AI Damage2004 Infiniti Q45: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Infiniti Q45 filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 43% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 29% of all complaints
- 3 Exterior lighting 29% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 29% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 29% of all complaints
- 6 Seats 14% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 14% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 14% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (43% of all).
- Engine: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Steering: 2 complaints (29% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 2 complaints (29% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 4.5 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 7 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact stated that the vehicle's frame was corroded. The vehicle was included in nhtsa campaign number: 11v244000 (steering, suspension). The manufacturer stated that they would not pay for the repair. The dealer was not contacted. The contact kept the vehicle parked and had not driven it in over two years.
The contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the engine stalled while the service engine soon warning light and another unknown light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate after the failure occurred.
I was driving and dashboard lights came on, then vehicle cut off on the highway. I assumed it was a bad alternator, but it was a defective crank sensor.
My low beam headlamp system has now failed at two separate times, both during nighttime driving. The first was on november 2, 2009, at 37,600 miles, the left hid ballast failed; nissan repaired the failure under warranty although its time-portion had expired. The second failure was at 47,600 miles on december 1, 2011.
Without a seat belt. I had no option but to repair this seat or abandon any notion of driving out of town. If we drove out of ce
Dt:the consumers vehicle has a cruise control that has a chip that if a car gets too close to it slows down. When driving on the highway and somebody cuts the consumer off it feels like someone stepped on the brake due to an abrupt drop in speed.
The consumer believes that the laser controlled cruise control could be a potential safety issue to an unwary driver. The system does not work in the rain or when driving into the sun at sunset.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 12,538 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Q45 has 14 complaints (16 years in the data). This year has 7, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Infiniti Q45?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine, exterior lighting. Total complaints: 7. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (29%), rust, corrosion (14%), seat belts (14%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 Infiniti Q45?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2004 Infiniti Q45 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2004 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.