Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Infiniti I30 problems
Owners filed 52 complaints about the 1998 Infiniti I30 with NHTSA between Feb 1999 and Oct 2017. The most-cited component is air bags (21).
Complaints
52
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags21
- Electrical system10
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Power train4
- Structure4
- Engine and engine cooling2
- Latches/locks/linkages2
- Visibility2
- Service brakes1
- Engine1
- Tires1
- Seats1
- Exterior lighting1
- Wheels1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
9
4
1
4
2
5
5
3
5
1
3
2
3
0
0
0
1
2
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 9 |
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
21 reports2 crashes
“AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHING, DEALERSHIP INDICATED "A VERY COMMON PROBLEM" FOR THIS YEAR AND MAKE INFINIITI . WELL A COMMON PROBLEM TO ME SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE A RECALL. I WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT IT WOULD OVER $1000 DOES THIS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH TAKATA INFLATORS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON MILLIONS OF CARS BUT JUST SKIPPED THIS YEAR AND MAKE? I WAS TOLD AIRBAG WILL STILL DEPLOY, WELL I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END ACCIDENT, AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY! THIS IS A REAL CONCERN, THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED, AND RECALL IMPLEMENTED BEFORE SOMEONE DIES AS A RESULT!”
Electrical system
10 reports5 fires2 related recalls
“WHILE DRIVING HOME COULD HEAR A CLICKING NOISE IN THE WIRING CAR STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND EVENTUALLY DIED IN THE ROAD, JUMP STARTED IT TO GET TO A SHOP WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR, BOUGHT NEW ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE CAR SHORTED OUT AGAIN LOST POWER AND ONCE AGAIN DIED ON THE ROAD, JUMP STARTED CAR TO GET HOME. CAR WILL NOT HOLD POWER KEEPS SHORTING OUT IN THE WIRES, ALTERNATOR IS STILL GOOD AS WELL AS BATTERY. YOU CAN HEAR THE WIRING WHEN IT SHORTS OUT AS IT CLICKS. WHEN I JUMP START THE CAR IT WILL ONLY STAY CHARGED FOR A FEW MINUTES BEFORE DYING OUT AGAIN. I AM NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW AS IT WILL NOT STAY CHARGED, SOMETHING ELECTRICAL IS DRAINING THE BATTERY. WHEN THE WIRING STARTS TO CLICK RADIO GOES OFF AND CLOCK DIMS BEFORE SHUTTING OFF AS WELL.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
5 reports1 crash
“WE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THE ABS SYSTEM KICKED IN, BUT DID NOT PROPERLY SLOW THE VEHICLE. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURS TWICE MORE OVER THE NEXT MONTH. SO WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY REPORTED THAT THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THE SAME FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN APPROXIMATELY A MONTH AFTER THAT, AND CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP MAINTAINS THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. DT”
Power train
4 reports1 crash
“TAKATA RECALL THE CAR HAS MANUFACTURE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE FIX FOR NO XCOST”
Structure
4 reports
“IN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2009, I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH INFINITI AND NHTSA REGARDING A STRUCTURAL DEFECT TO THE FRAME OF MY 1998 INFINITI I30T. BECAUSE OF THE DESIGN, THE FRAME ROTTED AND COMPLETELY SEPARATED UNDER THE ENGINE DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION. MECHANICS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE THE ENGINE AND/OR TRANSMISSION COULD FALL OUT CAUSING THE OPERATOR TO LOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT CAUSING SERIOUS BODILY INJURIES AND/OR DEATH. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE NISSAN MAXIMAS AROUND THE SAME YEAR ALSO HAD THE SAME ISSUE BECAUSE THEY UTILIZED THE SAME FRAME. I CANNOT BELIEVE INFINITY, NISSAN AND/OR NHTSA HAVE NOT INITIATED RECALLS ON THESE VEHICLES GIVEN THE RECENT RECALLS AND SERIOUS ACCIDENTS OF VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR ISSUES THAT HAVE RESULTED IN DEATHS (I.E. FORD WINDSTAR VANS AND HONDA PASSPORTS). WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO ISSUE A RECALL OF THESE VEHICLES TO PROTECT THE OPERATORS? *TR”
Engine and engine cooling
2 reports
“I OWN A 1998 INFINITI I30. ON THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2010, MY DAUGHTER NICHOLE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENTLY THE CAR ACCELERATED TO OVER 4000 RMP WITHOUT HER APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. SHE APPLIED THE BRAKE WITH ALL PRESSURE SHE COULD MUSTER (2 FEET) AND EVENTUALLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY, WITH SMOKE POURING FROM ALL FOUR WHEELS. WE HAD THE CAR TOWED TO AN AUTO MECHANIC, WHO FOUND THAT THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE WAS BAD. WHEN THE MECHANIC STARTED THE CAR IN THE SHOP, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY RACED TO 5000 RMP. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN A CASE WHERE WHEN THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE GOES BAD, THAT IT CAUSES THE ENGINE TO RACE. INSTEAD, HE SAYS THE ENGINE JUST DIES. IN THE PROCESS OF STOPPING THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT PADS WERE FRIED AND WORN DOWN TO BARE METAL, AND DESTROYED THE FRONT ROTORS. THE REAR DISC PADS WERE ALSO FRIED, BUT THE REAR ROTORS CAN BE SALVAGED.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.