1998 Infiniti I30: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10020251 · 2003-05-21 (May 21, 2003)
THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES, BECAUSE THE AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. *JB RETURNED USPS, 2ND ATTEMPT MADE ON 06/08/07 FAILED. *LJ
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020251 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 10058229 · 2004-02-16 (February 16, 2004)
ALTERNATOR FAILED ON NISSAN 1998 I-30. REPORTED TO DEALER A BURNING SMELL AND LOSS OF LIGHTS. DISCOVED TWO PREVIOUS RECALLS FOR SAME MAKE AND MODEL YEAR BUT NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS SAID MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED ALTHOUGH I ENCOUNTERED THE SAME PROBLEM. PREVIOUS RECALLS WERE NHTSA CAMPAIGN #99V129000 AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN #02V171000. I HAD THE ALTERNATOR REPLACED BY A NISSAN DEALER AT A COST OF 567.00.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 56,815 miles reported. Look up ODI 10058229 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061765 · 2004-03-09 (March 9, 2004)
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND KEPT BLINKING. (NAR) *PH *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061765 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073470 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)
THE DIODE FAILED INSIDE OF THE ALTERNATOR. AS A RESULT THERE WAS A FIRE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 61,042 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073470 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093940 · 2004-10-11 (October 11, 2004)
SINCE I BOUGHT MY 1998 INFINITI I30T, I'VE REPORTED TO THE DEALER (SANTA MONICA INFINITI - PURCHASED FROM AND PEYTON CRAMER INFINITI - RECENT SERVICES) THAT THE TRUNK RELEASE IS DEFECTIVE AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR. THEY AGREE THAT A PROBLEM EXIST, BUT WILL NOT PERFORM THE REPAIRS FOR FREE, SINCE IT IS NOT A RECALL ITEM, YET. IT OPENS UNEXPECTEDLY AND RANDOMLY. IT POPS OPEN WHILE DRIVING, WHICH CAN CAUSE ITEMS TO POSSIBLY FALL OUT OF THE TRUNK. I'VE FOUND IT OPEN SEVERAL TIMES AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE PARKED FOR A FEW MINUTES OF FOR A FEW HOURS. I'…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,755 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095833 · 2004-10-15 (October 15, 2004)
CAR WAS PARKED OUTSIDE THE HOUSE, AND HAD BEEN STILL FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. WE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AND WHEN WE OPENED THE HOOD, THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM THE ALTERNATOR. THE ALTERNATOR STARTED A FIRE INTERNALLY. IT WAS PURE LUCK THE CAR DIDN'T BURN COMPLETELY. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL FOR 1998 INFINITI I30S, BUT BECAUSE THE VIN DOESN'T FALL INTO THE RECALL GROUP, THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT UNLESS I COME WITH $510. THE CAR IS A 1998 I30 INFINITI WITH THE VIN [XXX].*AK UPDATED 07/24/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUAN…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095833 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108968 · 2005-03-15 (March 15, 2005)
THE SRS LIGHT FLASHED ON THEN OFF WHILE DRIVING, DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. THE DRIVER NOTICED ON ANOTHER OCCASION THAT PROBLEM REPEATEDLY HAPPENED. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108968 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
02V171000 · Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Reported: 2002-06-24 (June 24, 2002)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, ONE OF THE DIODES USED IN THE ALTERNATOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED WHEN BUILT. THIS CAN EVENTUALLY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE DIODE AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH COULD MELT THE PLASTIC HOUSING.
Consequence: IF THE COMBUSTIBLE GAS EMITTED BY THE MELTING PLASTIC DOES NOT DISPERSE DUE TO AIR FLOW THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, IT COULD IGNITE AND IN TURN IGNITE THE FAN GUIDE IN THE ALTERNATOR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 29, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V129000 · Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Reported: 1999-05-20 (May 20, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OF THE DIODES USED IN THE ALTERNATOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED WHEN BUILT. THIS CAN EVENTUALLY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE DIODE AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH COULD MELT THE PLASTIC HOUSING.
Consequence: IF THE COMBUSTIBLE GAS EMITTED BY THE MELTING PLASTIC DOES NOT DISPERSE DUE TO AIR FLOW THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, IT COULD IGNITE AND IN TURN IGNITE THE FAN GUIDE IN THE ALTERNATOR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR.
NHTSA campaign record ↗