Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 11 of 12 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
Engine. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Steering. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
12 reports
111,000 miles · Nov 5, 2010
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)
MY 2003 INFINITI Q45 REPEATEDLY STALLS [SO FAR, 15+ TIMES] AND OFTEN WILL NOT RESTART [10+ TIMES]. WITH MY FAMILY AND ME IN THE CAR, THE STALLING OF THE CAR PUTS US REPEATEDLY IN JEOPARDY OF A REAR-END COLLISION OR VANDALISM OR BODILY INJURY IN DANGEROUS AREAS. THE CAR IS PROPERLY MAINTAINED ON ITS SERVICE SCHEDULE. IT TOOK MY M…
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MY 2003 INFINITI Q45 REPEATEDLY STALLS [SO FAR, 15+ TIMES] AND OFTEN WILL NOT RESTART [10+ TIMES]. WITH MY FAMILY AND ME IN THE CAR, THE STALLING OF THE CAR PUTS US REPEATEDLY IN JEOPARDY OF A REAR-END COLLISION OR VANDALISM OR BODILY INJURY IN DANGEROUS AREAS. THE CAR IS PROPERLY MAINTAINED ON ITS SERVICE SCHEDULE. IT TOOK MY MECHANIC A WEEK AT A COST OF $90 TO CONFIRM THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE [ECM], THE 'BRAIN' OF THE CAR WHICH CONTROLS OTHER VEHICLE SENSORS, AND THIS WAS CONFIRMED BY THE INFINITI DEALER AT A COST OF $150. THE ECM WAS SENT TO TEXAS FOR RECONDITIONING AND REPROGRAMMING, BUT IS BEING RETURNED BECAUSE THE ECM IS IRREPARABLE. THE COST TO BUY AND REPROGRAM A NEW ECM FROM INFINITI, THE ONLY SOURCE, IS $2000 FOR A VEHICLE WITH 100,000+ MILES. BUT A NEW ECM WILL LIKELY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS AS THE ECM BEING REPLACED. I DO NOT WANT TO PUT MY FAMILY IN REPEATED JEOPARDY. THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT THE NEW ECM WILL WORK PROPERLY. I AM SUSPICIOUS THAT THE INFINITI ECMS CONTAIN NUMEROUS DESIGN FLAWS. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, ASIDE FROM STALLING, WITH THE EXISTING ECM, INCLUDING DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKING WITH THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SO THAT I AM LOCKED OUT, THE LOCKS NOT UNLOCKING, ETC BOTH MY MECHANIC AND INFINITY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THESE PROBLEMS UNTIL IT BECAME CLEAR THAT I HAD A MALFUNCTIONING ECM. THERE WAS A RECENT MASSIVE RECALL OF NISSAN AND INFINITI ECMS, BUT THE INFINITI Q45 WAS EXCLUDED, EVEN THOUGH THE SYMPTOM OF REPEATED STALLING IS IDENTICAL TO MY CAR, EXCEPT THAT, WORSE, I ALSO OFTEN CANNOT RESTART THE VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10364192
40,100 miles · Jan 18, 2009
Service Brakes, ElectricCrashInjury
THE BRAKES IN THIS VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED AND BY SUCH CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE DEALER, NISSAN OF THE EASTSIDE IN BELLEVUE WA WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX SAID BRAKES AS I NOTED THAT THEY WERE NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY IN MY TEST DRIVE OF THE VEHICLE AND I WROTE THE CONTRACT SUBJECT TO THE BRAKES BEING FIXED. WHEN THEY DIDN'T FIX …
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THE BRAKES IN THIS VEHICLE MALFUNCTIONED AND BY SUCH CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE DEALER, NISSAN OF THE EASTSIDE IN BELLEVUE WA WAS SUPPOSED TO FIX SAID BRAKES AS I NOTED THAT THEY WERE NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY IN MY TEST DRIVE OF THE VEHICLE AND I WROTE THE CONTRACT SUBJECT TO THE BRAKES BEING FIXED. WHEN THEY DIDN'T FIX THE BRAKES THEY WERE COMMITTING FRAUD AND ALSO IN BREECH OF CONTRACT.. THEY DID NOT FIX THE BRAKES AS AGREED. INFINITI OF FIFE THEN SUPPOSEDLY DID SAID BRAKE WORK. A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR IS IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. COME TO FIND OUT, BOTH DEALERSHIPS ARE OWNED BY THE SAME PEOPLE THUS MAKING COLLUSION TO HIDE THIS SAFETY ISSUE A VERY EASY ROAD TO TRAVEL. THE CAR IS NOW CURRENTLY OFFERED FOR SALE AGAIN AT INFINITI OF FIFE THIS TIME AND THE ACCIDENT ISN'T DISCLOSED, IN FACT THE CAR IS SAID TO HAVE A CLEAN CARFAX HISTORY. THIS CONSTITUTES FRAUD. I HAVE NOT AS YET BEEN COMPENSATED FOR MY LOSS. MY INSURANCE PAID TO FIX THIS VEHICLE WHICH THE NISSAN DEALER PROMPTLY REPO-ED (5 MINUTES AFTER I PAID TO GET IT OUT OF THE SHOP) WHEN I REFUSED TO PAY FULL RETAIL DUE TO THE AFOREMENTIONED ISSUES. THE DEALERSHIP OWNERS AND ALL INVOLVED SHOULD BE BROUGHT UP ON FELONY RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT CHARGES AS WELL AS FRAUD CHARGES. I DO EXPECT TO BE COMPENSATED FOR THIS AS WELL AS DOES MY INSURANCE COMPANY, WHICH PAID OVER $10,000 TO FIX THIS DEATH TRAP OF A CAR. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP AS I AM IN DIRE NEED OF ASSISTANCE. *TR
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003-2005 INFINITI Q45 VEHICLES. A WIRING CONNECTOR FOR THE SEAT MOUNTED AIRBAG MAY EXPERIENCE INCREASED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE, RESULTING IN THE NON-DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: NON-DEPLOYMENT OF SIDE AIR BAGS COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE WIRING CONNECTOR, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 19, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-647-7261.
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
2
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.
2003 Infiniti Q45 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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