2002 INFINITI Q45 Problems

IN MARCH 2008 MY 2002 INFINITI Q45 WOULD NOT START, HAD IT TOWED FROM FAYETTEVILLE, NC TO INFINITI DEALER IN RALEIGH, NC. THEY R/R STARTER ASSY TO RESOLVE ISSUE AT NO CHARGE, OLD PART NOT AVAILABLE. ON 5/15/08 MY CAR WOULD NOT START, HAD IT TOWED FROM FAYETTEVILLE TO INFINITI DEALER IN RALEIGH. THEY R/R STARTER ASSY TO RESOLVE ISSUE AT NO CHARGE, OLD PART NOT AVAILABLE. ON 7/26/08 CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. HAD IT TOWED FROM FAYETTEVILLE TO INFINITI DEALER IN RALEIGH. THEY SAID MOTOR BURNED OUT DUE TO IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTION & R/R STARTER ASSY & IGNITION SWITCH TO RESOLVE & CHARGED $1,205.54. I ASKED ABOUT RECALL I FOUND ON NHTSA WEBSITE REGARDING ENGINE & ENGINE COOLING BECAUSE IT STATED THIS COULD CAUSE A NO START CONDITION. THEY DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS RECALL AND THAT'S WHY THEY CHARGED ME. I WOULD LIKE SOME ASSISTANCE IN DETERMINING IF THIS RECALL IS CAUSING MY CAR TO PERIODICALLY NOT START. THIS SEEMS TO OCCUR EVERY 2 MONTHS. *TR

1 - THERE IS UP TO A TWO SECOND DELAY WHEN QUICK ACCELERATION IS REQUIRED. AT TIMES IT FEELS AS IF THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED. 2 - THE VEHICLE OFTEN WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW THE VEHICLE ON A HILL. I COULD BE IN 5TH GEAR AT AROUND ONLY 1800 RPM, AND WHEN I DOWNSHIFT TWICE, IT WILL NOT GO TO 3RD. I OFTEN HAVE TO DOWNSHIFT UP TO 6 TIMES FOR IT TO RESPOND AND SWITCH TO THIRD. I NEED TO TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD TO CONSTANTLY CHECK IF I'M IN THE GEAR I SELECT. 3 - THE PARKING/EMERGENCY BREAK WILL NOT HOLD THE FULLY LOADED VEHICLE ON A HILL. IF THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK FAILS, THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL. ALL ISSUES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE NORMAL BY THE MANUFACTURER. THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM ON THEIR NEW 2005 VERSION AND REFUSE TO DO SO ON MY VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 INFINITI Q45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 INFINITI Q45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE PROBLEM OCCURRED NUMEROUS OF TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED THE HARNESS UNDERNEATH DRIVER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MY CAR RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. FIRST TIME I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT STARTED RIGHT BACK UP. THEN AGAIN WHEN I GOT HOME. ONE TIME IT HAD A P0340 CODE FOR THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, AND I CHANGED IT THREE TIMES IN THE LAST WEEK AND IT STILL SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING.

WAS ON THE HIGHWAY TAKINGS GRANDKIDS HOME AND THE CAR JUST CUT OFF RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. IT TOOK SEVERAL TRIES TO GET IT TO START AGAIN BUT IT STAYED ON ONLY LONG THOUGH FOR ME TO GET IT ON THE SHOULDER. WE COULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS WRECK. IT IS ONLY BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND FUNCTIONAL HAZARD LIGHTS THAT WE AND OTHER VEHICLES WEREN'T INJURED. WE HAD TO BE TOWED BECAUSE WE WERE TOO FAR FROM AN EXIT TO RISK TRYING TO DRIVE IT ANY FURTHER! *TR

