2003 Infiniti M45: problems, recalls and reliability
2 recalls and 129 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is fuel system, gasoline (41% of complaints); the 2004 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Mar 2012
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 129 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2003 Infiniti M45. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for a diagnostic test. The contact stated that the driver's side module needed to be replaced. The driver's side air bag module was replaced. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was 112,965.”Owner report · Air Bags · Oct 2022
“Traveling at about 60 mph on a state route, the car shut down. No power, no dash lights, inability to use turn signals to indicate the intention of changing lanes to the right and onto the side of the road, which nearly caused a collision as the car slowed to crawl. Once pulled onto the side of the road, after many attempts the car started and we drove it home, the symptons suggest the cam positioning sensor is to blame, which seems to have happened to other motorists.”Owner report · Power Train · Oct 2020
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 infiniti m45. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the fuel gauge indicated the fuel tank was full at all times. The vehicle ran out of fuel due to the failure. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer bennett infiniti (1060 pa-315 wilkes barre pa) was notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The contact indicated that the fuel gauge had previously been repaired however, the failure recurred. The failure mileage was 159,000. *bf*jb”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Oct 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
“The bracket on the left side of the drivers front seat has broken. The seat now sags several inches in the left/ rear side. This is placing substantially more stress on the right side's bracket. This bracket failed while driving the car. *tr”Owner report · Seats · Jan 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 infiniti m45. The contact stated that the fuel gauge inaccurately displayed that the fuel tank was full. As a result, the vehicle stalled due to insufficient fuel in the vehicle. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 12v088000 (fuel system, gasoline). The failure mileage was 200,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Sep 2016
“While I was driving this vehicle, it had shut off while I was driving and I lost all power. It started back up like normal. This has happened twice and I'm afraid this could happen while I'm on the highway with my family. I see there was a recall involving this but not for my vehicle. This has happened to me just recently.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Aug 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 infiniti m45. While driving various speeds, the vehicle shut off without warning, preceded by the dynamic control indicators illuminating. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the crank sensor was defective, but not replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer determined that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling). The failure mileage was 149,000.”Owner report · Engine · Jun 2016
“While turning left with on coming traffic the engine died. The check engine light came on and the communications center said it was emissions related. The car did restart, the warning light remains on, and after a short drive there was a burning smell and heat coming from the car. The local nissan dealer will only work on it as customer pay, and will not do any recall work, said I need to go to the infinity dealer 2 hours away. I just notified nissan corp today of the issue and waiting for their response.”Owner report · Engine · Apr 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 infiniti m45. The contact stated that the vehicle randomly stalled without warning. The manufacturer and the dealer indicated that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign numbers: 12v088000 (fuel system, gasoline) and 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was unable to determine when the failure would recur. The failure mileage was not available.”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2016
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 infiniti m45. While driving 70 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the crank shaft and cam shaft sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 03v455000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact stated that the failure recurred four times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 155,500. Updated 08/03/16.*jb”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jan 2016
Recalls - 2 campaigns
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR(S), AND IN SOME CASES, THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSOR(S). VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN, 01V357, ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003-2004 INFINITI M45 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 7, 2002, THROUGH JUNE 3, 2004. DUE TO A CIRCUIT BOARD FAILURE, THE FUEL GAUGE MAY READ A FUEL LEVEL HIGHER THAN ACTUALLY EXISTS. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE MAY RUN OUT OF GAS WITHOUT NOTICE.
Remedy: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL MODIFY THE CIRCUIT BOARD FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-647-7261.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2003 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact M45 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Infiniti M45 reliable?
NHTSA has 129 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on record for the 2003 Infiniti M45. The most complained-about area is fuel system, gasoline (41% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2003 Infiniti M45 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 97,450 miles or less.
Does the 2003 Infiniti M45 have open recalls?
2 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning engine and engine cooling. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.