Infiniti Q45 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
151 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
80,744 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1990 to 2006 model years. Data snapshot: . 62 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 151 complaints (8.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 10.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 15 | 9.9% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 8.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 12 | 7.9% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 7.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 4.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 11 |
| Air Bags | 9 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Tires | 8 |
| Wheels | 8 |
Electrical System: 13; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 11; Air Bags: 9; Air Bags:Frontal: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Engine: 8; Tires: 8; Wheels: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 16 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 16; 150,000 and above: 5
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 89 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 12 |
| 1996 | 13 |
| 2000 | 20 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
1995: 12; 1996: 13; 2000: 20; 2001: 9; 2002: 10; 2003: 9; 2004: 17; 2005: 13; 2006: 1; 2007: 6; 2008: 5; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 5; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 8; 2015: 5; 2016: 2; 2017: 4; 2019: 3; 2021: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 15 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 13 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 958630 · 1995-01-12 (January 12, 1995)
BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR DUE TO FAULTY ANTI LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 958630 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 868130 · 2000-08-18 (August 18, 2000)
HE WAS BACKING UP FROM THE DRIVEWAY AND ENGINE STARTED TO RISE UP, AND CRUISE CONTROL WASN'T ON. VEHICLE SUDDENTLY ACCELERATED. DRIVER HAD HIS FOOT ON BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE FROM GOING ANY FURTHER. CONSUMER STATED THAT HE HAS APPOINTMENT TO TAKE IT TO DEALERSHIP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 868130 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 717539 · 2000-01-19 (January 19, 2000)
INFINITI, THE MANUFACTURER, ISSUED A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR 1991 AND 1992 MODEL Q 45'S. MINE IS A 1990 MODEL, WHICH HAS ALL OF THE WARNING SIGNS OF THE FIRE DANGER INVOLVED IN THE STEREO SPEAKER RECALL THAT WAS INSTITUTED, HOWEVER, INFINITI REFUSES TO INCLUDE THE 1990 MODELS. THEY ADMITTED THEY HAVE HAD REPORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE 1990 MODEL Q45 STEREO SPEAKERS, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO REFUSE TO INCLUDE THAT YEAR IN THE RECALL. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE 1990 MODELS ARE SUBJECT TO THE SAME FIRE DANGER AND I DON'T PARTICULARLY WANT MY CAR TO GO UP IN …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 717539 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126437 · 2005-06-24 (June 24, 2005)
FACTORY INSTALLED BOSE RADIO SOUND SYSTEM, RIGHT REAR SPEAKER AMPLIFIER STARTED TO SMOKE & BURN. THE INCIDENT STARTED BY A STATIC SOUND,BLACK SMOKE,FIRE,WITHIN 3 MINUTES. RADIO STATIC FOR 3 MINUTES AS IF AN ELECTRICAL STORM WAS APPROCHING. INCIDENT PROGRESSED TO FIRE. F.D.OF NY CALLED. DRIVER ESCAPED. GAS TANK LOCATED BEHIND REAR SEAT, SIMILAR TO THE PINTO WHICH CAUSED MANY FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS IN THE PAST. COMPLAINT BY NHTSA LISTS " CONDITION COULD RESULT IN SMOKE OR FLAME AND POSSIBLY THE SPEAKER CATCHING FIRE" CAMPAIGN #98V284000 NISSAN OF…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10126437 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017527 · 2003-04-24 (April 24, 2003)
THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WAS LEAKING FLUID AND NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED, AND THEN THE DEALER STATED THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017527 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072768 · 2004-05-17 (May 17, 2004)
RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 40 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072768 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072769 · 2004-05-17 (May 17, 2004)
TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 40 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072769 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504045 · 1996-05-01 (May 1, 1996)
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *DH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504045 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 556905 · 2000-10-24 (October 24, 2000)
INTERMITTENTLY, THE VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHEN DECELERATING AND THE POWER STEERING DISENGAGES. THIS HAS CAUSED ALMOST SERVERAL MISSED CRASHES. A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN # FC0008624 HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THIS SITUATION. (LETTER WRITTEN BY FATHER FOR DAUGHTER) *CJ
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 556905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10639792 · 2014-09-29 (September 29, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 INFINITI Q45. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SENSOR ILLUMINATED AND THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILU…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10639792 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 717648 · 2000-01-20 (January 20, 2000)
I WAS TRICKED INTO BUYING THIS VEHICLE, BEING A FIRST TIME BUYER AND DIVORCED. INCLUDING THIS MAJOR FUEL LEAK (WHICH HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED EXACTLY WHERE THE LEAK IS COMING FROM) THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE. EVEN IF THE TRANSMISSION IS REPLACED THE VEHICLE IS STILL TO HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE. I AM AT MY WITS END WITH THIS CAR BECAUSE I STILL OWE MONEY ON IT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 717648 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10124338 · 2005-06-06 (June 6, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON HIS VEHICLE -- NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID #98V284000. THE RECALL WAS SUPPOSE TO BEEN CORRECTED ON FEB. 17, 1999, ACCORDING TO THE SHOP FOREMAN. ON JUNE 5, 2005, CONSUMER'S REAR SPEAKERS CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE SPEAKERS ARE ABOVE THE FUEL TANK. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10124338 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 |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 1 |
| 1991 | 2 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 3 |
| 1998 | 3 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
1990: 1; 1991: 2; 1992: 1; 1993: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 3; 1998: 3; 1999: 0; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 2; 2005: 3; 2006: 1