I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR, WITH THE TIRES CONSTANTLY LEAKING. I HAD TO FILL THEM WITH AIR ALL THE TIME, HAD THEM CHECKED A NUMBER OF TIMES, AND HAD TO HAVE THE RIMS CLEANED AND REGROUND, ETC., TRYING TO DETERMINE AND SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AFTER INCREDIBLE AGGRAVATION, WE FINALLY TRACKED THE PROBLEM DOWN TO CRACKS IN THE VALVE STEMS. THE VALVE STEMS CONTAINED THE AIR PRESSURE SENSORS AND WERE EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE, PARTS WERE AS MUCH AS $135 OR SO EACH, PLUS LABOR, WHICH COULD BE $200 OR MORE, AND THEN ALL THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSORS HAD TO BE RE-SET - I THINK THE TERM WAS RECALIBRATED OR SOMETHING, WHICH MOST PLACES DIDN'T HAVE EQUIPMENT TO DO OR COULDN'T DO CORRECTLY, AND I ALWAYS ENDED UP HAVING TO GO TO A DEALERSHIP. AT LEAST THEY SOMETIMES DIDN'T CHARGE AS MUCH AS THEY COULD, AS I WAS A CAPTIVE; IF THEY DIDN'T DO IT, NONE OF THE SENSORS WOULD WORK. I DISCOVERED THAT THESE VALVE STEM SENSORS WERE SUBJECT TO CRACKING, AND HAD JUST BEEN PUT ON THE CAR FOR THAT MODEL YEAR. MIDWAY THROUGH THE MODEL YEAR, THEY WERE REPLACED WITH ANOTHER TYPE MADE OUT OF BETTER MATERIAL. BEFORE MY MODEL YEAR, THE TYPE USED WAS IN SERVICE I THINK FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE MID-YEAR REPLACEMENTS WERE USED FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MODEL YEARS. THIS ALL SUGGESTS THAT THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM, BUT AVOIDED PAYING FOR IT OR ISSUING A RECALL. COULD YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE? THANK YOU

RIGHT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO LOSE PRESSURE, AS MUCH AS 5 PSI IN ONE MILE OF FREEWAY DRIVING. I KEPT STOPPING TO AIR UP TIRE, CONFIRMING LOW PRESSURE WITH ACCURATE BOURDON TUBE-TYPE GAUGE. AFTER FOUR STOPS TO AIR UP, PROBLEM QUIT. WHEN I REACHED DESTINATION CITY, SET UP SERVICE APPT. WITH LOCAL INFINITI DEALER. AFTER FOUR DAYS OF A LONG WEEKEND, INCLUDING SLOW-SPEED AND FREEWAY DRIVING OF OVER 200 MILES, PRESSURE LOSS HAD QUIT. CANCELLED DEALER APPOINTMENT. THREE MONTHS LATER, PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. HAD TIRE CHECKED AT NTB, NO LEAKS FOUND. TIRE DISMOUNTED, CHECKED ON INSIDE, NO DEFECTS OR PUNCTURES OR BLISTERS FOUND, WHEEL IN GOOD SHAPE, TIRE REMOUNTED. ONE MONTH LATER, PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, THIS TIME LOSING 10 PSI IN TWO MILES OF FREEWAY DRIVING. AIRED UP. LOST 5 PSI. CHANGED TO SPARE. DEALER MOUNTED NEW TIRE. PRESSURE DROPPED TWO DAYS LATER. DEALER INSTALLED NEW WHEEL (COULDN'T EXACTLY MATCH EXISTING COLOR--GREAT ON A $60K CAR.) AND REMOTE PRESSURE SENSOR. PROBLEM CURED. COST: NEW TIRE--$350, TOSSED TIRE WITH 30K LEFT ON IT (SUSPECTED OF BEING CAUSE)--$350, NEW TAKE-OFF WHEEL--$800, NEW SENSOR--$260. TOTAL COST, INCLUDING MECHANIC AND TRASHED GOOD TIRE--$2,000. NO DIAGNOSIS EVER OFFERED. *TR

HAVE HAD 3 HID HEADLIGHT ACTUATOR/BALLAST FAILURES, LEADING TO INOPERATIVE LAMPS (TWO LEFT SIDE, ONE RIGHT SIDE). THE BALLAST IS A HIGH-VOLTAGE TRANSFORMER THAT DRIVES THE DISCHARGE LAMPS. OCCURRENCES AT 24K, 95K, AND 105K MILES. CAR ONLY HAS 110K. FIRST FAILURE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. LAST TWO REPAIRS ALMOST $1,000 EA FOR PARTS AND LABOR (MUST REMOVE ENTIRE FRONT FASCIA OF CAR TO REACH BALLAST UNITS). THE PART APPEARS TO BE SERIALLY DEFECTIVE, WITH THE OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD OF HAVING ONLY ONE WORKING LIGHT UNTIL TIME AND MONEY FOR REPAIR ARE FOUND. CALCULATED MEAN TIME BETWEEN FAILURE SEEMS TO BE ONE THOUSAND OPERATING HOURS OR LESS. *TR

VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THE SHORT RANGE THAT THE NORMAL HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATE. *PH (NAR) TRANSFERED TO RULEMAKING *CB

