Driver Seat Collapsed!
Broken Seat Rail Front Lifter RH Side
The front lifter frame is weak on these seats. They creak, they crack, and as the OP found out, they break. It's a really unpleasant surprise to be driving under acceleration and suddenly the seat pitches back 6" or more. This to me is a safety issue, if it cracks then fails completely (as mine has) you could lose control of the car.
Looking at where it broke, they reinforced the part with a 90 deg bend in the metal - but not all the way to the point where the part would experience the highest load. It cracked, then it broke. While there is a little surface rust in that area, the metal in the break is clean and free of rust. Usually when I find a spot like that it means a mouse crawled up in there and used it for his urinal.
Out of warranty, looks like I will be doing this one myself after a $650-700 estimate by the local Infiniti dealer. Another failure of an overly complex under-engineered system to add to the driver's window, BOSE HU failure, a cracked wire to the rear high mount light causing my entire braking system to shut down, ...
So if you have creaking or rocking, unscrew the front cover and take a look, this is what I found in my car today:
Looking at where it broke, they reinforced the part with a 90 deg bend in the metal - but not all the way to the point where the part would experience the highest load. It cracked, then it broke. While there is a little surface rust in that area, the metal in the break is clean and free of rust. Usually when I find a spot like that it means a mouse crawled up in there and used it for his urinal.
Out of warranty, looks like I will be doing this one myself after a $650-700 estimate by the local Infiniti dealer. Another failure of an overly complex under-engineered system to add to the driver's window, BOSE HU failure, a cracked wire to the rear high mount light causing my entire braking system to shut down, ...
So if you have creaking or rocking, unscrew the front cover and take a look, this is what I found in my car today:
Registered User
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From: Undisclosed Location, SW Asia
there is a TSB out for it..
http://x.infinitihelp.com/forum/loca...d=530&catid=83
Its the third one on that page...
Download it, print it out and take it to your dealer. If you can rock your seat with your hand, you definitely have this issue.
The 8th one is for a tear in your bottom seat cushion, you can get your old a.ss, cracked leather a.ss seat cushion replaced entirely for a brand new one, just because you have a tear...
http://x.infinitihelp.com/forum/loca...d=530&catid=83
Its the third one on that page...
Download it, print it out and take it to your dealer. If you can rock your seat with your hand, you definitely have this issue.
The 8th one is for a tear in your bottom seat cushion, you can get your old a.ss, cracked leather a.ss seat cushion replaced entirely for a brand new one, just because you have a tear...
I have a tear in my drivers seat, on the bottom left hand side, its like the leather thats covering a piece of plastic. I couldn't find anything on that download from Infinitihelp bout it.
No Chili, you're not a huge guy....245 makes you sizeable though! Just noticed the pic you posted, failure looks like the cause was rust....who'd that happen?
Gary
Just noticed the pic you posted, failure looks like the cause was rust....who'd that happen?Gary
Last edited by gary c; Nov 8, 2009 at 01:12 PM.
Those are my pics, I am not 245 lbs, and rust wasn't the cause, the break is clean and the rust surface only, and 99% forward of the break. Read my post again (?) for the likely cause of the rust.
1st of all, why is there rust down there? Are you spilling your drinks down there?
Nice to see the Quality of the seat brackets. Imagine what would happened if you were to get into an accident, rear ended or a head on collision. Nissan needs to start using quality material.
Nice to see the Quality of the seat brackets. Imagine what would happened if you were to get into an accident, rear ended or a head on collision. Nissan needs to start using quality material.
RTF Post. Asked and answered. 
Actually to know why you'd have to ask the responsible party, I only know HOW.
Pretty flimsy crap. The seat design with it's two lifters vs. a more simple seat with fore-aft and not lift/tilt raises the seat higher than for example in my Z, and puts some really flimsy moving parts.
I posted the pics so people might see that "seat rocking" is not always something loose like a pivot, nut, etc - mine rocks because it is broken. The TSB does not even mention that possibility.
Actually to know why you'd have to ask the responsible party, I only know HOW.
Pretty flimsy crap. The seat design with it's two lifters vs. a more simple seat with fore-aft and not lift/tilt raises the seat higher than for example in my Z, and puts some really flimsy moving parts.
I posted the pics so people might see that "seat rocking" is not always something loose like a pivot, nut, etc - mine rocks because it is broken. The TSB does not even mention that possibility.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 192
Likes: 1
From: Tampa, Fl
+ 1
I recently have had this problem. Dealer goodwilled replacement of the driver's seatback frame (just out of warranty with only 24k miles). However, a few days later I noticed the creaking and rocking again and it is now even worse than what it was before replacement of the seatback frame. Dealer says it is likely the seat lifters that are bad and they want ~$1500 to replace!!!! 
I am still talking to service advisor and warranty administrator about this.
I am still talking to service advisor and warranty administrator about this.
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