INFINITI I30 · model year

1996 INFINITI I30

31 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996INFINITII30 carries 31 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 I30 is vehicle speed control with 5 filings, followed by tires (4) and visibility:sun/moon roof assembly (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 7 investigation files overlapping the 1996 I30. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

31
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

31 filings

Crashes Reported

4 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
TIRES4
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY4
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT1
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.1
TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
AIR BAGS1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION1

Recent Complaints

20200108ENGINE

I BELIEVE I'M THE 4TH OWNER OF THIS HERE VEHICLE THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT RIPPED, I HAVE A OIL LEAK AND THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS SLIPPING AND THE SEATS ARE SUN DAMAGED THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD TOLD ME THAT HE HAD MANY TRANSMISSION MECHANICS LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY HAD TOLD HIM THAT MANY THINGS CAN BE WRONG WITH IT BUT THE DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK

Mileage: 180,111

20200108SEAT BELTS

I BELIEVE I'M THE 4TH OWNER OF THIS HERE VEHICLE THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT RIPPED, I HAVE A OIL LEAK AND THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS SLIPPING AND THE SEATS ARE SUN DAMAGED THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD TOLD ME THAT HE HAD MANY TRANSMISSION MECHANICS LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY HAD TOLD HIM THAT MANY THINGS CAN BE WRONG WITH IT BUT THE DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK

Mileage: 180,111

20200108SUSPENSION

I BELIEVE I'M THE 4TH OWNER OF THIS HERE VEHICLE THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT RIPPED, I HAVE A OIL LEAK AND THE TRANSMISSION KEEPS SLIPPING AND THE SEATS ARE SUN DAMAGED THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD TOLD ME THAT HE HAD MANY TRANSMISSION MECHANICS LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION AND THEY HAD TOLD HIM THAT MANY THINGS CAN BE WRONG WITH IT BUT THE DON'T KNOW WHAT EXACTLY AND THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK

Mileage: 180,111

20190916VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 INFINITI I30. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, IT FAILED TO DEACTIVATE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WOULD DEPRESS THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON TO DEACTIVATE THE FEATURE. CURRENTLY, THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH UNLESS HE TURNED AND HELD THE STEERING WHEEL BEFORE TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT CALLED CARDINALE NISSAN (LOCATED AT 1661 DEL MONTE BLVD, SEASIDE, CA 93955, (831) 322-4115) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,141.

Mileage: 137,141

20190916ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 INFINITI I30. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, IT FAILED TO DEACTIVATE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WOULD DEPRESS THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON TO DEACTIVATE THE FEATURE. CURRENTLY, THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH UNLESS HE TURNED AND HELD THE STEERING WHEEL BEFORE TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT CALLED CARDINALE NISSAN (LOCATED AT 1661 DEL MONTE BLVD, SEASIDE, CA 93955, (831) 322-4115) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,141.

Mileage: 137,141

20130724STRUCTURE:BODY

THIS IS MY SECOND INFINITI I30 WHICH IS THE EXACT SAME VEHICLE AS THE NISSAN MAXIMA. I CURRENTLY OWN A 1996 AND HAVE OWNED A 1997 PRIOR AND BOTH HAD RUST IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LOWER RADIATOR CORE SUPPORT. OVER THE WEEKEND I LOOKED AT A 2000 INFINITI I30 FOR A FAMILY MEMBER CONSIDERING PURCHASE AND NOTICED THE SAME PROBLEM. AFTER 3 DIFFERENT CARS ALL OF DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS I DID EXTENSIVE RESEARCH AND HAVE DISCOVERED ALL OVER THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM EFFECTING EVERY NISSAN MAXIMA AND INFINITI I30 FROM THE YEARS 1995-2000 REGARDLESS OF CLIMATE OR REGION. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN BROUGHT FORTH IN MORE OF A "VENTING" FORMAT AND MANY PEOPLE DID NOT THINK TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER DIRECTLY. THIS LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT HAS A LOWER ENGINE MOUNT BRACE THAT SCREWS IN, AND ONCE IT RUSTS COMPLETELY, WILL ALLOW THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE TO POTENTIALLY DROP OUT FROM BENEATH AND CAUSE A MAJOR AUTOMOTIVE COLLISION OR EVEN FATALITY. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $1200 TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM, H

Mileage: 184,522

20040906CrashAIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING ON A CLEAR DAY, NO WET ROAD, ETC., ON SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 4, 2004, MY 1996 INFINITI I30 MYSTERIOUSLY WENT OUT OF CONTROL, WENT INTO A SLIDE, CROSSED A TWO LANE HIGHWAY, WENT DOWN AN ENBANKMENT, FLIPPED OVER, AND CRASHED TOP-FIRST INTO A TREE; DRIVING THE ROOF INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DID EMPOLY. THE INVESTIGATING OFFICER DID NOT ISSUE A CITATION SINCE HE COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE FOR THE CAR GOING OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS CHECKED FOR SOBRIETY, ETC. AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT I WAS NOT IMPAIRED. ALL TIRES WERE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, THERE WAS NOT A TIRE BLOWOUT. THE FRONT WAS ALIGNED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO. THE TIRES WERE RECENTLY ROTATED AND BALANCED. THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME BECAUSE THE TIRE HAD A SLIGHT INDENTATION DUE TO POSSIBLY HITTING A SIDE WALK CURVE.*AK

Mileage: 110,000

20031216TIRES

DUNLOP TIRE FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET ASSISTANCE BEFORE BLOWOUT. DEALER ADVISED THAT TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD HAVE BLOWN OUT IF DRIVEN FURTHER.*AK

Mileage: 97,821

20031104VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN MAKING A SUDDEN STOP VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY JUMPS FORWARD. CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Mileage: 51,000

20030904ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEED VEHICLE STALLED AND DIED. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

20020709ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE CAN HEAR A TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM TIMING CHAIN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

20020404CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

HAD STARTED TO SLOW DOWN WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. BEFORE TAKING OFF ENGINE WAS REVVING. OWNER HAD NO CONTROL. VEHICLE HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE PARKED IN PARKING LOT. BEFORE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, VEHICLE WAS AT BODY SHOP. *AK

20010816VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20010813VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

20010426POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SWITCH UP FROM THE FIRST GEAR. *AK

20000918FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

CAR CONTINUALLY STALLS. ALTHOUGH IT DOES START RIGHT UP AGAIN, THE STALLING IS PERSISTENT. ESPECIALLY IN HOTTER WEATHER AT IDLE OR LOW SPEEDS.

20000914FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

CAR CONTINUALLY STALLS. ALTHOUGH IT DOES START RIGHT UP AGAIN, THE STALLING IS PERSISTENT. ESPECIALLY IN HOTTER WEATHER AT IDLE OR LOW SPEEDS.

19991129TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE

PASSENGER SIDE SPARE TIRE BLEW OUT ON THE ROAD. YH

19990224VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

SUN ROOF CRACKED INTO HUNDREDS OF TINY BLEMISHES THE BLEW OUT OF THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING.

19981020VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

SUN ROOF BLEW OFF OF VEHICLE, CRACKED INTO HUNDREDS OF TINY BLEMISHES.

Compare 1996INFINITII30 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 INFINITI I30 have?
The 1996 INFINITI I30 has 31 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 INFINITI I30?
The most-complained component for the 1996 INFINITI I30 is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY.
Is the 1996 INFINITI I30 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.