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.

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Engine complaints

23 reports

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106,000 miles · Jul 27, 2019

Engine

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11235295

100,000 miles · Aug 20, 2018

EngineFuel/propulsion System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. WHILE STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS,THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND "CHECK YOUR FUEL CAP" DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT CITED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES, AS REPORTED BY A CODE READER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ODI #11121152

145,000 miles · May 15, 2017

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE …

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NHTSA ODI #10985831

149,000 miles · Nov 28, 2016

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, PRECEDED BY THE DYNAMIC CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE, BUT NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

NHTSA ODI #10928355

128,000 miles · Jul 22, 2016

Engine

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WHILE LEAVING AN ENTRANCE RAMP TO MERGE ONTO THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE SUFFERED A COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENGINE POWER LOSS ALONG WITH ITS POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING FUNCTIONS. AFTER THIS FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START, LEAVING IT STRANDED. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL IN PLACE FOR THE VEHICLE'S MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR (RECALL #03V455000), HOWEVER I WAS TOLD BY BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND INFINITI THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL BECAUSE THE PART IN QUESTION WAS MADE BY A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER THAN WHAT WAS INCLUDED UNDER THE EXISTING RECALL. THE SUMMARY AND CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FAILURE ALIGN EXACTLY WITH THAT OF THE EXISTING RECALL. IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE SAFETY HAZARD EXISTS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMPLAINT IS TO ADDRESS THAT DEFICIENCY.

NHTSA ODI #10887887

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2016

EngineFuel/propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 12V088000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONT…

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NHTSA ODI #10862550

120,000 miles · Apr 23, 2016

Engine

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WHILE TURNING LEFT WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC THE ENGINE DIED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER SAID IT WAS EMISSIONS RELATED. THE CAR DID RESTART, THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON, AND AFTER A SHORT DRIVE THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL AND HEAT COMING FROM THE CAR. THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER WILL ONLY WORK ON IT AS CUSTOMER PAY, AND WILL NOT DO ANY RECALL WORK, SAID I NEED TO GO TO THE INFINITY DEALER 2 HOURS AWAY. I JUST NOTIFIED NISSAN CORP TODAY OF THE ISSUE AND WAITING FOR THEIR RESPONSE.

NHTSA ODI #10861092

120,000 miles · Jan 11, 2016

Engine

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER WAITING FIFTEEN MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO TIMES. ON TWO SEPARATED OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ODI #10819262

140,000 miles · Nov 17, 2015

Engine

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. SHORTLY AFTER THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR RESTARTED ONLY TO DO THAT AGAIN THE NEXT DAY. IT DID IT ANOTHER TIME AND DIDN'T RESTART. HAD IT REPAIRED BY AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. 6MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM IS BCK. DECIDED TO CHECK ON THE RECALLS AND THERE WAS A RECALL CALLED ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING THAT DESCRIBED MY ISSUE TO A T BUT DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN! THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE. BOTH TIMES MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10794534

115,000 miles · Nov 17, 2015

Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN N…

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NHTSA ODI #10794397

Official recalls

12V088000 · 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

PE11038 · 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.