2005 INFINITI QX56 Service Brakes, Hydraulic Problems

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN DECEMBER 2009. STARTED NOTICING BRAKE SQUEALING & GRINDING, FRONT & REAR BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED IN FEBRUARY 2012. AFTER BRAKES WERE REPLACED THERE WAS AN INCIDENT BACKING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY WHILE BRAKING, HAD ONLY 20% BRAKES WITH LOUD GRINDING NOISE, BUT NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. DECIDED TO REPLACE ROTORS AFTER THAT INCIDENT IN MARCH 2012. ON APRIL 9TH WHILE LEAVING A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT GOING APPROX.15MPH, EMERGENCY BRAKE LIKE CAME ON, 95% OF BRAKES WERE LOST, LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN TRYING TO BRAKE. CAR PUT INTO PARK & TURNED OFF. WHEN TRUCK WAS TURNED BACK ON & BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED WHILE IN PARK POSITION, BRAKES SEEMED NORMAL AGAIN. PUT TRUCK INTO DRIVE & SECONDS LATER THE EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT CAME BACK ON & 95% OF BRAKING SYSTEM WAS LOST AGAIN WITH LOUD GRINDING NOISE. COASTED VEHICLE HOME (LESS THAN 1/4 MILE). HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO INFINITI DEALER WHO IS RECOMMENDING REPLACING THE BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM AT A COST OF $1,100. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE, REPLACING THE BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM SOUNDS LIKE A TEMPORARY FIX. WITH A FAMILY OF 7, THIS IS OUR MAIN FAMILY VEHICLE & KNOWING THIS COULD REOCCUR AT ANY MOMENT EVEN AFTER THE BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEM IS REPLACED IS VERY UNSETTLING. THE INFINITI DEALER IS CLAIMING THEY NEVER HEARD OF ANOTHER ISSUE LIKE THIS & THEY REPLACED 3 BRAKE BOOSTER SYSTEMS IN 4 YEARS. I FIND THIS EXTREMELY HARD TO BELIEVE, AS I WAS ABLE TO PRINT OVER 30 PAGES OF REPORTED INCIDENTS WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. WE MEET WITH THE DEALER TOMORROW TO DECIDE IF WE WANT TO PAY TO HAVE THIS FIXED. IF WE KNEW THIS WOULD GUARANTEE THE ISSUE WOULD BE RESOLVED & NOT AT ANY MOMENT WE WOULD LOSE OUR BRAKES, IT WOULDN'T BE AN ISSUE. THIS IS BEYOND FRUSTRATING & SCARY. INFINITI SHOULD MAKE THIS AN IMMEDIATE RECALL TO PREVENT FURTHER TRAGEDY & STOP TELLING CUSTOMERS THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HEARING OF THIS ISSUE! *TR

Mileage: 94,000

INTERMITTENTLY IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS MY INFINITI Q56'S BRAKES HAVE BEEN BECOMING SOFT AND GRINDING WHEN TRYING TO STOP. THE BRAKE LIGHT AND THE SLIP LIGHT ALSO COME ON WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WHEN I STOP THE VEHICLE AND TURN OFF THE MOTOR, REMOVE THE KEY AND THEN RESTART IT WILL RESET THE BRAKES AND THEY WILL GO BACK TO NORMAL. IN THE PAST WEEK THIS HAPPENS ALMOST EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT. IT IS VERY SCARY WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO STOP. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED AND EVERYTHING IS GOOD. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THEY SAID IMMEDIATELY THAT IT WAS THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THEY MUST BE SEEING THIS PROBLEM ON A REGULAR BASIS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE TO TELL ME WHAT IT WAS. I LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR Q56'S AND NISSAN ARMADAS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE AND THE COMPANY SHOULD BE RECALLING THE VEHICLES AND FIXING THEM. THIS ISN'T A MAINTENANCE ISSUE, ITS A COMPONENT FAILURE. *TT

Mileage: 98,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED SHORTLY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE BRAKES BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN TWO YEARS LATER. THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MAIN COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT SIGNALED THE BRAKES WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 87,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

Mileage: 87,000

BRAKES BECOME MUSHY DURING APPLICATION WITH A LOSE OF ABOUT 50-75% OF THEIR POWER. BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE DASH LIGHT UP. CARS ANTILOCK BRAKES ARE ACTIVATED. CAR IS VERY DELAYED IN BRAKING EVEN AT SLOW SPEEDS. THE PROBLEM IS RESOLVED AFTER THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP, IS PLACED IN PARK, AND TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ONLY ONCE; ALMOST CAUSING A WRECK AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY MOVE INTO AN ADJACENT LANE TO AVOID A COLLISION. THE PROBLEM WAS THOUGHT TO BE A DELTA SENSOR AND BRAKE BOOSTER. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT POSITIVE THIS WAS THE CORRECT FIX, BUT THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE FLASHED SEVERAL OTHER DELTA SENSORS IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THE DELTA SENSOR WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. THE PART WOULD HAVE TO BE ORDERED AND REPLACED AT ANOTHER TIME. *TR