1 - THERE IS UP TO A TWO SECOND DELAY WHEN QUICK ACCELERATION IS REQUIRED. AT TIMES IT FEELS AS IF THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED. 2 - THE VEHICLE OFTEN WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW THE VEHICLE ON A HILL. I COULD BE IN 5TH GEAR AT AROUND ONLY 1800 RPM, AND WHEN I DOWNSHIFT TWICE, IT WILL NOT GO TO 3RD. I OFTEN HAVE TO DOWNSHIFT UP TO 6 TIMES FOR IT TO RESPOND AND SWITCH TO THIRD. I NEED TO TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD TO CONSTANTLY CHECK IF I'M IN THE GEAR I SELECT. 3 - THE PARKING/EMERGENCY BREAK WILL NOT HOLD THE FULLY LOADED VEHICLE ON A HILL. IF THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK FAILS, THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL. ALL ISSUES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE NORMAL BY THE MANUFACTURER. THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM ON THEIR NEW 2005 VERSION AND REFUSE TO DO SO ON MY VEHICLE.

CONSUMER AND THE DEALERSHIP NOTICED THAT ENGINE WAS CONSUMING 2 AND A HALF QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 4400 MILES. ALSO, VEHICLE HAD BRAKE ROTORS PROBLEMS. *AK WHEN THE SECOND OIL CONSUMPTION TEST WAS DONE FOR 33000 MILES THE VEHICLE USED ONE AND A HALF QUARTS OF OIL. HEAVY BLUE SMOKE EMITS FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE DURING INITIAL START UP. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 INFINITI Q45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER SEAT BUTTON USED TO MOVE THE SEAT BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS STOPPED WORKING. THE SEAT WAS REPAIRED. APPROXIMATELY THREE YEARS LATER, THE FRAME ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT LEANED TO THE LEFT AND RIGHT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRAME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

MY "2002" INFINITI AUTOMOBILE MODEL Q45 WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER AUTO WHILE TRAVELING THROUGH AN INTERSTATE CONSTRUCTION ZONE. MY CAR WAS MOVING AT THE TIME AND I WAS DRIVING. THE FORCE OF THE COLLISION BROKE EITHER MY SEAT BACK OR ITS ELECTRIC OPERATING ASSEMBLY TO THE EXTENT THAT THE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED REARWARD AND AS A RESULT I WAS BARELY ABLE TO REACH THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO BRING THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND STOP. THIS COULD HAVE MADE WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE MAJOR ACCIDENT A CATASTROPHIC ONE SIMPLY BECAUSE OF AN INFERIOR DESIGNED SEAT.*AK

RIGHT REAR TIRE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO LOSE PRESSURE, AS MUCH AS 5 PSI IN ONE MILE OF FREEWAY DRIVING. I KEPT STOPPING TO AIR UP TIRE, CONFIRMING LOW PRESSURE WITH ACCURATE BOURDON TUBE-TYPE GAUGE. AFTER FOUR STOPS TO AIR UP, PROBLEM QUIT. WHEN I REACHED DESTINATION CITY, SET UP SERVICE APPT. WITH LOCAL INFINITI DEALER. AFTER FOUR DAYS OF A LONG WEEKEND, INCLUDING SLOW-SPEED AND FREEWAY DRIVING OF OVER 200 MILES, PRESSURE LOSS HAD QUIT. CANCELLED DEALER APPOINTMENT. THREE MONTHS LATER, PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. HAD TIRE CHECKED AT NTB, NO LEAKS FOUND. TIRE DISMOUNTED, CHECKED ON INSIDE, NO DEFECTS OR PUNCTURES OR BLISTERS FOUND, WHEEL IN GOOD SHAPE, TIRE REMOUNTED. ONE MONTH LATER, PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, THIS TIME LOSING 10 PSI IN TWO MILES OF FREEWAY DRIVING. AIRED UP. LOST 5 PSI. CHANGED TO SPARE. DEALER MOUNTED NEW TIRE. PRESSURE DROPPED TWO DAYS LATER. DEALER INSTALLED NEW WHEEL (COULDN'T EXACTLY MATCH EXISTING COLOR--GREAT ON A $60K CAR.) AND REMOTE PRESSURE SENSOR. PROBLEM CURED. COST: NEW TIRE--$350, TOSSED TIRE WITH 30K LEFT ON IT (SUSPECTED OF BEING CAUSE)--$350, NEW TAKE-OFF WHEEL--$800, NEW SENSOR--$260. TOTAL COST, INCLUDING MECHANIC AND TRASHED GOOD TIRE--$2,000. NO DIAGNOSIS EVER OFFERED. *TR

LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH LCD INFORMATION THAT VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TAKEN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE; SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE REMOTE TIRE PRESSURE-SENSING SYSTEM. IT TOOK TWO TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP, A TOTAL OF FIVE DAYS, AND A LOT OF TIME WITH THE MECHANIC EITHER ONLINE OR ON THE TELEPHONE WITH AN INFINIT "HOT LINE" ELECTICAL SPECIALIST TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM: ONE DEFECTIVE TIRE PRESSURE SENSING GAUGE. TROUBLE IS, THE SAME THING HAD HAPPENED APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AGO, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ONLY ABOUT TWO MONTHS OLD. AT THAT TIME, THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND SIMPLY REPLACED A TIRE PRESSURE GAUGE. PROBLEM SOLVED. WHY, WITH THIS CAR'S PREVIOUS HISTORY, DID IT TAKE FIVE DAYS AND SEVERAL MINDS WORKING TOGETHER TO DETERMINE THAT MY CAR WAS SUFFERING FROM THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS A YEAR EARLIER?

1 - THERE IS UP TO A TWO SECOND DELAY WHEN QUICK ACCELERATION IS REQUIRED. AT TIMES IT FEELS AS IF THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED. 2 - THE VEHICLE OFTEN WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW THE VEHICLE ON A HILL. I COULD BE IN 5TH GEAR AT AROUND ONLY 1800 RPM, AND WHEN I DOWNSHIFT TWICE, IT WILL NOT GO TO 3RD. I OFTEN HAVE TO DOWNSHIFT UP TO 6 TIMES FOR IT TO RESPOND AND SWITCH TO THIRD. I NEED TO TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD TO CONSTANTLY CHECK IF I'M IN THE GEAR I SELECT. 3 - THE PARKING/EMERGENCY BREAK WILL NOT HOLD THE FULLY LOADED VEHICLE ON A HILL. IF THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK FAILS, THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL. ALL ISSUES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE NORMAL BY THE MANUFACTURER. THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM ON THEIR NEW 2005 VERSION AND REFUSE TO DO SO ON MY VEHICLE.

A FEW WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE OF MY 2002 INFINITI Q45 (UNDER 4000 MILES)DURING AN EXTENDED ROAD TRIP, I LOST ALL CONTROLS ON MY A/C AND AUDIO SYSTEMS.IN A SEPARATE INCIDENT, I ALSO LOST CONTROL OF MY CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. AFTER STOPPING AND RESTARTING THE CAR, THE SYSTEMS WERE RE- ACTIVATED. WITH THE EXTENSIVE COMPUTERIZED SYSTEMS ON THIS CAR, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM! I REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO MY DEALER BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. ON ANOTHER LONG TRIP,A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER,BOTH PROBLEMS REOCCURRED. THIS TIME MY DEALER ASKED TO KEEP THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS DURING WHICH TIME THE SITUATION DID REPLICATE. THE TECHNICIANS TRACED THE PROBLEM TO A DEFECTIVE RADIO(?) WHICH THEY REPLACED. LESS THAN 100 HUNDRED MILES LATER ON A HIWAY TRIP, BOTH CONDITIONS REOCCURRED.THE CAR IS BACK IN THE SHOP!I HAVE ALERTED INFINITI CONSUMER AFFAIRS FOR THE SECOND TIME OF THIS PROBLEM . THEY ARE SAYING THEY CAN'T FIX IT, IF THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM!HELLO!!!ANY ADVICE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. I CERTAINLY DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS CAR. WHAT CAN HAPPEN NEXT?

1 - THERE IS UP TO A TWO SECOND DELAY WHEN QUICK ACCELERATION IS REQUIRED. AT TIMES IT FEELS AS IF THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED. 2 - THE VEHICLE OFTEN WILL NOT DOWNSHIFT TO SLOW THE VEHICLE ON A HILL. I COULD BE IN 5TH GEAR AT AROUND ONLY 1800 RPM, AND WHEN I DOWNSHIFT TWICE, IT WILL NOT GO TO 3RD. I OFTEN HAVE TO DOWNSHIFT UP TO 6 TIMES FOR IT TO RESPOND AND SWITCH TO THIRD. I NEED TO TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD TO CONSTANTLY CHECK IF I'M IN THE GEAR I SELECT. 3 - THE PARKING/EMERGENCY BREAK WILL NOT HOLD THE FULLY LOADED VEHICLE ON A HILL. IF THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK FAILS, THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL. ALL ISSUES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE NORMAL BY THE MANUFACTURER. THEY CORRECTED THE PROBLEM ON THEIR NEW 2005 VERSION AND REFUSE TO DO SO ON MY VEHICLE.

I AM NOT ABLE TO FILL MY GAS TANK VIA A STANDARD FUEL STATION PUMP. I HAVE TO MANUALLY INSERT A FUNNEL TO FILL MY GAS TANK WHICH TAKES ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO PERFORM. *TR