INFINITI I30 · model year

1997 INFINITI I30

28 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1997INFINITII30 carries 28 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 1 fire, 5 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 1997 I30 is electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator with 5 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (3) and unknown or other (3). 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 1997 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.

28
Complaints
5
Crashes
1
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

28 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS1
EQUIPMENT1
TIRES1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL1
POWER TRAIN1

Recent Complaints

20160211FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 INFINITI I30. WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE, THE BRACKET THAT HELD THE FUEL FILLER NECK BECAME CORRODED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL SPILLED OUT AFTER FUELING THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRACKET AND THE FUEL FILLER NECK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

Mileage: 130,000

20111012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

THE CAR STALLED, NEEDED TOWING TO FIRESTONE IN ELGIN. THEY SAY IT'S ALTERNATOR. THIS WILL BE THIRD CHANGE OF THE ALTERNATOR FOR THIS VEHICLE IN 4 YEARS PERIOD. BATTERY HAS BEEN CHANGED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, WHEN THE CAR STALLED PREVIOUSLY. YESTERDAY I CALLED INFINITI, GOT A BIT OF A RUN AROUND BY THEM TELLING ME TO CALL NISSAN, WHO TOLD ME TO CALL INFINITI. INFINITI TOLD ME MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN HELP ME WITH. *KB

20111012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE CAR STALLED, NEEDED TOWING TO FIRESTONE IN ELGIN. THEY SAY IT'S ALTERNATOR. THIS WILL BE THIRD CHANGE OF THE ALTERNATOR FOR THIS VEHICLE IN 4 YEARS PERIOD. BATTERY HAS BEEN CHANGED ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, WHEN THE CAR STALLED PREVIOUSLY. YESTERDAY I CALLED INFINITI, GOT A BIT OF A RUN AROUND BY THEM TELLING ME TO CALL NISSAN, WHO TOLD ME TO CALL INFINITI. INFINITI TOLD ME MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN HELP ME WITH. *KB

20110913FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 INFINITI I30. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. AFTER DRIVING ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FUMES BEGAN TO COME FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY THE DEALER NOR HAD IT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000.

Mileage: 96,000

20080803ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I HAVE A 1997 INFINITI I30 THAT WAS PURCHASED OCT 2006 WITH APPRX 94,000 NOW HAS 105,000. CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON FROM MONTH 2 ON, I HAVE SPENT OVER $2000 IN REPAIRS. I HAVE EVEN TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL INFINITI DEALERSHIP AND THEM NOR ANYONE ELSE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED 2 STARTERS, ALTERNATOR, IGNITION SWITCH, 2 IGNITION COILS, CAM SHAFT ANGLE SENSOR, CRANK SHAFT ANGLE SENSOR, 3 SETS OF SPARK PLUGS,VALVE COVER GASKETS, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTERS, MAJOR FRONT AND BACK WHEEL COMPUTERIZED ALIGNMENT, TRANSMISSION FILTER AND OIL. CAR SPITS AND SPUTTERS ACTING LIKE ITS RUNNING OUT OF GAS. IT DIES WHEN AT A LIGHT, IN GEAR, REVERSE, TAKES A TURN....PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME, INFINITI DEALER SAYS ONLY THING WRONG IS A SHUTTER SENSOR WHICH WAS TOLD THAT WOULD NOT AFFECT THE DRIVING. I AM CURRENTLY AT A LOSS FOR WHAT I SHOULD DO TO HAVE MY CAR REPLACED, I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN AND ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND HAVE A VERY LIMITED INCOME BUT NEED MY CAR FIXED.

20080803POWER TRAIN

I HAVE A 1997 INFINITI I30 THAT WAS PURCHASED OCT 2006 WITH APPRX 94,000 NOW HAS 105,000. CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON FROM MONTH 2 ON, I HAVE SPENT OVER $2000 IN REPAIRS. I HAVE EVEN TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL INFINITI DEALERSHIP AND THEM NOR ANYONE ELSE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED 2 STARTERS, ALTERNATOR, IGNITION SWITCH, 2 IGNITION COILS, CAM SHAFT ANGLE SENSOR, CRANK SHAFT ANGLE SENSOR, 3 SETS OF SPARK PLUGS,VALVE COVER GASKETS, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTERS, MAJOR FRONT AND BACK WHEEL COMPUTERIZED ALIGNMENT, TRANSMISSION FILTER AND OIL. CAR SPITS AND SPUTTERS ACTING LIKE ITS RUNNING OUT OF GAS. IT DIES WHEN AT A LIGHT, IN GEAR, REVERSE, TAKES A TURN....PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME, INFINITI DEALER SAYS ONLY THING WRONG IS A SHUTTER SENSOR WHICH WAS TOLD THAT WOULD NOT AFFECT THE DRIVING. I AM CURRENTLY AT A LOSS FOR WHAT I SHOULD DO TO HAVE MY CAR REPLACED, I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN AND ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND HAVE A VERY LIMITED INCOME BUT NEED MY CAR FIXED.

