NEW DASH - YES OR NO?

[Larz]

Allow me to apologize in advace as this post is huge one:

In the last few months my dash has deteriorated and I am unable to explain why. I have never, and would never use any rubbish like armor-all, etc on my dash. I just clean it and I also keep it covered with a custom sized dash mat. Somehow, it has developed cracks near the air con vents and and the speedo cover. Mind you, I have already covered my dash with new vinyl and it looked amazing - better than new due to a higher quality material I used. These cracks have deepened, causing an indentation under the new cover that is clearly visible and the dash looks crap now.
Today, I received a call from my service rep to advise that my air bag has arrived. Instead of making an appointment, I asked him of there was ANY possible way that a new dash could be included with the recall / repair. I am certain that when they begin to remove the dash, it will break up or get even more disfigured and it seemed to me that this might get me a new dash with the recall.
Jeffery told me they have done countless air bag recalls and even when the dash has nothing wrong with it, there have been a couple instances when the procedure caused damage to the dash either by removing or re-installing it. He reckons it has happened to maybe 5% of the cars they have worked on. He also told me they are required to take photos of the dash when the car enters the service bay, and another set when the car is driven back out of bay. Supposedly, this ensures that any damage the dealer causes will be documented corrected, and that any fraudulent claims can be dealt with swiftly.
According to Jeffery. Infiniti has inexplicably denied 99% of dash replacement requests - even though the photos clearly prove the damage occurred during service. He, other reps, and even his manager has contacted Infiniti for reconsideration, but with no success. That leaves the owners to fend for themselves with a lawyer and claims court where Infiniti's gaggle of lawyers will keep things tied up for years with no guarantee of victory for the claimants.
He reckons that when the before photos show existing damage of any kind, the request for dash replacement is always denied.
Now I'm left with a conundrum. Do I lay out the cash for a new dash?
He gave me an estimate of $2,100 just for the new dash and about $200 labor. Jeffery says because the new dash does not come with the vents, etc already installed, they have to install them after the new dash goes in. That will add about $200 to my cost. The actual installation of the new dash will be free as they have to re-install my existing dash and that is already covered by the recall. Apparently, they normally do NOT remove any pieces from the dash when removing and replacing the air bag (which I find highly suspect). He then told me that the dash is currently on back-order so the Infiniti system will not process any request for a new dash. Jeffery will call me as soon as the back-order is cleared and I will need to make a decision and pay at least 50% of the cost to have them order it Apparently the dash is not a returnable item once it ships. .

I have already decided that I am not interested in any M35/45 or Q70 as the body style just hasn't grown on me. The front end of the newest models is staggeringly brilliant, but the body itself has no style - like a pensioner's sedan. Therefore I will not even consider anything after 2010 and buying another 2009 or 2010 M35 will place me in the same boat as the dash will likely deteriorate in short order on any used M35 I buy.
The 2018 Q70 was supposedly set for a major re-design, but that has been scrapped - the 2019s will have nearly the same body as the 2017 models so now I need to wait for a used 2019 (in 2021) which means my current 2009 will be a whopping 12 years old with over 100k miles at trade-in with a crap dash to boot.
The rest of my car looks and runs brilliant and my extended warranty goes through 2018 or an additional 42k miles so I reckon a new dash, albeit expensive, is worth the investment. When Jeffery calls to get my decision, I will have him check that price as it seems very high ( I seem to remember an old post from a member who replaced his dash and they charged him $1,300 + labor).
Then, after the dash and airbag are installed, I just might start looking at other brands to trade for instead of waiting till 2021 for an off-lease 2019 Q70. I still have the Jag bug but no point in looking at anything until repairs are complete as my car will be a worthless trade with a crap dash.

[reggiebrown40]

Larz, I feel your pain and hopefully you can find the most cost effective answer. The bigger question to me is that if it is indeed a design flaw at what point will the new dash begin to show signs of wear again? 4 years is the time frame you mentioned for your next purchase and the Florida heat and moisture can be brutal. ( I used to live in Lauderdale Lakes) If you replace the dash and in 4 years you have the same damage, you'd be out the 2K you spent.

I guess I would try to let them reinstall the bad dash hope it doesn't break in the process and cover it again, but that's just me. Good luck and keep us posted. (fyi, i think you meant M37/M56 in your last paragraph, unless I'm mistaken)

R

[steve_c]

Larz,
The dealer has not yet seen your dash in person.
When they do, they may have an issue with the vinyl covering you wrapped it up in if that covering is placed over the airbag deployment area.
Have you considered this?

I do not believe anyone with any signs of previous dash damage has any hope of filing a claim for dash re-reimbursement with Infiniti.
They (Infiniti) have fulfilled the warranty requirements, they have no further obligation to extend the warranty.

I do think anyone who proves their dash was 100% OK before the recall, and sustains damage to their dash because of the recall will have to
slug it out in small claims court / arbitration, where I would think they could win.

It is sad Infiniti is not making good on the dash's damaged during the recall process. It does not do much for brand loyalty, but I suspect many of the original owners of these vehicles have moved on by now. Smells like a potential class action lawsuit!

[Larz]

Both above are great points.
Reggie: I also have the same concern. This new dash could develop the same trouble at any time. My hope (and I will have to ask) is that this new dash will have a long warranty. My current extended warranty does not cover any cosmetic items - just electronics and major engine / drive train parts.

Steve: Yes, I reckon that when my car enters the service bay, those initial photos will be a huge red flag with vinyl covering the air bag area. And after they peel that vinyl off, additional photos will show the dash as damaged prior to service. And you're absolutely right about class action. Infiniti spent years denying responsibility for all those FX models with the bubbling dash. It wasn't until they started losing the class action suits that they switched to the benevolent, concerned car company and did a voluntary recall.
That same thing could eventually happen for the M owners, but that could be years from now and as you mentioned, I don't plan to own this car by then.