Mileage: 74,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 INFINITI QX56. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED AND THE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ABS CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THAT THEY WOULD REPROGRAM THE COMPUTER. AS OF SEPTEMBER 6, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 INFINITI QX56. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH WITH FAVORABLE ROAD CONDITIONS AND NO VISIBLE ROAD HAZARDS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE AS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT ON THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS , AND REPLACED THEM. APPROXIMATELY 14 MONTHS AND 19000 MILES LATER THE VEHICLE HADE THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ABOV E MENTIONED MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 36000. *AK

Mileage: 36,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 INFINITI QX56. THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH WITH FAVORABLE ROAD CONDITIONS AND NO VISIBLE ROAD HAZARDS. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE AS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT ON THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS , AND REPLACED THEM. APPROXIMATELY 14 MONTHS AND 19000 MILES LATER THE VEHICLE HADE THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE ABOV E MENTIONED MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 36000. *AK

Mileage: 36,000

DT: AT APPROXIMATELY 2,000 MILES THERE WAS AN UNCONTROLLABLE SHAKING WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE. THIS PROBLEM GOT WORSE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO NOTED THE NEED FOR NEW ROTORS. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 2,000 MILES. ABOUT TWO MONTHS LATER, THE PROBLEM RETURNED AND AGAIN TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE SAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE THERE WAS A HORRIBLE SOUND AS IF THEY WERE GRINDING. THE RED BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PANEL. WHEN THIS OCCURRED, 75% OF BRAKING CAPACITY WAS LOST. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND CALLED HUSBAND, LEAVING THE VEHICLE BEHIND FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR CORRECTIONS. THE DEALER FELT THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS NOT HEAVY DUTY ENOUGH FOR THIS MODEL. THE DEALER DID SOME ADDITIONAL WORK TO THE BRAKES. A MONTH LATER, THE PROBLEM RESURFACED. THE VEHICLE WAS DUE FOR MAINTENANCE, AND IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO SUSPECTED THE ANTI LOCK BRAKES. MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALER CONSULTED INFINITI TO SPEAK TO AN ENGINEER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND FOR ADVICE. SOME CORRECTIONS WERE MADE. LATER, THE SAME SITUATION OCCURRED WITH THE GRINDING NOISE AND LOSS OF BRAKE CAPACITY AS WELL AS THE LIGHT . THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Mileage: 2,000

THE CAR STEERING WHEEL AND CAR SHAKE VIOLENTLY EVERY 2 TO 3 THOUSAND MILES, AT WHICH TIME THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE INFINITI DEALERSHIP REPLACES THE BRAKES AND RESURFACES/REPLACES THE ROTORS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO US AND THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THIS VEHICLE INCREASES TWO FOLD BECAUSE OF THE SHAKING. AFTER READING POSTS BY OTHER OWNERS, I REALIZE THE PROBLEM WAS KNOWN AS EARLY AS DECEMBER 2004 WHEN WE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS MY WIFES' AND TWO CHILDREN(2 YEAR AND 7 MONTH OLD) PRIMARY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. I AM WONDERING WHAT RECOURSE DO I HAVE REGARDING THIS MAJOR ISSUE WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN LARGELY IGNORED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

Mileage: 2,300

INADEQUATE BRAKES ON 2005 QX56. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN 2004 BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO DATE OR SENT LETTERS TO CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE ISSUE. BRAKES OVERHEAT AND PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AT 2000 TO 2500 MILES CAUSING A VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND CONTROL ISSUES. INFINITI IS REPLACING BRAKES HOWEVER 2 TO 3 MONTHS PREDICITED WAIT FOR A REAL FIX. SERVICE ADVISORS ARE RELUCTANT BUT HAVE ADMITTED THE BRAKE DESIGN IS INADEQUATE FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS OVER 6,000 LBS AND HAS A TOWING CAPCITY OF 9000 LBS. ACCORDING TO THE MAUFACTURER. BRAKES ARE WEARING OUT WITHOUT ADDED STRESS OF TOWING. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I TOW A 5000 LB BOAT IN ARIZONA HEAT OF 100 DEGREES THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS? STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES VIOLENTLY WHEN BREAKS WEAR OUT. DEALER REPLACED BRAKES AT 3500 MILES AT FIRST OIL CHANGE. INFINITI OR DEALER NEVER MENTIONED THIS ISSUE DURING PURCHASE OF VEHICLE IN DECEMBER 2004. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS VEHICLE STOPPING FOR THE PASSENGERS AND THOSE DRIVING IN THE PROXIMATY OF THIS VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT OF INFINITI SUGGESED THAT I CALL THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU OR FILE A LEMON LAW CASE FOR THE STATE OF ARIZONA. THEY SAID THE CAR HAS NOT HAD ENOUGH REPAIRS AT THIS TIME. I STATED THAT OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE ARE HAVING BRAKES REPLACED AT AN ALARMING RATE. THE EDMONDS AND YAHOO WEBSITES VERIFY THIS EXPERIENCE AND YET NO LETTERS HAVE BEEN SENT TO OWNERS OF THE QX56 MODEL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS IT RELATES TO BRAKES THAT WERE NOT DESIGNED APPRORIATELY FOR THE WEIGHT OF THIS VEHICLE, NOT TO MENTION THE TOWING CAPACITY THAT WOULD ADD MORE STRAIN ON THE ALREADY POOR BREAKING SYSTEM. *AK

Mileage: 2,000