Problems · NHTSA complaints
1997 Infiniti Q45 problems
Owners filed 12 complaints about the 1997 Infiniti Q45 with NHTSA between Nov 1998 and Apr 2016. The most-cited component is electrical system (4).
Complaints
12
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system4
- Air bags2
- Suspension2
- Service brakes1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Seats1
- Steering1
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
2
3
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
0
1
0
0
2
0
0
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 2 |
| 1999 | 3 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 |
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
Electrical system
4 reports2 related recalls
“SOMETIME AFTER I PURCHASING THE ABOVE VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER, 2001, THE ENGINE WOULD FAIL TO START WITHOUT RECHARGING THE BATTERY. AFTER RECHARGING, THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT NO MALFUNCTION AND OPERATE NORMALLY FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. THIS CONDITION WOULD REOCCUR INFREQUENTLY, AND HAS SINCE MANIFESTED ITSELF BY SHOWING NO CHARGING FROM THE ALTERNATOR. INFINITI IDENTIFIED THIS PROBLEM WITH A RECALL BEGUN ON 03/15/2002, AS A DEFECTIVE DIODE DAMAGED IN MANUFACTURE. THIS ACTION IS IDENTIFIED AS NHTSA ACTION # PE02034. AT NO TIME WAS I NOTIFIED BY INFINITI OF THIS RECALL, AND THE SYMPTOMS OF MALFUNCTION I HAVE EXPERIENCED ARE CLEARLY A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE ALTERNATOR/DIODE. I CONTACTED INFINITI ON 11/08/2011 AND THEY DENIED ME ANY ASSISTANCE. I REQUEST YOUR ASSISTANCE IN REQUIRING INFINITI TO CORRECT THIS MALFUNCTION WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED HAD INFINITI NOTIFIED ME DURING THE RECALL PERIOD. MY OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE WAS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD AND COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN OBTAINED. *TR”
Air bags
2 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 INFINITI Q45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BECAME FULL OF SMOKE AS THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER EXITED THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Suspension
2 reports
“THE VEHICLE HAS CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCED SEVERE VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END SUSPENSION WHILE DRIVING 40 TO 60 MPH, THE TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED DUE TO UNEVEN SEVERE WEAR OF THE INSIDE OF TIRES (NO MAKE/MODEL OF TIRE PROVIDED), ONE TIRE BLEW OUT DUE TO VIBRATION PROBLEMS. CONSUMER REPLACED TWO SETS OF TIRES IN 39000 MILES. *MJS”
Service brakes
1 report
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 INFINITI Q45. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 162,915.”
Engine and engine cooling
1 report
Vehicle speed control
1 report
“PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT BEGINNING IN EARLY 2001, WE ENCOUNTERED A PROBLEM WITH OUR INFINITY Q45T. IT HAS CONTINUED TO DEGENERATE SINCE THEN. THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT ENGAGE READILY. WHEN AT A STOPPED POSITION AND WE PUSH ON THE PEDAL, IT ACTS AS IF IT IS CAUGHT OR BEING HELD BY SOMETHING. WITH MORE FORCE APPLIED, IT SUDDENLY RELEASES, CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD. ON 10/29/01 I SPOKE TO A STEVE AT INFINITYS CONSUMERS AFFAIRS OFFICE IN GARDENA, CALIFORNIA ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE ADVISE THIS IS A COMMON AND KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE INFINITY AND IS CORRECTED IF THE CUSTOMER COMPLAINS WHEN THE CAR IS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE. HE ADVISED THAT SINCE MY CAR WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED ON 9/22/97, IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WOULD ONLY BE REPAIRED AT MY COST. FOR INFINITY TO KNOW THEY HAVE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF THIS NATURE AND NOT RECALL THE VEHICLE, MAKES THEM, IN MY OPINION, CRIMINALLY LIABLE.BY COPY OF THIS MEMO TO NHTSA, I AM REQUESTING THEY INVESTIGATE THIS CAR AND TAKE APPROPRIATE MEASURES TO RECALL THESE AUTOMOBILES AND HAVE THEM CORRECTED AT THE MANUFACTURERS COST. ADDITIONALLY, I AM REQUESTING THAT APPROPRIATE ACTIONS BE TAKEN FOR INFINITY ALLOWING AN…”
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.