1998 Infiniti I30 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
40 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
85,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 26 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 40 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 5.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 10 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 7 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 1 |
Air Bags: 10; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 7; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Electrical System: 2; Structure:Frame And Members: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Air Bags:Frontal: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 4
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 14 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
2000: 4; 2001: 1; 2002: 4; 2003: 2; 2004: 5; 2005: 3; 2006: 3; 2007: 4; 2008: 1; 2009: 3; 2010: 2; 2011: 3; 2015: 1; 2016: 2; 2017: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10130434 · 2005-07-28 (July 28, 2005)
AFTER WENT THROUGH A DRIVE-THROUGH TO GET A SANDWICH, I NOTICED THE BRAKE AND BATTERY LIGHT ON MY 1998 INFINITI I30 CAME ON. I DROVE TO A NEARBY GAS STATION AND NOTICED THAT MY CAR STARTED SMOKING SLIGHTLY. I CHECKED MY TEMPERATURE LIGHT, IT WAS NORMAL. WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD, THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE THAT WAS SHOOTING STRAIGHT UP ABOUT 3-4 FEET OUT OF THE ALTERNATOR. AFTER APPROXIMATELY A MINUTE, THERE WAS A SMALL EXPLOSION THAT CAUSED COOLANT TO SPREAD ALL OVER THE ENGINE. THIS PUT OUT THE INITIAL FIRE. BY THIS T…
Owner-reported narrative. 167,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130434 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10322337 · 2010-03-26 (March 26, 2010)
I OWN A 1998 INFINITI I30. ON THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2010, MY DAUGHTER NICHOLE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENTLY THE CAR ACCELERATED TO OVER 4000 RMP WITHOUT HER APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE WITH ALL PRESSURE SHE COULD MUSTER (2 FEET) AND EVENTUALLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY, WITH SMOKE POURING FROM ALL FOUR WHEELS. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AN AUTO MECHANIC, WHO FOUND THAT THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE WAS BAD. WHEN THE MECHANIC STARTED THE CAR IN THE SHOP, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY…
Owner-reported narrative. 122,961 miles reported. Look up ODI 10322337 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10051987 · 2003-12-23 (December 23, 2003)
RECALL NO. #99V129000, DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR: WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. NOTHING ELECTRICAL WOULD WORK IN THE VEHICLE. A TOW TRUCK TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE CONSUMER'S RESIDENCE, WERE IT REMAINS. THERE WAS A RECALL CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 64,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10051987 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10285641 · 2009-09-29 (September 29, 2009)
IN JUNE 2009, I TOOK MY 1998 INFINITI I30T INTO A DEALERSHIP FOR A ROUTINE SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED ME THAT MY VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE FRAME HAD ROTTED UNDER THE ENGINE & HAD DISCONNECTED FROM THE BODY. HE THEN INFORMED ME THAT CONTINUED OPERATION COULD RESULT IN THE FRAME COMPLETELY SPLITTING APART CAUSING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD THEN TRIGGER A SERIOUS M/V ACCIDENT. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER PASS THE YEARLY STATE INSPECTION. I ADVISED THE SERVICE MAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,459 miles reported. Look up ODI 10285641 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10374048 · 2011-01-04 (January 4, 2011)
IN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009, I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH INFINITI AND NHTSA REGARDING A STRUCTURAL DEFECT TO THE FRAME OF MY 1998 INFINITI I30T. BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN, THE FRAME ROTTED AND COMPLETELY SEPARATED UNDER THE ENGINE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. MECHANICS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE ENGINE AND/OR TRANSMISSION COULD FALL OUT CAUSING THE OPERATOR TO LOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT CAUSING SERIOUS BODILY INJURIES AND/OR DEATH. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,459 miles reported. Look up ODI 10374048 at NHTSA ↗