Nissan recalls the Infiniti M35, M56, Q50, and Q70 due to potential driveshaft failure.

A problem has been found in the driveshafts installed in older Infiniti sedans manufactured by Nissan North America for the 2011 to 2019 model years. Instead of four-wheel drive, the affected vehicles were specified with two-wheel drive. While driving, they may experience an unplanned loss of driving power due to driveshaft fatigue or breakage.

Nissan claims that modifications to the specifications made by the supplier, Hitachi Astemo, resulted in a propeller shaft with reduced fatigue strength. According to the investigation, the propeller shaft is likely to break at the press-fit joint of the ball yoke. Remember that a broken propeller shaft not only makes a high-speed collision more likely but also allows the vehicle to move in the park even if the driver does not apply the parking brake.

The folks at Hitachi Astemo, formerly known as Hitachi Automotive Systems, specialize in the sale and servicing of industrial machinery, automotive components, and transport-related components. Founded in early 2021, Hitachi currently holds 40% of the company’s shares, followed by Honda Motor with 40% and JIC Capital with 20%.

The document below lists the suspect driveshafts under seven part numbers. Their description includes two codenames—Nissan VK56 and Nissan VQ35—. The first is derived from the VK family of V8 engines, which is being phased out in favor of the twin-turbo V6 engines seen in the updated Armada and Patrol.

In contrast, VQ35 denotes a VQ-series V6. The engine family in question includes 60-degree units with displacements ranging from 2.0 to 4.0 liters. The Nissan VR engine family, whose most famous members include the R35-specific VR38DETT, the 3.0-liter unit used in the Q50, Q60, Z, and Skyline for the Japanese market, and the twin-turbocharged six-cylinder found in the QX80, joins the VQ mill family.

Coming back to the recall, Nissan North America said that replacing the propeller shaft could take up to an hour. Dealers will definitely not charge you for this surgery. The part numbers of the driveshafts to be repaired are comparable but were manufactured outside the suspect time frame.

Speaking of the time frame, the Infiniti M35 Hybrid, which has two wheels and was produced between April 2010 and September 2013, is the first vehicle on the list of suspects. The Q50 (December 2012 to June 2018), Q70 (November 2013 to August 2019), Q70 Hybrid (November 2013 to January 2018), Q70L (July 2014 to September 2019) and M56 (October 2009 to October 2013) are among the other nameplates that are affected.

First-class mail notifications will be sent to owners starting August 12, 2024. As you may have noticed, the only model that’s still configurable these days is the Q50. The M Series was renamed the Q70 in 2013 for the 2014 model year, though the mid-size Q70 Series never received a replacement.

In the first quarter of 2024, Infiniti sold just 1,397 Q50 cars in the United States, much less than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, and BMW 3 Series. If you persevere, BMW’s sales figures are 8,412, Mercedes’ 8,052, and Audi’s 2,452, according to sales data for the 3er, C, and A4.