Infiniti recalls Q50 for steering fix

INFINITI Cars Australia has recalled its entire fleet of Q50 sedans to execute a fix for the car’s revolutionary steer-by-wire system as part of a global recall of 60,000 cars.

Known as Directive Adaptive Steering (DAS) in Infiniti speak, the digital system connects the steering wheel to the front wheels via a wired interface to a control unit on the steering rack, which directs an actuator to make the direction change.

The Japanese luxury car-maker’s local arm has issued a voluntary notice to bring in all 310 Australia-sold models built between November 2013 and November 2015 for repairs.

The work will involve reprogramming the DAS system’s ECU to rid the system of a bug that can see the car ‘tug’ to one direction if the steering wheel has been turned while the car is stationary.

“Infiniti has identified that a combination of low battery voltage at engine start-up combined with an initial large parking angle (that is, when the vehicle is parked car with its front wheels turned) can cause a miscalculation in the steering ratio, which may lead to a lack of steering responsiveness and change in turning radius,” the company says in a statement.

Owners in the United States have reported the phenomenon, noting that turning the car on and off again can also fix the issue.

“Infiniti is committed to the safety and security of its customers and their passengers,” an Infiniti Cars Australia spokesperson told GoAuto. “The fix will be conducted at no cost to owners, and it is not a long process.”

The Q50 is the only car on the market today with a steer-by-wire system.

Infiniti has sold just 297 vehicles in 2016 to date, with more than half of those made up of the Q50. It is pinning its hopes on the small Q30 hatch and QX30 crossover, which are set to launch later this year.

The Q50 will also be refreshed and given a power boost, while the large Q60 coupe is also set to lob by year’s end.