← NHTSA complaints

1997 INFINITI QX4 — ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

1 fatalcrash2 injured · 900337 · 2012-01-17

Vehicle

Make
INFINITI
Model
QX4
Year
1997
Manufacturer
Nissan North America, Inc.
Component
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Miles at failure
263,000
Speed
55 mph

Severity

Deaths
1
Injured
2
Fire
No
Crash
Yes
Police report
No
Medical attention
No
Vehicle towed
No

Narrative

MY HUSBAND AND I WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON JANUARY 24TH 2010, WHILE TRAVELING N. ON STATE HWY 87 GOING TOWARDS PAYSON, AZ ALTHOUGH THERE HAD BEEN A LOT OF SNOW IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS THE ROADS WERE CLEAR AND APPEARED DRY. THE INCIDENT BEGAN WHEN I APPARENTLY ENCOUNTERED A PATCH OF BLACK ICE AS I BEGAN ACROSS A BRIDGE. I FELT THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE QUICKLY SLIDE LEFT. BECAUSE OF MY EXPERIENCE IN HANDLING THIS VEHICLE AND HOW WELL THIS VEHICLE HANDLES, I WAS EXTREMELY CONFIDENT IN MY ABILITY TO RECOVER FROM THE SLIDING WITHOUT INCIDENT. (I WAS THE 2ND OWNER & HAD IT 10YRS) I HAD COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE 1ST AND 2ND CORRECTIONS, HOWEVER AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 3RD & WHAT WOULD'VE BEEN THE LAST CORRECTION I FELT SOMETHING BREAK IN THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL AREA. (IMAGINE BEING UP ON ALL FOURS AND YOUR LEFT ARM COLLAPSES OUT FROM UNDER YOU) AT THAT MOMENT I NO LONGER HAD CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE WHATEVER HAPPENED CAUSED THE FAIL SAFES IN THE VEHICLE TO INSTANTLY SHUT EVERYTHING OFF! THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, THERE WAS NO POWER FOR ANYTHING! NO STEERING, NO BRAKES, NO POSSIBLE WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM CRASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS PROPELLED ACROSS THE HWY FROM THE RIGHT SHOULDER AND AS IF THE DRIVERS CORNER WAS PINNED TO THE ROAD, IT TURNED JUST ENOUGH TO FACE THE CONCRETE MEDIAN, WHICH IT HIT HEAD-ON AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE FORCE OF THE ENGINE PUSHING THROUGH THE FIRE WALL, SNAPPED MY RIGHT FEMUR. I WAS AIR LIFTED FROM THE SCENE WITH LIF

Source

Authoritative
NHTSA ODI Flat-File Downloads
ODI Number
10444248
Machine
JSON-LD · Markdown