2003 Infiniti M45 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
129 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
95,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 111 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 65 of 129 complaints (50.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 37 | 28.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 13 | 10.1% |
| Steering behavior | 8 | 6.2% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 3.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 65 |
| Engine | 23 |
| Electrical System | 22 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 13 |
| Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 6 |
| Fuel System, Other | 5 |
| Seats | 5 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 65; Engine: 23; Electrical System: 22; Engine And Engine Cooling: 13; Fuel System, Other:Storage:Fuel Gauge System: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 6; Fuel System, Other: 5; Seats: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 27 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 41 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 27; 100,000 to 149,999: 41; 150,000 and above: 12
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (41). 18 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 21 |
| 2011 | 26 |
| 2012 | 36 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 6 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2004: 5; 2005: 1; 2008: 1; 2010: 21; 2011: 26; 2012: 36; 2013: 7; 2014: 8; 2015: 6; 2016: 8; 2017: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2020: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 37 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 13 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 8 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 10323757 · 2010-04-05 (April 5, 2010)
I PURCHASED MY M45 FROM USED CAR DEALER AND WHILE DRIVING HOME THE CAR STALLED DURING CHICAGO RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE WRECKER TOWED ME BACK TO DEALERSHIP WHO ASKED IF I RAN OUT OF GAS - I THOUGHT NOT POSSIBLE SINCE THE FUEL GAUGE READ 3/8. THE DEALERSHIP FILLED THE GAS TANK AND CAR STARTED UP. I WAS STRANDED A SECOND TIME IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN RESIDENTIAL AREA AND THIS TIME MY TANK READ 7/8. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON (CODE P0462) DUE TO LOW VOLTAGE LEVEL TO THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO FAULTY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. INACCURATE FUEL GAUGE REA…
Owner-reported narrative. 93,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10323757 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10325399 · 2010-04-13 (April 13, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITY M45. ON MARCH 1, 2009, WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND HE HAD TO PULL OVER TO AVOID A CRASH. WHEN HE CHECKED THE FUEL GAUGE, IT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS FULL WITH FUEL BUT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF GAS. THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD ALSO SHOW A FULL TANK OF GAS WHEN THE TANK WAS EMPTY. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10325399 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10336599 · 2010-06-16 (June 16, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR WOULD INTERMITTENTLY READ THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL WHEN IT WAS NOT AND OFTEN FLUCTUATES BACK AND FORTH FROM EMPTY AND FULL. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,417 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,521.
Owner-reported narrative. 38,417 miles reported. Look up ODI 10336599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10323996 · 2010-04-06 (April 6, 2010)
THERE SEEMS TO BE A GAS GAUGE ISSUES WITH MY2003 INFINITI M45. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED AND THAT CAR BECAME NON RESPONSIVE. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE FAR RIGHT HAND LANE WITHOUT THE CAR'S POWER STEERING. THE GAS GAUGE READ FULL BUT THE TANK WAS ACTUALLY EMPTY. I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE AVOIDED A COLLISION. AFTER READING SEVERAL POSTS I HAVE COME TO FIND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN NISSAN/ INFINITI ISSUE. WHY HAS THERE NOT BEEN A RECALL BEEN PLACED ON THE NISSANS BUT NO THE INFINITI'S? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 66,410 miles reported. Look up ODI 10323996 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10444491 · 2012-01-19 (January 19, 2012)
I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 INFINITI M45 ON OR AROUND JUNE 30, 2011 AT 65MPH ON HIGHWAY 290 NEAR THE WOLF RD EXIT IN CHICAGO. ALL OF A SUDDEN WHILE I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE, MY CAR STARTED JERKING HEAVILY AND MY POWER STEERING WENT OFF MAKING THE CAR REALLY HARD TO STEER. I LOOKED AT THE DASH AND SAW NO WARNING MSGS COME ON.... I CAREFULLY VEERED MY CAR THROUGH HEAVY TRAFFIC TOWARDS THE RIGHT LANE AND SHOULDER AND I BARELY MISSED A TRUCK COMING IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE! AS I GOT TO THE SHOULDER AND CAUGHT MY BEARINGS AND WAS ABOUT TO CALL AN EMERGENCY…
Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10444491 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10437964 · 2011-12-01 (December 1, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL SOUND AND WAS RESISTANT TO THE BRAKING ATTEMPTS WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN DID NOT ASSOCIATE WITH THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,800.
Owner-reported narrative. 63,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10437964 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10514828 · 2013-06-03 (June 3, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 75 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AND ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS BUT THEY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CRUISE CONTROL WARNING LIGHT THEN ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS FAILED AND THE BRAKES ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000. ...UPDATED 07-10-13 *BF THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 75 M…
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10514828 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10426741 · 2011-09-22 (September 22, 2011)
FAULTY GAS GAUGE READINGS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH CODE 0462. TROUBLESHOOTING REVEALED NO +12 V FROM INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (COMBINATION METER) TO FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. NO OPENS OR SHORTS IN WIRING HARNESS. ALL POINTS TO A DEFECTIVE GAUGE CLUSTER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10426741 at NHTSA ↗