Owners have filed 13 complaints
about the 1997 Infiniti Q45 with NHTSA between 1998 and 2016.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 8 of 8 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 32
Against the median year of the Infiniti Q45. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 0
0% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1997 Infiniti Q45
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
430.8%
Median failure at 105,500 miles
Suspension
215.4%
Airbags
215.4%
Median failure at 140,000 miles
Seats
17.7%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
17.7%
Brakes
17.7%
Median failure at 162,915 miles
Steering
17.7%
Engine & Cooling
17.7%
Median failure at 38,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
25,000 – 49,999 miles
228.6%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
342.9%
150,000+ miles
228.6%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Dec 1998peak 2Apr 2016
Recalls on the 1997 Infiniti Q45
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1999030316 units in Canada
Powertrain
Duplicate recall, see original 1998174. Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 114 - Locking System. There is the possibility that the ignition key can be removed at times when the engine is turned off without placing the transmission shift lever in the "Park" position. If this were to occur, and the driver failed to move the shift lever to "Park" after removing the key and failed to engage the parking brake before exiting the vehicle, the vehicle could roll away. Correction: Shift lock control unit will be replaced.
Recall 1998174318 units in Canada
Other
THE SHIFT LOCK CONTROL UNIT MAY NOT SEND A LOCK SIGNAL TO THE KEY INTERLOCK MECHANISM SOLENOID. THIS WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE IGNITION KEY AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND NOT PLACING THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE "PARK" POSITION. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR AND THE DRIVER FAILED TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO THE "PARK" POSITION OR TO ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE BEFORE EXITING THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED ON A SLOPE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY. CORRECTION: SHIFT LOCK CONTROL UNIT WILL BE REPLACED.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 162,915 milesLOS Angeles, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 INFINITI Q45. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,915.
NHTSA complaint #10860028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 140,000 milesMartinez, CA
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 INFINITI Q45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BECAME FULL OF SMOKE AS THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10588094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 38,000 milesPensacola, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SOMETIME AFTER I PURCHASING THE ABOVE VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER, 2001, THE ENGINE WOULD FAIL TO START WITHOUT RECHARGING THE BATTERY. AFTER RECHARGING, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT NO MALFUNCTION AND OPERATE NORMALLY FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. THIS CONDITION WOULD REOCCUR INFREQUENTLY, AND HAS SINCE MANIFESTED ITSELF BY SHOWING NO CHARGING FROM THE ALTERNATOR. INFINITI IDENTIFIED THIS PROBLEM WITH A RECALL BEGUN ON 03/15/2002, AS A DEFECTIVE DIODE DAMAGED IN MANUFACTURE. THIS ACTION IS IDENTIFIED AS NHTSA ACTION # PE02034. AT NO TIME WAS I NOTIFIED BY INFINITI OF THIS RECALL, AND THE SYMPTOMS OF MALFUNCTION I HAVE EXPERIENCED ARE CLEARLY A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR/DIODE. I CONTACTED INFINITI ON 11/08/2011 AND THEY DENIED ME ANY ASSISTANCE. I REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE IN REQUIRING INFINITI TO CORRECT THIS MALFUNCTION WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD INFINITI NOTIFIED ME DURING THE RECALL PERIOD. MY OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE WAS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD AND COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN OBTAINED.
NHTSA complaint #10435271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 38,000 milesPensacola, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SOMETIME AFTER I PURCHASING THE ABOVE VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER, 2001, THE ENGINE WOULD FAIL TO START WITHOUT RECHARGING THE BATTERY. AFTER RECHARGING, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT NO MALFUNCTION AND OPERATE NORMALLY FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. THIS CONDITION WOULD REOCCUR INFREQUENTLY, AND HAS SINCE MANIFESTED ITSELF BY SHOWING NO CHARGING FROM THE ALTERNATOR. INFINITI IDENTIFIED THIS PROBLEM WITH A RECALL BEGUN ON 03/15/2002, AS A DEFECTIVE DIODE DAMAGED IN MANUFACTURE. THIS ACTION IS IDENTIFIED AS NHTSA ACTION # PE02034. AT NO TIME WAS I NOTIFIED BY INFINITI OF THIS RECALL, AND THE SYMPTOMS OF MALFUNCTION I HAVE EXPERIENCED ARE CLEARLY A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR/DIODE. I CONTACTED INFINITI ON 11/08/2011 AND THEY DENIED ME ANY ASSISTANCE. I REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE IN REQUIRING INFINITI TO CORRECT THIS MALFUNCTION WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD INFINITI NOTIFIED ME DURING THE RECALL PERIOD. MY OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE WAS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD AND COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN OBTAINED.