20080803FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

I HAVE A 1997 INFINITI I30 THAT WAS PURCHASED OCT 2006 WITH APPRX 94,000 NOW HAS 105,000. CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON FROM MONTH 2 ON, I HAVE SPENT OVER $2000 IN REPAIRS. I HAVE EVEN TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL INFINITI DEALERSHIP AND THEM NOR ANYONE ELSE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED 2 STARTERS, ALTERNATOR, IGNITION SWITCH, 2 IGNITION COILS, CAM SHAFT ANGLE SENSOR, CRANK SHAFT ANGLE SENSOR, 3 SETS OF SPARK PLUGS,VALVE COVER GASKETS, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTERS, MAJOR FRONT AND BACK WHEEL COMPUTERIZED ALIGNMENT, TRANSMISSION FILTER AND OIL. CAR SPITS AND SPUTTERS ACTING LIKE ITS RUNNING OUT OF GAS. IT DIES WHEN AT A LIGHT, IN GEAR, REVERSE, TAKES A TURN....PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME, INFINITI DEALER SAYS ONLY THING WRONG IS A SHUTTER SENSOR WHICH WAS TOLD THAT WOULD NOT AFFECT THE DRIVING. I AM CURRENTLY AT A LOSS FOR WHAT I SHOULD DO TO HAVE MY CAR REPLACED, I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN AND ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND HAVE A VERY LIMITED INCOME BUT NEED MY CAR FIXED.

20080803ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE A 1997 INFINITI I30 THAT WAS PURCHASED OCT 2006 WITH APPRX 94,000 NOW HAS 105,000. CAR HAS BEEN A LEMON FROM MONTH 2 ON, I HAVE SPENT OVER $2000 IN REPAIRS. I HAVE EVEN TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL INFINITI DEALERSHIP AND THEM NOR ANYONE ELSE CAN FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED 2 STARTERS, ALTERNATOR, IGNITION SWITCH, 2 IGNITION COILS, CAM SHAFT ANGLE SENSOR, CRANK SHAFT ANGLE SENSOR, 3 SETS OF SPARK PLUGS,VALVE COVER GASKETS, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTERS, MAJOR FRONT AND BACK WHEEL COMPUTERIZED ALIGNMENT, TRANSMISSION FILTER AND OIL. CAR SPITS AND SPUTTERS ACTING LIKE ITS RUNNING OUT OF GAS. IT DIES WHEN AT A LIGHT, IN GEAR, REVERSE, TAKES A TURN....PRETTY MUCH ALL THE TIME, INFINITI DEALER SAYS ONLY THING WRONG IS A SHUTTER SENSOR WHICH WAS TOLD THAT WOULD NOT AFFECT THE DRIVING. I AM CURRENTLY AT A LOSS FOR WHAT I SHOULD DO TO HAVE MY CAR REPLACED, I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN AND ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND HAVE A VERY LIMITED INCOME BUT NEED MY CAR FIXED.

20071220CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 INFINITI I30. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE WET AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AS OF DECEMBER 20, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER BODY. UPDATED 01/24/08. *LJ UPDATED

Mileage: 218,000

20070523CrashTIRES

ON FEBURARY 20,2007 MY MOM'S LEFTT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO RAM THE GUARD RAIL AND THE REAR TIRE TO BLOW OUT, PUSHING THE CAR UP AN EMBANKMENT. SHE WAS TAKEN TO MILITARY HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT.*AK

20050821ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

MY 1997 INFINITI I-30 WAS HAVING A HARD TIME STARTING AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR DIED ONE WEEKEND AND WOULD NOT START. I SPENT SOME TIME ON IT AND GOT THE CAR STARTED AND DROVE IT DOWN TO O'NEIL AUTO PARTS AND THEY PUT THEIR STARTING SYSTEM ANALYSIS MACHINE ON THE STARTING SYSTEM...THEIR RESULTS WERE THAT THE CAR BATTERY WAS OK AND THE CAR STARTER WAS OK BUT THE CAR ALTERNATOR WAS PUTTING OUT 34 AMPS. INSTEAD OF THE PRESCRIBED 129 AMPS. I HAD CALLED INFINITI MOTOR CORP. EARLIER AND INFINITI STATED TO ME THAT MY CAR INFINITI I-30 VIN #[XXX] MANUFACTURED IN 3/97 WAS NOT COVERED BY THE CURRENT ALTERNATOR RECALL. ALTHOUGH I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET IN NISSANNEWS.COM THAT THE MECHANICALLY EQUIVALENT NISSAN MAXIMA BULIT DURING THE PERIOD OF 3/97 IS COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. WHICH I FIND ODD BECAUSE BOTH OF THESE MODELS WERE LIKELY BUILT ON THE SAME PRODUCTION LINE. ALSO, ON THE VEHICLES WHICH ARE BEING HANDLED UNDER THE ALTERNATOR RECALL NISSAN CORP. IS BEING DIFFICULT AND REQUIRING I TAKE MY

