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2003 Infiniti Q45

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 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

Electrical System complaints

3 reports
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61,000 miles · Aug 8, 2016
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI Q45. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI Q45. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND ALL POWER WAS LOST. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000. UPDATED 11/29/16*LJ THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 12/06/16.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10894023

100,000 miles · Mar 23, 2014
Electrical System

I HAVE A 2003 Q45 AND THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING SEVERAL TIMES. THERE IS HAS IN THE CAR. I GET IT MAINTENANCE REGULARLY. ITS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY PUTTING MY FAMILY AT RISK. ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. AFTER DOING ONLINE SEARCHES I DETERMINED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND…

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I HAVE A 2003 Q45 AND THE CAR HAS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING SEVERAL TIMES. THERE IS HAS IN THE CAR. I GET IT MAINTENANCE REGULARLY. ITS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY PUTTING MY FAMILY AT RISK. ITS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. AFTER DOING ONLINE SEARCHES I DETERMINED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL. PLEASE RESEARCH THIS ISSUE BECAUSE I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THIS CAR. IF THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH ELECTRONIC CHIP, INFINITI SHOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT. THANK YOU *TR

NHTSA ODI #10574227

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

Official recalls

1

12V079000 · Air Bags:side/window

Feb 28, 2012

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.