1998 Infiniti Q45: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
77,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 12 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 8.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 8.3% |
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:Frontal | 3 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Air Bags: 1; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 7 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 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 3; 2003: 2; 2005: 2; 2011: 1; 2014: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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 10003579 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)
SEAT BELT RETRACTER ON DRIVER SEAT IS VERY WEEK AND MUST BE ASSITED TO RETACT
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003579 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016534 · 2003-04-26 (April 26, 2003)
FRONT SEAT PASSENGER - 5'9" SITTING ALL THE WAY BACK WITH SEAT BELT ON. LIFTED LEFT ARM UP JUST BEFORE FRONT END CRASH IMPACT AND SUFFERED A BAD FRACTURE REQUIRING SURGERY AND PIN PLACEMENT TO LEFT DISTAL RADIUS (FOREARM BONE NEAR WRIST ON THUMB SIDE). 1998 INFINITY Q45. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016534 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10111384 · 2005-02-11 (February 11, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SPINAL INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED CHEST AND BACK INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 76,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111384 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10115140 · 2005-09-28 (September 28, 2005)
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH THE OWNER HIT A VEHICLE ON THE FRONT RIGHT SIDE. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES, BUT DID NOT SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION. *AK *SC *JB THE IMPACT WAS SO GREAT THAT IT PUSHED BACK THE FRAME RAIL ONE INCH. THE CONSUMER IS QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE EVEN HAS AIR BAGS AND WANTS NISSAN TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 76,002 miles reported. Look up ODI 10115140 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10397468 · 2011-04-26 (April 26, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 INFINITI Q45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC SHOP WHO ADVISED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FRACTURED AND THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $2400. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED WHO ADVISED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10397468 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 10659426 · 2014-11-19 (November 19, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 INFINITI Q45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS FAULTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10659426 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 6900670 · 2001-12-10 (December 10, 2001)
BRAKE SYSTEM FAILS TO ADEQUATELY STOP VEHICLE. LSO, VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY SURGE WHILE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED. DEALERSHIP HAS EXAMINED VEHICLE, BUT CANNOT FIND A REMEDY FOR THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER FEELS THIS COULD BE RELATED TO BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 6900670 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 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 ↗98V325000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 1998-12-14 (December 14, 1998)
VEHICLE DESRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF WITHOUT PLACING THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IN THE "PARK" POSITION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT."
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURRED AND THE DRIVER FAILED TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO 'PARK' OR ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY IF PARKED ON A SLOPE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SHIFT LOCK CONTROL UNIT.
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 ↗