Problems · NHTSA complaints

1997 Infiniti QX4 problems

Owners filed 46 complaints about the 1997 Infiniti QX4 with NHTSA between Apr 1997 and May 2023. The most-cited component is suspension (21).

Complaints
46
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension21
  2. Steering11
  3. Engine and engine cooling4
  4. Tires3
  5. Structure3
  6. Vehicle speed control2
  7. Wheels2
  8. Power train2
  9. Seat belts2
  10. Service brakes, hydraulic2
  11. Traction control system1
  12. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  13. Equipment1
  14. Air bags1

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 6, 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
19971
19982
19996
20004
20011
20022
20032
20041
20050
20061
20072
20082
20090
20101
20117
20125
20130
20142
20152
20161
20170
20181
20191
20200
20211
20220
20231

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

Suspension

21 reports2 crashes
“The contact owns a 1997 Infiniti QX4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V244000 (Steering, Suspension). The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH and other various speeds over bumps in the roadway, the vehicle was shaking abnormally with the steering wheel becoming difficult to turn to the left or to the right. Additionally, the contact heard abnormal metal on metal grinding sounds particularly while turning the vehicle to the left or the right. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer and was advised that the vehicle had failed a safety inspection and he would be contacted by a third party to buy back the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 154,000. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 5, 2023Steering, SuspensionODI 11520613

Steering

11 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“I HAD MY CAR SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY DETAILING IT. I'VE ALWAYS TOOK EXCEPTIONAL CARE OF MY VEHICLES AND ONE THING I'VE ALWAYS DONE WAS MADE SURE THE UNDERCOATING WAS TOP-NOTCH. AS I PROCEEDED TO UNDERCOAT THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT FENDER WELLS ON MY 97 QX4 I NOTICED SOME RUST FORMING BEHIND THE STRUT TOWER. SOME OF IT WAS FLAKY AND SOME OF IT WAS RAISED RUST. I TOOK MY SCRAPER AND LO AND BEHOLD FOUND A HOLE BEHIND THE STRUT TOWER. I CONTINUED TO SCRAPE AND CLEAN THE HOLE AND THE AREA ACCORDING TO THE RECALL CAMPAIGN FROM INFINITY AND I'M VERY CONCERNED ABOUT VEHICLE SAFETY AND THE RUST BEHIND THE STRUT TOWER ON DRIVERS SIDE.I HAVE YET TO CHECK MY PASSENGER SIDE SINCE THE DRIVER SIDE HAS ISSUES I WANTED TO GO AHEAD AND NOTIFY YOU GUYS. I KNOW THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE STRUT TOWER ON NISSAN PATHFINDERS AND INFINITI QX4S 96 THROUGH 2004. I HAVE A 96 PATHFINDER ALSO THAT JUST LAST WEEK I TALKED TO A REPRESENTATIVE FROM NISSAN NORTH AMERICA AND IT STILL HAS A OPEN RECALL CONCERNING THE STRUT TOWER. I LIVE IN TENNESSEE AND BY THE RECALL TENNESSEE IS NOT LISTED AS ONE OF THE SALT STATES BUT YET THAT IS WHERE MY PATHFINDER IS REGISTERED AND IT HAS A RECALL THAT NEEDS TO…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 19, 2019Steering, SuspensionODI 11233265

Engine and engine cooling

4 reports1 crash
“AT 6:45 A.M CAR TRAVELING DOWN FREEZELAND ROAD, LINDEN, VA AT ABOUT 30MPH. WEATHER CONDITIONS: CLEAR, DRY. ROAD CONDITIONS: NO DEFECTS, OIL OR OTHER TRACTION FAULTS THAT WOULD CAUSE ACCIDENT. QX4 AS DESCRIBED BY WITNESS TO POLICE LOOKED AT THOUGH REAR OF VEHICLE BODY WAS ACTING INDEPENDENT OF BODY FRAME. AT THIS POINT DRIVER COULD NOT RECOVER, HAD NO TIME TO BRAKE, STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND. QX4 WOULD NOT RESPOND AND CONTINUED STRAIGHT UP AN EMBANKMENT, HIT LARGE BOLDER AND FLIPPED ONTO PASSENGER SIDE. DRIVER WAS PULLED FROM VEHICLE BY RETIRED EMT. DRIVER SUSTAINED RIGHT KNEE INJURIES INCLUDING FRACTURE TO LOWER LEG DIRECTLY BELOW KNEE, LIGAMENT DAMAGE STILL BEING EVALUATED. DRIVER WAS NOT GIVEN CITATION BY VIRGINIA STATE POLICE, DUE TO DRIVER AND WITNESS STATEMENTS. STATE POLICE INDICATED THAT IT APPEARED TO BE A MAJOR MECHANICAL FAILURE. POLICE TROOPER INDICATED THAT 99 OUT OF 100 DRIVER IN SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE RECEIVED A TICKET FOR WRECKLESS DRIVING. CAR HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. IT IS CURRENTLY IN IMPOUND AT A FRONT ROYAL LOT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 14, 2012Steering, Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Traction control systemCrash reportedODI 10447928

Tires

3 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 INFINITI QX4 EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN LTX M/S TIRES, SIZE: PT245/70 R16 (NA). WHILE ADDING AIR TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE, THE CONTACT NOTICED TREAD SEPARATION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED ALL FOUR TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC ONLY REPLACED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 16, 2015TiresODI 10706074

Structure

3 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 INFINITI QX4. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V244000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT IN ADDITION TO THE FAILURE BEING ADDRESSED IN THE RECALL, THE FRONT PORTION OF THE FRAME WAS ALSO SUFFERING FROM RUST AND CORROSION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ADDITIONAL FAILURES WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL, BUT THE ADDITIONAL FAILURES WERE NOT BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 30, 2011StructureODI 10437883

Vehicle speed control

2 reports
“GAS PEDAL STICKS FROM A COMPLETE STOP DURING SLIGHT ACCELERATION. IF I TRY TO FEATHER IT BEFORE FULL ACCELERATION, IT STILL JUMPS FORWARD. TECHNICIAN SAID IT'S IN THE CABLE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 21, 2008Vehicle speed controlODI 10215552
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026

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