RoadVitals

1990 INFINITI Q45 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
28
Latest May 17, 2004
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
9
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1990 INFINITI Q45, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Transmission1136.7%
  • Electrical310.0%
  • Engine310.0%
  • Powertrain (other)310.0%
  • Visibility310.0%
  • Brakes310.0%
  • Steering26.7%
  • Suspension13.3%
  • Fuel system13.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

11
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID 10072769 · filed May 17, 2004

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.

NHTSA ID 717648 · filed Jan 20, 2000
All 11 reports naming transmission →

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 717539 · filed Jan 19, 2000

WHEN CONSUMER IS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 50 OR ABOVE THE VEHICLE WILL MAKE A NOISE OF FUSES POPPING, AND THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN AT THAT TIME. THERE IS NO WARNING INDICATING THIS PROBLEM BEFORE HAND. VEHICLE HAS SHUT DOWN AND BEEN REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES. THE DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. WHEN VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN, CONSUMER WILL REPLACE FUSES FIRST. DEALER'S TELEPHONE NUMBER IS 908-782-6868. CONSUMER HAS EXPRIENCED SHUTDOWN FOR FOURTH TIME AS OF SEPTEMBER 10, 1997. DEALER SAYS SOMEONE WILL CALL CONSUMER, AND NO ONE HAS CALLED. *AK

NHTSA ID 816576 · filed Sep 23, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TIMING GEAR FAILED.

NHTSA ID 532771 · filed Jun 22, 1998

TIMING CHAIN LOOSE CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE.

NHTSA ID 525846 · filed Dec 5, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO COOLING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID 529637 · filed Jan 22, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO COOLING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA ID 529636 · filed Jan 22, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. IN ADDITION, WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID 526355 · filed Dec 6, 1997

VEHICLE HAS THE SMELL OF FRESH FUEL WHEN HEATER IS TURNED ON. *AK

NHTSA ID 511778 · filed Dec 5, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 843396 · filed Jul 26, 1999

REAR BRAKE LAMP SOCKET OVERHEATS CAUSING SHORT IN SYSTEM RESULTING IN FAILURE OF ALL BRAKE LAMPS.

NHTSA ID 544190 · filed Mar 2, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE. *AK

NHTSA ID 10072768 · filed May 17, 2004

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

NHTSA ID 10017527 · filed Apr 24, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE ON UNEVEN PAVEMENT VEHICLE WILL LOOSE ITS STABILITY, SHOULDER BUMP, VEHICLE LOSS VEHICLE STABILITY IMPACT 11:00 POSITION SPEED 65 MPH. TT

NHTSA ID 966724 · filed Jun 13, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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.

NHTSA ID 717648 · filed Jan 20, 2000

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .