IllustrationGAUGE SAID HALF A TANK BUT WAS EMPTY CAR CUT OFF ON HIGHWAY DAM NEAR KILLED ME I WAS IN FAST LANE. *JS
2003 Infiniti M45
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most M45 years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Infiniti M45 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 27.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all M45 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
40–25K
625–50K
2150–75K
2775–100K
41100–150K
12150K+
111 reports with mileage · 18 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Fuel System, Other complaints
11 reports2003 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 CONS…
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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
THE CAR STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF GAS, BUT THE INDICATOR WAS SHOWING ABOUT 40% OF A FULL GAS TANK. THERE WAS NO "LOW FUEL" WARNING BEFORE THE CAR RAN OUT OF GAS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE FUEL INDICATOR FAILED; THE SAME PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED 2 OR 3 YEARS AGO. *KB
APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD AND WOULDN'T START. IT APPEARED TO BE A FUEL PROBLEM BUT THE GAS GAUGE WAS SHOWING OVER A QUARTER TANK FULL. I HAD TO TOW IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEN TOW IT AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSTIC WAS A FAULTY GAS …
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APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS AGO I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY ROAD AND WOULDN'T START. IT APPEARED TO BE A FUEL PROBLEM BUT THE GAS GAUGE WAS SHOWING OVER A QUARTER TANK FULL. I HAD TO TOW IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEN TOW IT AGAIN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSTIC WAS A FAULTY GAS GAUGE AND WAS RECOMMENDING TO REPLACE THE WHOLE CLUSTER, A VERY EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION. AS I WAS RESEARCHING THE ISSUE IT BECAME APPARENT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS. APPARENTLY, THE FAULTY ITEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BUT INFINITI DECIDED NOT TO DO THE RIGHT THING AS IT WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE TO RECALL THE FAULTY ITEM WHILE THEY COULD MAKE MORE MONEY BY JUST REPLACING THEM AND CHARGING THE CONSUMERS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. NOT TO MENTION THE INCIDENTAL COSTS INCONVENIENCES AND DANGERS THAT CONSUMERS HAD TO FACE. *KB
FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT SHOW CORRECT AMOUNT OF FUEL RESULTING IN RUNNING OUT OF GAS. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS. NOW THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME UP AND THE ISSUE REQUIRES FIXING IN ORDER TO PASS EMISSION CONTROL. THIS IS WELL KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT INFINITI REFUSES FIXING IT. *KB
FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT SHOW ANYWHERE NEAR CORRECT AMOUNT. BOUGHT CAR 1 YEAR AGO AND HAS BEEN SO FROM DAY 1 . REPLACED FUEL SENDER BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. REPLACED GAUGE CLUSTER WITH JUNKYARD PART AND IT WORKED FOR ABOUT 1 MONTH THEN IT FAILED AS WELL.EVERYONE I KNOW WHO OWNS THIS CAR HAS OR HAS HAD THIS ISSUE. PLEASE HELP …
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FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT SHOW ANYWHERE NEAR CORRECT AMOUNT. BOUGHT CAR 1 YEAR AGO AND HAS BEEN SO FROM DAY 1 . REPLACED FUEL SENDER BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. REPLACED GAUGE CLUSTER WITH JUNKYARD PART AND IT WORKED FOR ABOUT 1 MONTH THEN IT FAILED AS WELL.EVERYONE I KNOW WHO OWNS THIS CAR HAS OR HAS HAD THIS ISSUE. PLEASE HELP US. *TR
PUT CAR IN REVERSE AND STOPPED. PUT IN FORWARD AND CHECK ENGINE SOON CAME UP ON SCREEN. WENT TO AUTO ZONE TO CHECK CODE AND THEY SAID FUEL LEVEL SENDER WAS BAD. I THEN FOUND ON INTERNET THAT NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS HAD SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED INFINITE OF ORLAND ,SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROB…
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PUT CAR IN REVERSE AND STOPPED. PUT IN FORWARD AND CHECK ENGINE SOON CAME UP ON SCREEN. WENT TO AUTO ZONE TO CHECK CODE AND THEY SAID FUEL LEVEL SENDER WAS BAD. I THEN FOUND ON INTERNET THAT NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS HAD SAME PROBLEM. I CONTACTED INFINITE OF ORLAND ,SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID THEY KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR
I HAVE HAD MY INFINITI M45 VEHICLE ONLY FOUR MONTHS NOW AND I JUST REALIZED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO THAT THE GAS GAUGE WASN'T READING CORRECTLY AND I DID SOME RESEARCH ON IT. GOING ON A LOT OF FORUMS, I'VE BEEN GETTING MANY PEOPLE SAYING THIS HAPPENS TO THEIR VEHICLE. I WENT DOWN TO ASK ABOUT A PRICE FOR THE PART AND JOB AND I WAS TO…
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I HAVE HAD MY INFINITI M45 VEHICLE ONLY FOUR MONTHS NOW AND I JUST REALIZED ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO THAT THE GAS GAUGE WASN'T READING CORRECTLY AND I DID SOME RESEARCH ON IT. GOING ON A LOT OF FORUMS, I'VE BEEN GETTING MANY PEOPLE SAYING THIS HAPPENS TO THEIR VEHICLE. I WENT DOWN TO ASK ABOUT A PRICE FOR THE PART AND JOB AND I WAS TOLD 900 OR SO. I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS FARE TO MYSELF AND MANY OTHER INFINITI DRIVERS TO HAVE TO SPEND THAT MUCH ON AN ALREADY GREAT LUXURY VEHICLE. I BEEN STUCK 2 TIMES ON THE HIGHWAY AND ONE TIME WITH MY DAUGHTER. THIS WAS MY GIFT AFTER A ROUGH DEPLOYMENT AND I BELIEVE IF I SHOULD GET CHARGED IT SHOULD ONLY BE THE LABOR WORK FOR AN HOUR OR SO. *TR
2003 INFINITI M45 FUEL GAUGE READS FULL WHEN IT IS EMPTY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. WHENEVER THE CONTACT ADDED FUEL TO THE GASOLINE TANK HE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD DISPLAY THE INCORRECT AMOUNT OF GASOLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 72000.
Official recalls
212V088000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Mar 6, 2012
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003-2004 INFINITI M45 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 7, 2002, THROUGH JUNE 3, 2004. DUE TO A CIRCUIT BOARD FAILURE, THE FUEL GAUGE MAY READ A FUEL LEVEL HIGHER THAN ACTUALLY EXISTS. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE MAY RUN OUT OF GAS WITHOUT NOTICE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE VEHICLE MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE CIRCUIT BOARD FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-647-7261.
03V455000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Nov 17, 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR(S), AND IN SOME CASES, THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSOR(S). VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN, 01V357, ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3PE11038 · Fuel Level Gauge System Failure
Opened Dec 14, 2011 · Closed Mar 22, 2012
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Other:storage:fuel Gauge System
In a March 5, 2012 letter to NHTSA, Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) submitted a Defect Information Report identifying a defect in the combination meter circuit board in approximately 8,120 model year 2003 through 2004 Infiniti M45 vehicles manufactured from March 7, 2002 through June 3, 2004 (Recall No. 12V-088). According to Nissan, heat generated by several components of the circuit board may cause solder cracks due to thermal shock.Open circuits created by the solder cracks may cause the fuel gauge to read higher than the actual amount of fuel remaining in the gas tank or always indicate full.Because of this condition, drivers may run out of fuel without notice, resulting in an engine stall without warning with no possibility of restart. The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) analyzed complaint data provided by Nissan as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers.In total, there were 315 unique reports indicating an inaccurate fuel level reading while driving, including 61 that resulted in an engine stall incident (7.5 incidents per thousand vehicles).In addition, Nissan provided warranty data showing 2,525 claims for replacement of the subject component (31% claim rate).Nissan will begin owner notification in mid-April 2012.Owners of the recalled vehicles will be notified to take their vehicle to an Infiniti dealer, who will install a sub-amplifier in the combination meter to bypass the electric circuit and ensure accurate fuel level indication.This preliminary evaluation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be viewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification numbers (ODI Nos.): 10429412, 10427140, 10426741, 10424642, 10423199, 10418078, 10416519, 10414944, 10412053, 10408935, 10406834, 10406096, 10404206, 10404080, 10395207, 10392714, 10386134, 10380863, 10374719, 10373992, 10369584, 10365717, 10365428, 10356315, 10353972, 10351181, 10349252, 10348351, 10342961, 10342641, 10336272, 10329869, 10325399, 10324572, 10323996, 10323757, 10322403, 10320190, 10318987, 10317547, 10317273, 10317234, 10317030, 10308445.
EA09005 · Non-deployment Of Side Thorax Air Bags
Opened Apr 1, 2009 · Closed Apr 3, 2012
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
The subject vehicles are equipped with seat-mounted, side thorax air bags for the driver and front passenger.This investigation revealed that faulty side air bag module electrical connectors located under the driver and front passenger seats can cause an interruption in the electrical circuit that will drop the input voltage below the specified range.As a result, the air bag warning lamp illuminates on the instrument panel and the affected side air bag becomes deactivated.In June 2009, Nissan conducted a service campaign to repair the defective air bag electrical connectors in the subject vehicles (both Infiniti Q45 and M45 models).In June 2010, Nissan sent a second notification concerning the 2009 campaign to owners of vehicles that have not been remedied.Nissan is now conducting a safety recall of the Q45 vehicles not remedied under the service campaign (approximately 1,349 vehicles; see NHTSA Safety Recall No. 12V-079 for further details).The M45 vehicles are not included in the recall; however, Nissan is re-notifying owners of M45 vehicles that were not remedied under the previous service campaign.See attached report for more information.A safety-related defect trend has not been identified in the Infiniti M45 vehicles at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency will monitor the issue and reserves the right to take future action if warranted by the circumstances.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed online at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following identification (ODI) numbers: 10327196 and 10402282
PE08067 · Side Air Bag NON-DEPLOYMENT
Opened Dec 2, 2008 · Closed Apr 1, 2009
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH SEAT-MOUNTED, SIDE TORSO AIR BAGS FOR THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS REVEALED THAT FAULTY SIDE AIR BAG MODULE CONNECTORS LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT SEATS CAN CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION IN THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT THAT WILL DROP THE INPUT VOLTAGE BELOW THE SPECIFIED RANGE.AS A RESULT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATES AND THE AFFECTED SIDE AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED.THE RATES OF COMPLAINTS, FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT ISSUE ARE VERY HIGH.FOR EXAMPLE, NISSAN SUBMITTED 4,853 WARRANTY CLAIMS ON 3,551 DISTINCT SUBJECT VEHICLES OUT OF 13,836 TOTAL SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALSO, ANALYSES OF WARRANTY CLAIMS INDICATE AN INCREASING FAILURE TREND OVER TIME.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-005) TO FURTHER STUDY THE ISSUE.