Mileage: 89,197

20040713SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

REAR BRAKE HUM AT LOW SPEED, MAINLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM FULL STOP. BOTH REAR ROTORS REPLACED AND PADS REPLACED, STILL OCCURS. OCCASIONAL GRINDING FROM DRIVER'S REAR BRAKE - MECHANIC CANNOT SOLVE PROBLEM DESPITE FREQUENT BRAKE PART REPLACEMENTS. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM EITHER. *LA

Mileage: 105,000

20040713SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

REAR BRAKE HUM AT LOW SPEED, MAINLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM FULL STOP. BOTH REAR ROTORS REPLACED AND PADS REPLACED, STILL OCCURS. OCCASIONAL GRINDING FROM DRIVER'S REAR BRAKE - MECHANIC CANNOT SOLVE PROBLEM DESPITE FREQUENT BRAKE PART REPLACEMENTS. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM EITHER. *LA

Mileage: 105,000

20040713EQUIPMENT

REAR BRAKE HUM AT LOW SPEED, MAINLY WHEN ACCELERATING FROM FULL STOP. BOTH REAR ROTORS REPLACED AND PADS REPLACED, STILL OCCURS. OCCASIONAL GRINDING FROM DRIVER'S REAR BRAKE - MECHANIC CANNOT SOLVE PROBLEM DESPITE FREQUENT BRAKE PART REPLACEMENTS. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM EITHER. *LA

Mileage: 105,000

20040603ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

THE ALTERNATOR HAS PRODUCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE VIN NUMBER IS OUTSIDE OF THE REMEDY SCOPE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

Mileage: 67,000

20030806ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL ON THE ALTERNATOR. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. RECALL NUMBER UNKNOWN.*AK

20030804ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT WITH ITS ALTERNATOR AS STATED IN RECALL 02 V 171 000. BUT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK *SC *JB

Mileage: 90,000

20030616UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE CHROME "PLATED" (THEY ARE REALLY PLASTIC COVERS) INSIDE DOOR HANDLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS PREMATURELY WORN OFF, LEAVING EXTREMELY SHARP SHARDS ON THE INSIDE OF THE HANDLE. WHEN AN UNSUSPECTING PASSENGER OPENS THE DOOR WITHOUT CAUTION, A SEVERE LACERATION OF THE HAND CAM OCCUR. VERY DANGEROUS, THIS HAS HAPPENED IN MY I30 ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS IN SPITE OF MY WARNINGS TO PASSENGERS. *NLM

Mileage: 60,000

20020416SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

TOOK THE BRAKE ROTORS TO BE CUT, THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT THE ROTORS WERE CRACKED.

20010328ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHEN THE SENSORS FAIL, THE CAR SHUTS OFF! THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, I WAS ON A FREEWAY INTERCHANGE IN THE POURING DOWN RAIN, AND I LOST ALL ENGINE POWER. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT ANYONE HITTING ME. THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED,IT WAS ON THE 15 OF MARCH, JUST OVER A WEEK LATER. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE NIGHT BEFORE AND I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER, PEYTON CRAMER INFINITI ( THEY ALSO DID THE FIRST REPAIR). I WAS INSTRUCTED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY NOTHING, BUT TO BRING IT IN WHEN I HAD A CHANCE. I TOOK THE CAR IN THE NEXT MORNING. THEY CHECKED IT OUT AND ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS JUST SOME SORT OF SENSOR ERROR. LATER THAT DAY, THE CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. THIS TIME, THERE WAS NO SHOULDER. I SAT THERE IN A LANE OF TRAFFIC, DEAD IN THE WATER! I STILL DO NOT HAVE MY CAR BACK. EVERYTHING IS COVERED UNDER WARRENTY FOR NOW. MY WARRENTY EXPIRES AT THE END OF MARCH. THE ISSUE AS OF YET IS NOT MONEY, IT IS SAFETY. BOTH TIMES THAT MY CAR FAILED, I

Compare 1997INFINITII30 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1997 INFINITI I30 have?
The 1997 INFINITI I30 has 28 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 1 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1997 INFINITI I30?
The most-complained component for the 1997 INFINITI I30 is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 1997 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.