The door latches on a total of 48 Infiniti QX50s and QX55s from the 2023MY may not be set to American specifications because of a supplier error. That means that the doors may not lock automatically, increasing the risk of a door opening in an accident.
Infiniti first became aware of the issue on August 9, 2022, as a result of a routine quality assurance test. One of its technicians noticed that the front passenger door on a 2023 QX55 did not remain locked when the automatic door lock was applied, leading to an investigation.
The automaker found that the issue stemmed from a small number of door latches intended for the Chinese market that had found their way into vehicles intended for sale in the U.S.
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Infiniti then sought to find out what kind of safety implications that would have. It discovered that, due to the differences in specifications, the error could cause a reduction in the resistance force that the latch can provide during an accident.
The reduced force required to open the door could pose a safety risk in the event of a crash, so it has launched a recall campaign in order to address the issue. Fortunately, Infiniti is not aware of any injuries or warranty claims as a result of this defect.
Of the 48 vehicles included in the recall class, the automaker estimates that only 50 percent actually have the wrong door latch. The issue affects the 2022 QX50 and the 2023 QX55. The automaker plans to start getting in touch with owners on May 14. They will be asked to return their vehicle to a dealer, where a technician will replace the front, right-hand door lock assembly.
