1990 Infiniti Q45

Routine

Owners filed 28 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › automatic transmission. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Automatic Transmission7
000
Power Train3
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine3
000
Steering › Rack and Pinion2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip2
000
Power Train › Manual Transmission2
000
Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear1
000
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System1
000
Suspension › Front1
100
Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Cooling Unit and Lines1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly95V103002
Filed May 24, 19952,730,462 vehiclesNissan North America, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed May 17, 200440 milesSC

RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed May 17, 200440 milesSC

TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *AK

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Apr 24, 2003SC

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

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jan 20, 2000GA

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.

Equipment › Electrical › Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
Filed Jan 19, 2000OK

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 6, 2000AL

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 26, 1999TX

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

Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights
Filed Mar 2, 1999SC

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 19, 1999CA

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?

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 9, 1998CA

TRANSMISSION IS NOISY UPON ENGAGING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO INTERNAL PROBLEMS. NO WARRANTY, REPAIRWORK BEING DONE. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 22, 1998TX

TIMING GEAR FAILED.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Apr 22, 1998FL

VEHICLE HAS DEFECTIVE ABS BRAKES, LEAKS BRAKE FLUID AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON. THE CONSUMER HAS SPOKEN TO VARIOUS DEALERS, IT APPEARS THAT THE PROBLEM STARTED IN 1990-1992. IN MOST OF 1993 MODELS THE DEFECTS STARTED WITH THE VENDORS. ABS HOUSING OF METAL CASTINGS ARE DEFECTIVE AND STARTED TO BREAK AWAY INTERNALLY. *AK. SECOND ABS UNIT IS BEING INSTALLED IN VEHICLE.

Power Train
Filed Jan 22, 1998AL

TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO COOLING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.

Power Train
Filed Jan 22, 1998AL

TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO COOLING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.

Power Train
Filed Jan 22, 1998AL

TRANSMISSION FAILED DUE TO COOLING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Dec 6, 1997WA

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

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Dec 5, 1997CA

TIMING CHAIN LOOSE CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE.

Electrical System › Wiring › Fuses and Circuit Breakers
Filed Sep 23, 1997NJ

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

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Mar 21, 1997SC

BUSHON IN TRANSMISSION WORE OUT AND REDUCED LUBRICATION, ALSO NOISY. *AK

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Feb 9, 1997SC

BUSHON IN TRANSMISSION WORE AND REDUCED LUBRICATION CAUSING VEHICLE VIBRATIONS AND STALLINGS.

20 of 28 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1991
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20060100Routine
20054300Routine
20047200Routine
200312100Routine
200220100Routine
20015100Routine
20009100Routine
19999000Routine
199814310Routine
199712300Routine
19967000Routine
19957000Routine
199430040Routine
19932000Routine
199228160Routine
199134240Routine
1990 — this page28100Routine

Compare every Q45 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 24, 1995. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.