2001 INFINITI I30 Structure Problems

I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE MIDDLE LANE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. AT THE INTERSECTION WITH TRAFFIC LIGHTS, THE LANE WAS STUCK IN FRONT OF ME AND THERE WAS NO SPACE TO GO. IN ORDER NOT TO BLOCK THE INTERSECTION, I HAD TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS. WHILE I WAS WAITING AT THE LIGHTS, AFTER 10 SECONDS THE OTHER CAR CAME CLOSER WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN AND HIT MY CAR FROM THE BEHIND. I WAS REAR-ENDED ON THAT INCIDENT.

Mileage: 128,543

2001 INFINTI 115000 MILES LOWER CENTER OF RADIATOR SUPPORT WHERE MOTOR MOUNT IS LOCATED BECAME ROTTED OUT WITH RUST. I NOTICED IT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND WIRE BRUSHED THE RUST AWAY AND PAINTED IT WITH RUST STOPPING PAINT BUT IT HAS ONLY CONTINUED TO RUST AND ROT. WHEN I SEARCH THE INTERNET I VIEWED MANY PICTURES FROM OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM

THE CROSS MEMBER SUPPORT UNDER THE RADIATOR IS RUSTING OUT ON MY 2001 I 30. THE CAR IS LOCATED IN THE NORTHEAST. INFINITY IS USING LOW GRADE METAL BECAUSE THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

LOWER RADIATOR CENTER SUPPORT AND TIE BAR ARE VERY BADLY CORRODED.AS PER RAMSEY INFINITY DEALER IN RAMSEY,NJ.VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE.RECOMMEND REPLACEMENT ASAP. INFINITY CUSTOMER CARE REP TOLD ME THAT VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.CORRODED PART IS PART OF BODY STRUCTURE.INFINITY MUST ADVICE ALL OWNER TO INSPECT THIS PART.THEY SHOULD RECALL VEHICLES FOR INSPECTION AND CORRECTIVE ACTION.. PROBLEM WAS DISCOVER DURING ROUTINE OIL CHANGE SERVICE. *TR

Mileage: 108,000

THE CORE RADIATOR SUPPORT IS RUSTING OUT WHERE A SUPPORT PIECE HOLDING UP THE ENGINE IS ATTACHED. IT HAS RUSTED ALMOST THROUGH AND IF IT RUSTS THROUGH, I WAS TOLD THERE WOULD BE A LARGE AMOUNT OF STRESS ON A SECONDARY SUPPORT FOR THE ENGINE, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO THE ENGINE FALLING OUT OF PLACE. I READ THROUGH SEVERAL FORUMS AND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THIS MODEL (AND ITS SISTER MODEL THE NISSAN MAXIMA). THIS SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD TO ME IF PEOPLE WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THIS AND THE SUPPORT FOR THEIR ENGINE CAME LOOSE. *TR

Mileage: 112,000

THIS WELL MAINTAINED 2001 INFINITI I30 WITH 74,000 MILES HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR APPROX. 11.5 YEARS BY THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND SPOUSE IN THE CINCINNATI AREA. THE CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED 99% OF ALL EVENINGS DURING THAT TIME AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. APPROXIMATELY 2008 THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT (FRONT CROSS FRAME TIE BAR) STARTED TO RUST NEAR THE CENTER OF THIS BOXED FRAME MEMBER. PORTIONS OF THE TOP AND FRONT SIDE OF THIS FRAME MEMBER RUSTED THROUGH COMPLETELY SOME TIME IN 2012. THE HOOD LATCH MECHANISM AND HORN ARE FASTENED TO A VERTICAL STEEL SUPPORT THAT IS BOLTED TO THE FRONT OF THIS FRAME MEMBER, JUST LEFT OF THE RUST PERFORATION. WE INTEND TO DRIVE THIS CAR FOR MANY MORE YEARS AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST WITH SEVERAL OTHER CARS IF THIS DOES NOT BECOME A SAFETY PROBLEM, IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. MY GUESS IS WE WILL NEED TO HAVE THE FRONT FRAME TIE BAR REPAIRED IF POSSIBLE TO AVOID FUTURE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS (IE. HOOD POPPING OPEN WHILE DRIVING AND/OR UNSTABLE FRONT END CONTROL). THIS RUST PERFORATION MORE THAN LIKELY LESSENS THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE CAR IN A FRONT END COLLISION. I HAVE NEVER IN MY 35+ YEARS OF CAR OWNERSHIP ENCOUNTER SUCH A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A WIDELY KNOWN SAFETY PROBLEM ON VARIOUS NISSAN AUTOS. EVEN IF NISSAN IS NOT REQUIRED TO RECALL THESE AUTOS FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIR, THEY SHOULD AT LEAST NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUES AND POSSIBLE MECHANICAL FIXES THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY THE OWNER. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS MATTER.

Mileage: 50,000

WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE MY MECHANIC NOTICED EXCESSIVE RUSTING ON THE FRAME BELOW THE RADIATOR. IT IS THE ONLY PLACE ON THE ENTIRE CAR UNDERBODY WITH RUST. THE METAL BAR IS ALMOST COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH, AND MY MECHANIC SAID THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE - IF I HIT A POTHOLE OR A BUMP THE BAR WILL CRACK AND THE ENGINE/RADIATOR WILL LOSE SUPPORT. MY CAR ONLY HAS 114,000 MILES. IT'S 12 YEARS OLD. ONLY ONE SPOT ON THE CAR HAS THE EXCESSIVE RUST THAT IS EATEN THROUGH. THIS SOUNDS LIKE NISSAN DID NOT RUSTPROOF ONE SECTION PROPERLY, AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

