(Yicai Global) March 16 -- Infiniti China has apologized to the owners of its imported QX60 models who were asked to keep quiet about gearbox transmission problems and will take immediate action to solve the problem, the luxury brand under Japanese carmaker Nissan said yesterday after being exposed on state broadcaster CCTV’s annual name-and-shame 315 Show.

Infiniti China will set up a customer service hotline to deal with car owners on a one-to-one basis and improve the handling of client complaints, the automaker said, adding that it attaches great importance to the rights and interest of every consumer. But the firm did not say how it will deal with the faulty vehicles.

Customers complained on CCTV’s consumer rights show, which falls on World Consumer Rights Day each year, that the transmission, an essential component of the car that transfers power from the engine to the wheels, frequently fails on the Infiniti QX60, and that even if replaced the problem is not completely solved.

Yokohama-based Infiniti asked customers who had been vocal with their complaints to sign an agreement in which the carmaker would repair or replace the malfunctioning parts for free in return for their silence on the matter, the show said. It also asked the owners to waive any loss or damage directly or indirectly caused by the malfunctions.

Yicai Global found 56 posts on the car complaint website 12365auto.com about the Infiniti QX60. Most were related to the gearbox system, but others were about rattles and shaking and some mentioned a loss of power while driving.

It costs CNY150,000 (USD23,000) to replace the transmission on the Infiniti QX60, almost a third of the car’s CNY500,000 (USD76,950) sticker price. Infiniti has not yet responded to Yicai Global as to why replacing the transmission is so expensive.

Editor: Kim Taylor