The trouble is two-fold. First, I truly love this car. I haven't owned all that many cars, but this is the ONLY car that I have such strong feelings for. When my 07 got totaled by that drunk tart, there was no hesitation, no discussion - I went straight into another M.
Second, now I feel trapped. I cannot even attempt to sell or trade this car with the dash in it's current condition. There really IS no option aside from replacing the dash to protect the value of the car. That isn't a happy place, but life is like that sometimes.

[steve_c]

Larz,
I wonder if you can find a dealer parts dept. to work with you on the new dash.

Infiniti Usa sells the dash for $1,400.00, shipping is additional.

Nissan Parts Deals seems to offer the dash also at about the same price.

http://www.infinitipartsusa.com/2009-In ... /18377.htm

The above link is just a quick reference for you to check out, not may be specific to your exact application.

[Larz]

Great minds think alike, LOL. I have been doing a bit of searching and I have found the exact part number for my car. It is a new OEM dash and is currently at Infinit of Peoria, a dealer in Arizona. I am expecting a call Monday to confirm against my VIN and if it matches, they can have it here in 3 business days. Even with shipping ($300), it will cost me near $400 less than my local dealer who claims it is back-ordered indefinitely.
Fingers and toes crossed ! I also ordered OEM aluminum trim to replace the 3 wood pieces that run along my dash. I have a new design I am working on. My car came with all wood trim, and I found a place who can do that liquid dip to my air/con, NAV multi switch to make it match the wood on my console and doors. So ... I will end up with wood running straight down from the NAV screen to my gear shift, and aluminum where the wood on the dash used to be. Should be a unique and brilliant style. I can't work out why they made all of the multi-switch black regardless of the rest of the trim.

[WillV]

Great minds think alike, LOL. I have been doing a bit of searching and I have found the exact part number for my car. It is a new OEM dash and is currently at Infinit of Peoria, a dealer in Arizona. I am expecting a call Monday to confirm against my VIN and if it matches, they can have it here in 3 business days. Even with shipping ($300), it will cost me near $400 less than my local dealer who claims it is back-ordered indefinitely.
Fingers and toes crossed ! I also ordered OEM aluminum trim to replace the 3 wood pieces that run along my dash. I have a new design I am working on. My car came with all wood trim, and I found a place who can do that liquid dip to my air/con, NAV multi switch to make it match the wood on my console and doors. So ... I will end up with wood running straight down from the NAV screen to my gear shift, and aluminum where the wood on the dash used to be. Should be a unique and brilliant style. I can't work out why they made all of the multi-switch black regardless of the rest of the trim.

Pics when done!!

[cfrankling]

Wow Larz, after reading your post, I consider myself one of the luckiest guys on earth, I absolutely did not have any problems getting my dash replaced when they did the airbag recall.
I will admit that my local infinity service manager gets all the credit as he did went beyond his duties to get me a new dash.

I do have one slight problem though, I was advice a few days ago by the service manager, that Infiniti wants to replace (again) the new takata airbag that was put on my car with one from a different company. Now that I have a new dash, I'm kind of hesitant to have them do it again, Im afraid that if something happens to my new dash, I'm probably screwed....lol.

[L'sm35]

^^^ When did you have your airbag replaced? I was told sometime in March for my recall, but I rather get the airbag from the different company.

[Larz]

Wow Larz, after reading your post, I consider myself one of the luckiest guys on earth, I absolutely did not have any problems getting my dash replaced when they did the airbag recall.
I will admit that my local infinity service manager gets all the credit as he did went beyond his duties to get me a new dash.

I do have one slight problem though, I was advice a few days ago by the service manager, that Infiniti wants to replace (again) the new takata airbag that was put on my car with one from a different company. Now that I have a new dash, I'm kind of hesitant to have them do it again, Im afraid that if something happens to my new dash, I'm probably screwed....lol.

I feel for you mate. I don't want anyone touching my dash after the new air bag and the new dash is installed. But if they called to tell me what they told you, I might not decline the offer. Here is how I see it:
As long as you got the Takata with the desiccant added (newest version) you should be good to go for at least a few years.
However, if that replacement airbag turns itself into a pipe bomb (VERY unlikely for a few years), and you declined to let them replace it with a different brand, I reckon Infiniti is blameless for any damage.
But, if you DO accept the new brand, and they damage the new dash is damaged during the second airbag install, they may wiggle out of that as well.
Only good thing I can say is that if they offer a different brand, you will definitely NOT be getting one with the dangerous propellant because Takata is the only arse-backwards company who uses the dangerous propellant. All the other manufacturers either stopped using it long ago, or never started using it. Something else to add into the decision process.

1) drive with a potential pipe bomb on the passenger side
2) replace the bad airbag with another less-bad airbag made by the same idiots
3) get a different brand and risk damaging your new dash

Pick one

[cfrankling]

LOL

No. 1 = N/A, as airbag has been replaced with a less-bad airbag made by the same idiots.
No.2 = see No.1
No. 3 = This is going to be a tough one, I'll post what I decided when I get the call from the dealership that the new airbag is in stock.

Did you get the dash from Infinit of Peoria?

[cfrankling]

^^^ When did you have your airbag replaced? I was told sometime in March for my recall, but I rather get the airbag from the different company.

Got it replaced a about 4 weeks ago with the same Takata airbag.

[Larz]

I got the dash from Infiniti of Peoria
9167 W. BELL ROAD PEORIA, AZ 85382
877-280-8850

[Sstupid]

Nobody beats my dash.