NHTSA complaint #10435271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 153,000 milesSAN Antonio, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR CAN REFUSE TO START RIGHT AFTER IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN AND SHUT OFF OR AFTER IT HAS BEEN PARKED FOR A WHILE. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING ALOT IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY,THAT WERE ALL REPLACED EARLY THIS YEAR BY PREVIOUS OWNER. SOMETIMES JUMPING THE CAR WORKS AND OTHER TIMES IT DOES NOT. THE PROBLEM STARTED ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY SIGNS APPEARED ON THE DASH AND DISAPPEARING AFTER THAT,THE CAR STARTED TO REFUSE STARTING AND NEEDED A JUMP. WE INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY DAYS AGO AND THE CAR STARTED RIGHT UP. BUT IT REFUSED TO START THE NEXT DAY AGAIN AND TOOK 4 ATTEMPTS TO GET IT GOING. IT ALSO SEEMS THAT WHILE AT A STOP SIGN/LIGHT TRYING TO TAKE OFF,THE CAR REFUSES TO MOVE EVEN WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. IT TAKES QUITE AN EFFORT TO MAKE THE GAS PEDAL RESPOND,MAKING THE CAR JERK/LURCH FORWARD WITH GREAT FORCE.
NHTSA complaint #10399487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 101,000 milesJacksonville Beach, FL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 INFINITI Q45. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT BOTH THE BRAKE LIGHT AND BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CHEVROLET DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR FAILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 101,000.
NHTSA complaint #10236370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 110,000 milesIrving, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
THE VEHICLE WOULD REV EXTREMELY HIGH WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS PRESSED. THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR A DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR, BUT THE RECALL EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM( RECALL NO. #02V171000 DAMAGED ALTERNATOR).
NHTSA complaint #10057615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hartville, OH
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT BEGINNING IN EARLY 2001, WE ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM WITH OUR INFINITY Q45T. IT HAS CONTINUED TO DEGENERATE SINCE THEN. THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT ENGAGE READILY. WHEN AT A STOPPED POSITION AND WE PUSH ON THE PEDAL, IT ACTS AS IF IT IS CAUGHT OR BEING HELD BY SOMETHING. WITH MORE FORCE APPLIED, IT SUDDENLY RELEASES, CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD. ON 10/29/01 I SPOKE TO A STEVE AT INFINITYS CONSUMERS AFFAIRS OFFICE IN GARDENA, CALIFORNIA ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE ADVISE THIS IS A COMMON AND KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE INFINITY AND IS CORRECTED IF THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINS WHEN THE CAR IS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE. HE ADVISED THAT SINCE MY CAR WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED ON 9/22/97, IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD ONLY BE REPAIRED AT MY COST. FOR INFINITY TO KNOW THEY HAVE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF THIS NATURE AND NOT RECALL THE VEHICLE, MAKES THEM, IN MY OPINION, CRIMINALLY LIABLE.BY COPY OF THIS MEMO TO NHTSA, I AM REQUESTING THEY INVESTIGATE THIS CAR AND TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO RECALL THESE AUTOMOBILES AND HAVE THEM CORRECTED AT THE MANUFACTURERS COST. ADDITIONALLY, I AM REQUESTING THAT APPROPRIATE ACTIONS BE TAKEN FOR INFINITY ALLOWING AN AUTOMOBILE WITH A KNOWN SAFETY DEFECT TO REMAIN ON OUR HIGHWAYS. PLEASE ADVISE THE RESULTS OF YOUR INVESTIGATION AND ACTION TAKEN. THANKS YOU, HOWARD J. & BONNIE J. TRICKETT.
NHTSA complaint #755224 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Alpharetta, GA
SUSPENSION:FRONT
THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCED SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END SUSPENSION WHILE DRIVING 40 TO 60 MPH, THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO UNEVEN SEVERE WEAR OF THE INSIDE OF TIRES (NO MAKE/MODEL OF TIRE PROVIDED), ONE TIRE BLEW OUT DUE TO VIBRATION PROBLEMS. CONSUMER REPLACED TWO SETS OF TIRES IN 39000 MILES. *MJS
NHTSA complaint #784372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Vegas, NV
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #98V215000 IN THE MAIL. NOTIFIED DEALER. WAS INFORMED NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THEFT PREVENTION. MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED. WAS INFORMED PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE EARLY NEXT YEAR.
NHTSA complaint #832763 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mitchellville, MD
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHEN THE CAR IS SHIFTED IN REVERSE AND AS THE CAR MOVES BACKWARD, THE DRIVER SEAT RECLINES INVOLUNTARILY AND WITHOUT WARNING.
NHTSA complaint #707975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Altos, CA
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY VEHICLE HAD A SIGNAL INDICATING AIR BAG FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER THREE TIMES IN WHICH ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE REBUILT THE AIRBAGS. I PHONED THE MANUFACTURER TO ASK THEM FOR WARRANTIES THAT FIRST THE AIR BAGS HAVE BEEN REPARIED PROPERLY FOR THE LAST TIME AND THAT IF THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE IN AN ACCIDENT, THAT THE AIR BAGS WOULD DEPLOY PROPERLY. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO GIVE THIS WARRANTY ,AND REFUSES TO HONOR ANY CLAIMS.
NHTSA complaint #705134 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tarzana, CA
SUSPENSION
VEHICLE HYDROPLANED THREE TIMES CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND NEAR ACCIDENT DUE TO DESIGN FLAW.
NHTSA complaint #542789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.