Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Infiniti M45 problems

Owners filed 131 complaints about the 2003 Infiniti M45 with NHTSA between Mar 2003 and Apr 2024. The most-cited component is fuel system, gasoline (66).

Complaints
131
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Fuel system, gasoline66
  2. Engine23
  3. Electrical system22
  4. Engine and engine cooling18
  5. Fuel system, other11
  6. Fuel/propulsion system6
  7. Seats5
  8. Power train4
  9. Air bags3
  10. Structure3
  11. Visibility2
  12. Steering2
  13. Exterior lighting2
  14. Vehicle speed control2

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 Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20031
20046
20051
20060
20070
20081
20090
201021
201126
201236
20137
20148
20156
20168
20173
20181
20191
20203
20210
20220
20231
20241

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.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Fuel system, gasoline

66 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2003 Infiniti M45. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the fuel gauge failed to read the fuel level correctly and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed several times to a dealer and independent mechanic however, the fuel gauge sensor could not be replaced. Additionally, on one occasion, the vehicle was steered to the side of the road where the vehicle was refueled. The vehicle was restarted but the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the fuel filter needed to be replaced and the fuel gauge sensor needed to be cleaned. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 30, 2024Fuel system, gasolineODI 11586153

Engine

23 reports
“2003 INFINITI M45 WITH APPROXIMATELY 106,000 MILES. CAR WILL STALL SUDDENLY AT HIGHWAY OR CITY ROAD SPEEDS NECESSITATING PUTTING CAR INTO NEUTRAL OR PULLING OVER TO RESTART. PREVIOUSLY, AFTER THIS HAD HAPPENED, A CODE FOR FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS RECOVERED, AND BOTH THE CRANKSHAFT AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS WERE REPLACED WITH AFTERMARKET NEW PARTS FROM DURALAST. CAR NO LONGER HAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STALLING, BUT THE STALLING PERSISTS. ALSO, WHEN CAR IS COOLED TO AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, IT MAY TAKE 2-3 IGNITION ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR AND OCCASIONALLY A BACKFIRE/MISFIRE IS HEARD DURING FAILED ATTEMPTS. IF CAR HAS SAT FOR MULTIPLE DAYS WITHOUT BEING DRIVEN, IT MAY TAKE 10-15 ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 27, 2019EngineODI 11235295

Electrical system

22 reports
“WHILE I WAS DRIVING THIS VEHICLE, IT HAD SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND I LOST ALL POWER. IT STARTED BACK UP LIKE NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE AND I'M AFRAID THIS COULD HAPPEN WHILE I'M ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY. I SEE THERE WAS A RECALL INVOLVING THIS BUT NOT FOR MY VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME JUST RECENTLY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2016Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 10895802

Engine and engine cooling

18 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT AND CAM SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,500. UPDATED 08/03/16.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 5, 2016Engine and engine coolingODI 10863445

Fuel system, other

11 reports
“2003 INFINITI M45. CONSUMER STATES GAS GAUGE WAS GIVING ERRATIC READINGS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE RAN OUT OF GAS WITH NO WARNING FROM THE GAS GAUGE OR LOW FUEL INDICATOR. APPARENTLY, A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED REGARDING FAULTY INDICATORS AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. HOWEVER, ABOUT 16 MONTHS AGO, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE GAS GAUGE WAS ONCE AGAIN PROVIDING ERRATIC READINGS. TWO DEALERS INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT SINCE THE GAUGE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER THE SERVICE BULLETIN, THAT HE WOULD NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR A COMPLIMENTARY REPAIR AGAIN. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO INFORMED THE COST OF THE REPAIR WOULD BE $500. UNFORTUNATELY, THE CONSUMER RAN OUT OF GAS AGAIN. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 4, 2012Fuel system, gasoline, Fuel system, otherODI 10442977

Fuel/propulsion system

6 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL AT ALL TIMES. THE VEHICLE RAN OUT OF FUEL DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER BENNETT INFINITI (1060 PA-315 WILKES BARRE PA) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000. *BF*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 24, 2020Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11311141
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.