U.S. public vehicle records

1999 Infiniti QX4 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

42 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

135,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 42 complaints (21.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	15	35.7%
Braking behavior	5	11.9%
Transmission and shifting	2	4.8%
Electrical and battery issues	2	4.8%
Fuel system concerns	2	4.8%

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.

Steering

Suspension

Suspension:Front

Structure:Frame And Members

Electrical System

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap

Structure:Body

Fuel System, Gasoline

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Steering	9
Suspension	7
Suspension:Front	7
Structure:Frame And Members	4
Electrical System	3
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap	3
Structure:Body	3
Fuel System, Gasoline	2

Steering: 9; Suspension: 7; Suspension:Front: 7; Structure:Frame And Members: 4; Electrical System: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 10

150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 19 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.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2006

2008

2010

2011

2012

2014

2017

2018

2019

2022

2000: 2; 2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2006: 1; 2008: 5; 2010: 3; 2011: 15; 2012: 3; 2014: 3; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1; 2022: 2

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10343710 · 2010-07-17 (July 17, 2010)

THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN EXCLUSIVELY BY MY WIFE. SHE COMPLAINED TO ME OF A RUMBLING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. I INVESTIGATED. I DROVE THE CAR UP & DOWN OUR STREET AND CONFIRMED THE NOISE. WHILST SOMEONE WAS TURNING THE WHEEL BACK & FORTH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, I FOLLOWED THE NOISE TO ITS SOURCE. I DISCOVERED THAT THE LEFT FRONT APRON HAD BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE FRAME AND WAS MAKING CONTACT WITH THE STEERING SHAFT. A FURTHER LOOK SHOWED THAT WHERE THE SEAMS OF THE APRON AND RAILS STRUCTURES WERE ROTTED APART WHERE THEY MET. …

Owner-reported narrative. 225,002 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343710 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10380966 · 2011-02-07 (February 7, 2011)

I HAVE A 1999 INFINITI QX4, WHICH OVERALL HAS BEEN A STURDY VEHICLE. HOWEVER, OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE REPLACED BOTH FRONT STRUT TOWERS & ASSOCIATED PARTS, LAST YEAR HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN & JUST HAD IN THE SHOP FOR ENGINE RELATED ISSUES. IT'S GOING BACK IN THE SHOP TOMORROW AS IT SEEMS IT NOW HAS TRANSMISSION ISSUES. THE STRUT & STEERING COLUMN REPAIRS WERE HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS EACH. *LN

Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10380966 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10355270 · 2010-09-13 (September 13, 2010)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 INFINITI QX4. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS AN EXTREME SEPARATION OF THE FRAME, WHICH WAS SEVERELY CORRODED AND CAUSING THE WARNING LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10355270 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10414368 · 2011-07-20 (July 20, 2011)

I WAS DRIVING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED WHEN I FELT AND HEARD A NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND BRAKE PEDAL. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION I SAW THE DRIVER SIDE STRUT TOWER HAD BROKEN LOOSE FROM THE WELDS ON THE FRAME CAUSING THE TOWER TO BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE FRAME ITSELF.

Owner-reported narrative. 255,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10414368 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 753858 · 2001-10-29 (October 29, 2001)

STEERING LOCKED UP - GEARBOX OR STEERING COLUMN FAILURE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 753858 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10095000 · 2004-10-04 (October 4, 2004)

CONSUMER STATED O2 SENSOR WAS CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON AND STAY ON. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, AND WAS SUBJECTED TO HAVING A WIRING HARNESS INSTALLED. CONSUMER HAD THAT DONE, BUT IT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT ANOTHER $1200.00 TO REPAIR SOMETHING ELSE.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10095000 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10467900 · 2012-07-27 (July 27, 2012)

1. STEREO AMPLIFIER FUSE BLEW. (15 AMP) 2. FUSE REPLACED 3. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SMELLED SMOKE. 4. ALL DASH LIGHTS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WENT BLACK. 5. SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH BOARD. 6. CAR REMAINED RUNNING, HEAD LIGHTS FUNCTIONED. 7. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF, LARGE AMOUNTS OF SMOKE CAME FROM BEHIND AND UNDER THE DASH BOARD. 8. CAR WOULD NOT START AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NON RESPONSIVE. 9. INSPECTION OF DASH WIRING HARNESS REVEALED EXTREME MELTING AND DAMAGE TO INTERIOR WIRING HARNESS IN THE AREA OF THE FUSE BOX AND…

Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10467900 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10387850 · 2011-03-02 (March 2, 2011)

COMPONENT 1 - STRUT TOWER RUSTED IN SEVERAL LOCATIONS, COMPONENT 2 - RUNNING BOARDS RUSTED OUT AND WERE REPAIRED. I UNDERSTAND THERE MAYBE BE A RECALL FOR THE STRUT TOWER. MY CURRENT CONDITION WILL NEED TO BE REPAIRED FOR PA INSPECTION. THE LAST RECALL I HAD TO DO W/THE GAS TANK, NHTSA CAMPAIGN #07V435000, WHICH I ALREADY HAD REPLACED BEFORE THE RECALL. JUST TRYING TO SAVE HAVING SOMETHING DONE TWICE, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED FOR SAFETY. I HAVE PICTURES THAT CAN BE SENT, SHOULD YOU REQUEST. THANK YOU. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10387850 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10440771 · 2011-12-21 (December 21, 2011)

1999 INFINITI QX4. CONSUMER STATES RAPID RUST OF VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED ONE YEAR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, SHE NOTICED RUSTING AROUND THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR. SHORTLY AFTER, IT BEGAN TO RUST ON BOTH FENDERS. IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUST OUT RAPIDLY. BOTH FENDERS, THE REAR HATCH, RUNNERS, SIDE MIRRORS, GAS TANK, GAS TANK COVER, GAS TANK NECK AND PIPES ALL HAD RUST OUT. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS POORLY DESIGNED, BECAUSE THE FENDER WELDS HELD LEAVES, DIRT AND WATER FROM THE HOOD. ALSO, IN THE WIN…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10440771 at NHTSA ↗