airbag replacement appointment...and have to say that I am a bit relieved...I am in the same boat as @rednelb...I have taken very good care of my 11 year old car, and have to say that I am more than a little nervous that my crack-free dash will not stay that way for long once I go through with the airbag replacement,

Let us know what the detail guy comes back with!

[hawkfan]

If you do the recall, you will get cracks. My car is 10yrs old but it has been garage kept since I bought it in '09. The dash was fine until I took it in for the recall a few months ago. I now notice hairline cracks and this strange 'bulging' forming around the AC vents and cracks on each end of the dashboard. I read that these cars have issues with cracked dashes. I have no 'before' pictures and I can't prove that it's not due to age so I'm stuck with it. I'm trading my M in for a Q70 anyway so I'm not terribly upset about it. Do the newer models have the same problem?

[steve_c]

If you do the recall, you will get cracks.....The dash was fine until I took it in for the recall...I now notice hairline cracks and this strange 'bulging' forming around the AC vents and cracks on each end of the dashboard.....I have no 'before' pictures...so I'm stuck with it. I'm trading my M in for a Q70 anyway so I'm not terribly upset about it.....

Hawkfan,
You are a better man then I am. A true blue loyalist, the kind that infiniti Corporate loves after giving its customers a royal screwing!
To me, remaining loyal to Infiniti after this fiasco of a recall would be shouting to them
"Please sir, may I have another..!"

You say you are not terribly upset. I would be! They devalued your trade in due to the cracks on the dash to the tune of thousands.
I would love to hear the "deal" you are getting for taking this hit!

Don't get me wrong, the M70 is a lovely car, but I think history proves what kind of customer support one would get from Infiniti should a problem arise in the future.

Screw me once, shame on you... screw me twice, shame on me....!

[hawkfan]

If you do the recall, you will get cracks.....The dash was fine until I took it in for the recall...I now notice hairline cracks and this strange 'bulging' forming around the AC vents and cracks on each end of the dashboard.....I have no 'before' pictures...so I'm stuck with it. I'm trading my M in for a Q70 anyway so I'm not terribly upset about it.....

Hawkfan,
You are a better man then I am. A true blue loyalist, the kind that infiniti Corporate loves after giving its customers a royal screwing!
To me, remaining loyal to Infiniti after this fiasco of a recall would be shouting to them
"Please sir, may I have another..!"

You say you are not terribly upset. I would be! They devalued your trade in due to the cracks on the dash to the tune of thousands.
I would love to hear the "deal" you are getting for taking this hit!

Don't get me wrong, the M70 is a lovely car, but I think history proves what kind of customer support one would get from Infiniti should a problem arise in the future.

Screw me once, shame on you... screw me twice, shame on me....!

Believe me, if I wasn't planning on trading it in, I would be a lot more upset about it. In fact, I though about asking them about replacing it on their dime but I know that's an exercise in futility after the whole broken driver's seat fiasco. I've stuck with Infiniti since my '02 I35 and these have been the most reliable cars I've owned. The M had 2 issues that I think are engineering/materials related(broken driver's seat and dash), but other than that I've literally had no engine or drivetrain issues. Trust me, I seriously considered the Audi A7 which I think is absolutely gorgeous, but I have serious concerns with their reliability. There's a reason why they depreciate so much after the warranty expires.

[rednelb]

So the detail guy did a decent job of hiding the pry marks on the dash. Looks like he used some type of matching filler. Only noticeable if you look for it. Order a new gas pedal while I was there, as mine is hanging on my a couple of pins and annoying as hell. Only $20. No way I am paying $175 for labor to put in a simple pedal.

*crosses fingers that dash stays the way it is*

[MOWellsinVA]

I had my M45 Sport in for the airbag recall and got it back yesterday from Pearson Infiniti. I had been worried about how it would come out, especially since I had noticed a couple of barely noticeable thin cracks in the area of the passenger side air vent. Happily, the recall went perfectly and the dash looks exactly that same as before the airbag replacement. They agreed to my request for a loaner, and so I had the use of a QX60. Nice enough, but not my kind of vehicle and frankly not as useful or as comfortable as my wife’s Fork Flex Limited. I asked the dealership to install some parts that I provided: replacement fog lights purchased from eBay (the Nissan Sentra version recommended on this forum) and a replacement windshield washer pump. They were agreeable to do so and charged a reasonable labor fee. They called to let me know that the replacement pump had a crack and was leaking, but they wanted to try sealing it with silicone caulk and letting it dry overnight, and told me to keep the loaner another day. Everything was working fine the following day (including a loose heat shield on the passenger-side cat that they clamped down to stop it from rattling) and they also washed and vacuumed the car. Very pleased with the service at Pearson Infiniti.

[Larz]

Allow me to chine in once more. We must accept this fact: Our cars have well designed, well crafted dash. The materials used are relatively good compared to cheaper American plastic dashes. However, after a number of years ANY dash is going to become less pliable, less stable, and less strong. The only way to avoid this is to buy a car with a leather covered dash which can be treated and nourished through it's life to prevent cracking. Obviously, Infiniti have no intention of using real leather for the dash. In fact, they are no longer using leather for seats or interiors. They now use a 'leather-like' covering on many vehicles, making actual leather a costly option. They are still using the same dash design for 6 years, made with the same material for over 10 years.
After having to spend over $2,000 for a new dash after my recall, I am still a bit put off about buying another Infinifti ... ever. But I still keep coming back to a very important bit about Infiniti vehicles: reliability. My car is getting near 9 years old, with relatively high mileage and yet not one single electrical or mechanical part has ever failed (minus the dash). Every bit of kit in my car ( it has every available option) continues to perform flawlessly. Mind you, I have spent many dollars to keep up with recommended maintenance, but it has never once let me down even during countless long road trips, each of them thousands of miles in duration.
Yes, I am completely disappointed in the air-bag / dash fiasco, but I can't help loving this car. It is like a dear, old friend who is loyal, dependable, and never leaves you in a lurch.
We all know of my fondness for Jaguar, but I wonder if, after having spent an extra $15,000 above the cost of a Q70, will I still be this happy 9 years on. I have been enjoying no car payments for years now, and the idea of having a payment + spending for unreliability has me sat where I am. Until Infiniti offers a vehicle that comes close to offering the options my car has, I will not buy another. But if they ever do, I would definitely consider it.

[airmanhoward]

I have 2 yrs of payments left, considering the m56/q70 5.6 with low miles or a Tesla. Like you said about the reliability i have numerous friends with cars newer than mine with alot more issues. Infiniti = reliability. The only real issue I have had with my M35x is a cracked radiator due to a pot hole I think