Mileage: 114,000

RADIATOR CORE SUPPORT IS RUSTING AT AN UNUSUALLY RAPID RATE. THIS IS ALSO THE FRONT MOUNT FOR THE ENGINE. WHEN THIS FINALLY BREAKS IT IS LIKELY THE ENGINE AND COOLING SYSTEM WILL SUFFER. THERE IS NO RUST ANYWHERE ELSE ON THE VEHICLE. NOTE: THIS CAR IS STRUCTURALLY AND MECHANICALLY IDENTICAL TO THE NISSAN MAXIMA OF THE SAME YEAR, AND MANY OF SAID CAR ARE SUFFERING THE SAME ISSUES. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

I OWN A 2001 INFINITI I30 WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2000 FROM LYNNES INFINITI IN NEW JERSEY. EXCEPT FOR THE PROBLEM DISCUSSED BELOW, I HAVE BEEN QUITE PLEASED WITH THE VEHICLE. RECENTLY I NOTICED AN UNUSUAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE SOUND SEEMED TO BE MORE PRONOUNCED AT HIGH SPEEDS, ABOVE 50 MPH. CURSORY INVESTIGATION REVEALED EXCESSIVE RUSTING AT AND AROUND THE MOUNTING AREA FOR THE BRACKET THAT SECURES THE BASE OF THE RADIATOR. ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE STRUCTURAL MEMBER THAT SERVES AS THE MOUNTING AREA FOR SECURING THE RADIATOR'S BASE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH (SEE ACCOMPANY PHOTOGRAPHS). CONSEQUENTLY A FAIRLY LARGE HOLE DEVELOPED AT AND AROUND THE MOUNTING AREA COMPLETELY NEGATING THE SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE STRUCTURAL MEMBER. THE LACK OF SUPPORT AT THE BASE OF THE RADIATOR TRANSLATED INTO EXCESSIVE UP/DOWN MOVEMENT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT'S HOOD. THE HOOK'S MOVEMENT IS NOTICEABLE AT LOW SPEEDS BUT BECOMES VERY PRONOUNCED AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH. AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 50 MPH, THE HOOD'S VIBRATION CAN BE VISIBLY OBSERVED. ASIDE FROM THE RUST-THROUGH OF THE RESPECTIVE STRUCTURAL MEMBER, THE REMAINDER OF THE VEHICLE IS PRACTICALLY RUST FREE. AS SUCH, IT QUITE APPARENT THAT THE RUST-THROUGH OF THE RESPECTIVE STRUCTURAL MEMBER MIGHT BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO DEFICIENCIES IN THE RUST INHIBITING TREATMENT APPLIED OR A LACK THEREOF. *TR

2001 INFINITI I30. ELECTRONIC MOTOR MOUNTS FAIL, CAUSING CASCADING FAILURE OF IDLE AIR CONTROL AND DESTROYING ECU. ALTERNATELY, THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE FAILS AND DESTROYS THE ECU WHICH IN TURN DESTROYS THE ELECTRONIC MOTOR MOUNT CIRCUIT WHICH RESIDES ADJACENT TO THE IACV CIRCUIT ON THE ECU MAIN BOARD. THE RESULTING SHORT CIRCUIT IN EITHER CASE CAUSES ACRID SMOKE TO ENTER THE PASSENGER CABIN OF THE CAR AND CAUSES THE ENGINE TO REV WILDLY WHICH, IF NOT, ACCOUNTED FOR, COULD CAUSE AND AN UNSAFE SURGE FORWARD IF STOPPED. BY EMPIRICAL INTERNET RESEARCH AND MORE IMPORTANTLY - FROM DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEALER SERVICE TECHNICIAN, THIS IS A PROBLEM EXPERIENCED BY SEVERAL DRIVERS/OWNERS OF THE 2001 INFINITI I30, AND 2001 NISSAN MAXIMA WHICH ARE "SISTER" CARS. THIS REPAIR IS VERY COSTLY REQUIRING A NEW ECU, IACV AND ELECTRONIC ENGINE MOUNTS PLUS THE COST OF REPROGRAMMING THE CARS IDLE LEARNING CURVE - TYPICALLY RANGING BETWEEN $2000 AND $3500. THE MFR KNOWS OF THIS ISSUE BY THEIR DEMONSTRATED "PROCEDURE" FOR REPLACING THESE PARTS. *TR

Mileage: 110,000

2001 INFINITI I30T MY MECHANIC HAD THE INFINITI ON A LIFT TO INVESTIGATE A BRAKE PROBLEM. WHILE THERE HE NOTICED THAT A SECTION OF THE FRAME JUST BELOW THE RADIATOR THAT SUPPORTS IT AND THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS EXTREMELY CORRODED. WHAT ALARMED HIM IS THAT ONE, HE'S SEEN THIS WITH GREATER FREQUENCY ON THE FEW INFINITI I30S HE'S WORKED ON AS WELL AS ITS SISTER VEHICLE OF THAT GENERATION, THE NISSAN MAXIMA. TWO, THE CORROSION IS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO BE CONCERNED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE COULD EVENTUALLY BREAK THROUGH AND EITHER DROP OUT OF THE CAR ALTOGETHER OR AT THE VERY LEAST DROP LOW ENOUGH SUCH THAT IF WHILE TRAVELING THE CAR PASSED OVER SOMETHING RAISED AND FIXED ON THE ROAD, IT WOULD CATCH THE OBJECT SOMERSAULTING THE CAR AND OCCUPANTS. HE FEELS THAT THIS IS DEFINITELY A DEFICIENCY IN DESIGN AND A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN. VINS FROM THE OTHER CARS HE'S SEEN THIS ON TO FOLLOW. *TR

Mileage: 85,000