Infiniti I30 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
223 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 to 2004 model years. Data snapshot: . 141 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 30 of 223 complaints (13.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 41 | 18.4% |
| Steering behavior | 17 | 7.6% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 6.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 5.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 5.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 1.3% |
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 | 30 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 20 |
| Suspension | 18 |
| Electrical System | 17 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 16 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 12 |
| Structure:Body | 12 |
| Engine | 11 |
Air Bags: 30; Vehicle Speed Control: 20; Suspension: 18; Electrical System: 17; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 16; Engine And Engine Cooling: 12; Structure:Body: 12; Engine: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 16 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 25 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 38 |
| 150,000 and above | 25 |
Under 25,000: 16; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 25; 100,000 to 149,999: 38; 150,000 and above: 25
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (38). 82 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 |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2000 | 12 |
| 2001 | 15 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2003 | 13 |
| 2004 | 20 |
| 2005 | 17 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
1996: 2; 2000: 12; 2001: 15; 2002: 21; 2003: 13; 2004: 20; 2005: 17; 2006: 12; 2007: 12; 2008: 6; 2009: 8; 2010: 12; 2011: 12; 2012: 8; 2013: 8; 2014: 6; 2015: 8; 2016: 7; 2017: 11; 2018: 6; 2019: 2; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 41 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 17 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 14 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 11255992 · 2019-09-16 (September 16, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 INFINITI I30. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, IT FAILED TO DEACTIVATE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WOULD DEPRESS THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON TO DEACTIVATE THE FEATURE. CURRENTLY, THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH UNLESS HE TURNED AND HELD THE STEERING WHEEL BEFORE TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT CALLED CARDINALE NISSAN (LOCATED AT 16…
Owner-reported narrative. 137,141 miles reported. Look up ODI 11255992 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 977512 · 1996-01-11 (January 11, 1996)
THE MASTER CYLINDER WENT OUT WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 977512 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10120365 · 2005-04-27 (April 27, 2005)
CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE 2000 INFINITI I30 ROTORS RESURFACED. *MR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE ROTORS WERE RESURFACED. ALL FOUR ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 39,868. AT 62K MILES THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AT 55 MPH. OTHER PROBLEMS: THE TRANSMISSION STAYED IN THE LOW GEAR TOO LONG, THERE WAS SQUEAKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHEN ON ROUGH ROADS, VIBRATION IN THE STEERING DUE TO THE ROTORS BEING OUT OF ROUND, THE FRONT WINDOW SQUEAKS AND THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WAS LOOSE. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10120365 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038206 · 2003-09-04 (September 4, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038206 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 730264 · 2000-09-05 (September 5, 2000)
CAR CONTINUALLY STALLS. ALTHOUGH IT DOES START RIGHT UP AGAIN, THE STALLING IS PERSISTENT. ESPECIALLY IN HOTTER WEATHER AT IDLE OR LOW SPEEDS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 730264 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11297837 · 2020-01-08 (January 8, 2020)
I BELIEVE I'M THE 4TH OWNER OF THIS HERE VEHICLE THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT RIPPED, I HAVE A OIL LEAK AND THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS SLIPPING AND THE SEATS ARE SUN DAMAGED THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD TOLD ME THAT HE HAD MANY TRANSMISSION MECHANICS LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY HAD TOLD HIM THAT MANY THINGS CAN BE WRONG WITH IT BUT THE DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK
Owner-reported narrative. 180,111 miles reported. Look up ODI 11297837 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 744390 · 2001-04-23 (April 23, 2001)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SWITCH UP FROM THE FIRST GEAR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 744390 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075667 · 2004-06-03 (June 3, 2004)
THE ALTERNATOR HAS PRODUCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE VIN NUMBER IS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 67,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133650 · 2005-08-21 (August 21, 2005)
MY 1997 INFINITI I-30 WAS HAVING A HARD TIME STARTING AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR DIED ONE WEEKEND AND WOULD NOT START. I SPENT SOME TIME ON IT AND GOT THE CAR STARTED AND DROVE IT DOWN TO O'NEIL AUTO PARTS AND THEY PUT THEIR STARTING SYSTEM ANALYSIS MACHINE ON THE STARTING SYSTEM...THEIR RESULTS WERE THAT THE CAR BATTERY WAS OK AND THE CAR STARTER WAS OK BUT THE CAR ALTERNATOR WAS PUTTING OUT 34 AMPS. INSTEAD OF THE PRESCRIBED 129 AMPS. I HAD CALLED INFINITI MOTOR CORP. EARLIER AND INFINITI STATED TO ME THAT MY CAR INFINITI I-30 VIN #[XXX] MANUFACT…
Owner-reported narrative. 89,197 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10236780 · 2008-08-03 (August 3, 2008)
I HAVE A 1997 INFINITI I30 THAT WAS PURCHASED OCT 2006 WITH APPRX 94,000 NOW HAS 105,000. CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON FROM MONTH 2 ON, I HAVE SPENT OVER $2000 IN REPAIRS. I HAVE EVEN TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL INFINITI DEALERSHIP AND THEM NOR ANYONE ELSE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED 2 STARTERS, ALTERNATOR, IGNITION SWITCH, 2 IGNITION COILS, CAM SHAFT ANGLE SENSOR, CRANK SHAFT ANGLE SENSOR, 3 SETS OF SPARK PLUGS,VALVE COVER GASKETS, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTERS, MAJOR FRONT AND BACK WHEEL COMPUTERIZED ALIGNMENT, TRAN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10236780 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10565859 · 2014-02-25 (February 25, 2014)
2/21/21, TURNING ON THE IGNITION CREATED A SEVERELY ROUGH IDLE, THE AUTO COULD NOT MAINTAIN "RUNNING STATUS", A SEVERE FUEL ODOR ENSUED WITH BLUE-BLACK SMOKE BILLOWING OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE. TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALER IN SHINGLE SPRINGS, CA. PER THE DEALER EVALUATION: #2 FUEL INJECTOR REPLACEMENT AND "O" RINGS. THE MECHANIC FOUND METAL SHAVINGS ON THE FUEL INJECTOR AND IT CONTINUED WITH BLUE-BLACK SMOKE PER THE EXHAUST WHILE RUNNING. MAY REQUIRE NEW FUEL SENSOR IF THIS DOES NOT RESOLVE. WE PURCHASE ALL OUR FUEL FROM THE FOLSOM, CA. SAMS CL…
Owner-reported narrative. 158,638 miles reported. Look up ODI 10565859 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 2 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
1996: 0; 1997: 1; 1998: 2; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 3; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 2