Anybody here have an Infinity JX35 or QX60?

[newb001]

Am very interested in purchasing a used 2013 JX or 2014 QX, but the reviews (KBB, Edmunds, Car & Driver, etc...) are not the great. In addition, I came across this website, http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues, and if I put in a 2013 JX35 there are 5 recalls, 2 investigations and 16 service bulletins, plus over 100 complaints (granted, about half are air bag light related, which seems to have been solved via a recall, but that still leaves another 50 complaints).

I compared this to a variety of other cars, SUVs, etc, and hardly any have this many issues. A 2013 Acura MDX by has 0 recalls, 0 investigations, and just 8 complaints. A 2013 Buick Enclave has 2 recalls, 10 complaints. A 2013 RS350 has 1 recall and 3 complaints.

Infiniti is normally one of the most reliable cars, but for some reason this platform (the Nissan Pathfinder has many problems as well) seems to not follow suit.

Is it safe to assume that by now, if a 2013 model were going to have these issues they would have already occurred/been fixed (either via a recall or otherwise)? So if I do still get the car is a 2013 with say 30,000 miles better than a 2014 with 10,000 miles as it may still have these issues yet to come?

Or should I simply avoid this vehicle at all costs, given the lackluster reviews and NHTSA website? Or, since it will have several years left on the warranty (6 years in total), should I not worry about any potential issues?

We really, really like the car, and I've always loved Infiniti (never been able to own one before), but the more I read the more I'm getting scared off.

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[aim4squirrels]

We have one, I'd avoid the 2013 jx35 model (we have this one) and check into the newer models.

Ours has had several issues, all fixed under warranty except for one that they can't pin down.

-Sunroof seal degraded and fell apart (fixed under warranty)
-Drivers door seal needs replaced (will be covered need to get done)
-Painted rims peeling after 3 years (warranty covers, need to get done)
-A/C unit leaked and went out (covered under warranty and fixed)
-Car bogs at idle when A/C unit engages. They can't (or haven't yet) track this one down. It's been in three times for this problem. First time, they did a fuel system and throttle body cleaning. No fix. Second time they said there was a computer reprogram TSB, still no fix. Third time they reset the the throttle by wire adaptives, and the idle throttle control adaptives. Still no dice.

I know a bit about cars, and I'm positive it has to do with the A/C unit kicking on and off while idling. When the A/C leak got so bad that it wouldn't blow cold air, the compressor really struggled hard and the RPMs would dip to almost stalling level. After the system leaked out almost completely, the compressor stopped working to protect itself and the idle surges ceased.

I explained all of this to the lead technician who came out for a ride along. His suggestion was the battery was failing and that causes irregularities in the computer system, which I agree could be a culprit, and have experienced with a Dodge vehicle before. But the replacement battery didn't fix it at all. I believe the compressor itself is the culprit and internally it has a problem that the causes the pulley to pull way too hard on the serpentine belt to engage (A/C clutch engagement problem), but unless it fails, I doubt they'll replace it.

During these ordeals, the dealership was kind enough to supply us with a loaner QX60 which, as you know, is the newer model year. This vehicle has none of the bogging issues associated with our JX35.

My advice to you is test drive the vehicle in the early morning when temps are cool. Take the vehicle out and set the A/C system to just a few degrees cooler than the outside ambient air. This will cause the A/C unit to cycle on and off much more often than if you set it very cool, as that will cause the A/C compressor to stay full on. Drive the vehicle (in town driving with lots of stops at red lights to check idle issues, radio/navigation sounds OFF) and get it up to full operating temp to be sure the electric radiator fans engage and put a full load on the serpentine belt system. Then listen and feel for surging at idle. If the problem is there, you'll see the RPMs dip and feel a slight rumble in the pedal along with an audible click of the A/C compressor engaging.

In looking on a couple of Infiniti owners forums, this problem is common enough with this model year to pop up too often in posts.