IllustrationTRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK
1990 Infiniti Q45
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Q45 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
Limited mileage data: 2 of 28 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.
- Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. 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 reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
28 reportsRACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE. *AK
THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WAS LEAKING FLUID AND NEEDED TO BE SERVICED. THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED, AND THEN THE DEALER STATED THE RACK AND PINION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *JB
I WAS TRICKED INTO BUYING THIS VEHICLE, BEING A FIRST TIME BUYER AND DIVORCED. INCLUDING THIS MAJOR FUEL LEAK (WHICH HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED EXACTLY WHERE THE LEAK IS COMING FROM) THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE. EVEN IF THE TRANSMISSION IS REPLACED THE VEHICLE IS STILL TO HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE. I AM AT MY WITS END WITH THIS CAR BECAU…
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I WAS TRICKED INTO BUYING THIS VEHICLE, BEING A FIRST TIME BUYER AND DIVORCED. INCLUDING THIS MAJOR FUEL LEAK (WHICH HAS NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED EXACTLY WHERE THE LEAK IS COMING FROM) THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE. EVEN IF THE TRANSMISSION IS REPLACED THE VEHICLE IS STILL TO HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE. I AM AT MY WITS END WITH THIS CAR BECAUSE I STILL OWE MONEY ON IT.
INFINITI, THE MANUFACTURER, ISSUED A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR 1991 AND 1992 MODEL Q 45'S. MINE IS A 1990 MODEL, WHICH HAS ALL OF THE WARNING SIGNS OF THE FIRE DANGER INVOLVED IN THE STEREO SPEAKER RECALL THAT WAS INSTITUTED, HOWEVER, INFINITI REFUSES TO INCLUDE THE 1990 MODELS. THEY ADMITTED THEY HAVE HAD REPORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH T…
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INFINITI, THE MANUFACTURER, ISSUED A RECALL CAMPAIGN FOR 1991 AND 1992 MODEL Q 45'S. MINE IS A 1990 MODEL, WHICH HAS ALL OF THE WARNING SIGNS OF THE FIRE DANGER INVOLVED IN THE STEREO SPEAKER RECALL THAT WAS INSTITUTED, HOWEVER, INFINITI REFUSES TO INCLUDE THE 1990 MODELS. THEY ADMITTED THEY HAVE HAD REPORTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE 1990 MODEL Q45 STEREO SPEAKERS, BUT THEY CONTINUE TO REFUSE TO INCLUDE THAT YEAR IN THE RECALL. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE 1990 MODELS ARE SUBJECT TO THE SAME FIRE DANGER AND I DON'T PARTICULARLY WANT MY CAR TO GO UP IN FLAMES DUE TO A SPEAKER/WIRING FAILURE THAT CAN BE EASILY FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER IF INCLUDED IN THEIR RECALL CAMPAIGN. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ABS BRAKE LINE WHICH LEAKED, CAUSING THE ABS FLUID TO BECOME INOPERATIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
REAR BRAKE LAMP SOCKET OVERHEATS CAUSING SHORT IN SYSTEM RESULTING IN FAILURE OF ALL BRAKE LAMPS.
NHTSA HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND SERVICE BULLITENS (ACCORDING TO NHTSA RECORDS ACCESSABLE ON THE WEB) REGARDING THE FAULTY DESIGN AND FREQUENT FAILURE OF THIS DANGEROUS TRANSMISSION. WHY HAS THE NHTSA NOT INVESTIGATED THIS TRANSMISSION AND RECALLED IT?
TRANSMISSION IS NOISY UPON ENGAGING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO INTERNAL PROBLEMS. NO WARRANTY, REPAIRWORK BEING DONE. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Official recalls
195V103002 · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
May 24, 1995
THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS WOULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION TO AN OCCUPANT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD ENSURE THAT BOTH BUCKLES ARE OPERATING PROPERLY BY INSERTING EACH LATCH PLATE INTO ITS BUCKLE, TUGGING ON THE BELT TO MAKE SURE THE LATCH IS SECURELY LOCKED, AND THEN PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON. THE LATCH PLATE SHOULD POP OUT OF THE BUCKLE WHEN THE BUTTON IS PRESSED. IF EITHER RELEASE BUTTON SHOWS A SIGN OF BREAKING OR CRACKING OR IF EITHER BUCKLE FAILS TO OPERATE PROPERLY, OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CONTACT THEIR AUTHORIZED DEALER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE BUCKLE REPLACED OR REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE.
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
1EA95007 · Takata Seat Belt Buckle Failure
Opened Mar 10, 1995 · Closed Aug 2, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available