Total Complaints
49 filings
INFINITI M45 · model year
49 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004INFINITIM45 carries 49 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 2004 M45 is fuel system, gasoline with 23 filings, followed by engine (7) and electrical system (5). 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. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 7 investigation files overlapping the 2004 M45. 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.
Total Complaints
49 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 23 |
| ENGINE | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 5 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM | 4 |
| SEATS | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | 3 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS | 1 |
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI M45. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE ENGINE STALLED, AND ALL OF THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO PREVENT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 168,000.
Mileage: 168,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI M45. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,000.
Mileage: 171,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI M45. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V497000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,924.
Mileage: 155,924
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED SPUTTERING BEFORE STALLING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED AND MOMENTS LATER, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE FAILURE MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,191.
Mileage: 111,191
FRAME ON DRIVERS SEAT BROKEN CAUSING SEAT TO LIST TO THE LEFT SIDE. PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BY DEALER WHO INFORMED US AT THE TIME THAT IT COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AGAIN, IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT AT COST OF APPROX $1800.00. SEAT CURRENTLY NOW NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THIS IS A ONE OWNER VEHICLE AND HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE DEALERSHIP.
Mileage: 88,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE VDC, ENGINE, AND SEATBELT LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND CHANGED THE BATTERY A DAY LATER BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,523. ..UPDATED 06/28/13 *BF UPDATED 07/3/2013 *JS
Mileage: 137,523
THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON JUNE 3RD DRIVING TO WORK AND THE CAR JUST GAVE OUT. IT STALLED, LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD AND CAR DIED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT TO A SIDE STREET IN WHICH I TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN; HOWEVER, THE CAR WOULD NOT START UP. I HAD TO GET IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE. AFTER SITTING FOR THE DAY, I TRIED TO START IT UP AGAIN AND IT STARTED. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE ADVANCE AUTO NEAR MY HOME WHERE THEY PUT IT ON THE MACHINE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ALTERNATOR AND/OR BATTERY. ALTERNATOR WAS GOOD AND THE BATTERY HAD SOME DEAD CELLS BUT I WAS TOLD NOT ENOUGH FOR THE CAR TO JUST DIE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. THE NEXT DAY I INSTALLED A NEW BATTERY, THE CAR STARTED, DROVE ONTO THE INTERSTATE AND IT STALLED AGAIN (MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR) I HAD TO DRIFT TO SERVICE ROAD. I HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR OVERNIGHT, WENT BACK THIS MORNING (WEDNESDAY)AND THE CAR STARTED, I DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE INFINITI DEALER AND WAS DIAG.W/A BAD CRANK POSITION SENSOR. I HA
Mileage: 137,519
WENT TO SIT IN CAR AND HEARD A LOUD POP AS I SAT. SEAT WAS THEN SHAKY AND UNSTABLE. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED THE SEAT WAS LOOSE OR BROKEN ON THE LEFT SIDE. TOOK CAR TO INFINITI WHERE I WAS TOLD THE SEAT CAME OUT OF THE TRACK AND THE SEAT TRACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1200. *TR
Mileage: 99,500
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER AN HOUR AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY EIGHT TIMES OVER THE SPAN OF A MONTH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000...UPDATED 02-13-13 *BF UPDATED 02/14/13
Mileage: 164,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED AFTER AN HOUR AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY EIGHT TIMES OVER THE SPAN OF A MONTH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 164,000...UPDATED 02-13-13 *BF UPDATED 02/14/13
Mileage: 164,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL INDICATOR LAMP FAILED TO ILLUMINATE, INDICATING THAT THE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
Mileage: 118,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE OIL INDICATOR LAMP FAILED TO ILLUMINATE, INDICATING THAT THE OIL LEVEL WAS LOW. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 118,000.
Mileage: 118,000
THIS VEHICLE'S YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL HAS A KNOWN FUEL GAUGE ISSUE THAT NISSAN/INFINITI CHOSE TO IGNORE FOR THE LONGEST TIME. I THOUGHT I WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES BECAUSE MY CAR DIDN'T HAVE THE ISSUE BUT IT HAPPENED BACK IN SEPTEMBER OF 2011 WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. LUCKILY, IT WAS ONLY ME IN THE CAR AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE SHOULDER AND CALL MY WIFE TO BRING GAS FOR ME. *TR
Mileage: 62,000
THIS CAR HAS A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE FUEL GAUGE WHERE IT NO LONGER WORKS CORRECTLY. THIS RESULTED IN MY CAR RUNNING OUT OF FUEL AS THE INSTRUMENT WAS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY TO NOTIFY ME OF MY CORRECT FUEL AMOUNT, LEAVING ME STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. I BELIEVE THIS ISSUE IS ALREADY UNDER INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA. A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THIS AS IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. *TR
Mileage: 74,000
HELLO, I OWN A 2004 INFINITY M45 AND I WISH TO FILE A COMPLAINT. MY GAS GAUGE DOESN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY AND IT READS HALF FULL AT EMPTY WHICH CAUSED MY WIFE TO STALL OUT AT NIGHT!!!!! ON THE HIGHWAY!!!!! I THOUGHT IT MAY HAVE BEEN JUST MY CAR AT FIRST UNTIL I GOOGLED IT REALIZING THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF IDENTICAL INCIDENTS. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALSO ON READING P0461 FAULTY FUEL SENSOR. I HOPE SOMEONE CAN GET INFINITY TO FIX THIS SITUATION SEEING ITS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE...THANKS FOR YOUR TIME IN ADVANCE... *TR
Mileage: 112,000
CAR HAD NO FUEL DESPITE GAUGE READING. TRAVELING 65MPH IN LEFT LANE OF CROWDED RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON GARDEN STATE PARKWAY WITH NO LEFT SHOULDER. VERY DANGEROUS SERIES OF RIGHT LANE CHANGES AND COASTING IN NEUTRAL TO EXIT TRAFFIC. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY BUT CHALLENGING SITUATION THAT DID NOT NEED TO HAPPEN SINCE WE ALL KNOW THESE GAUGES WILL FAIL BUT NOT WHEN. ENGINE HAS ALWAYS BURNED OIL. REQUIRES A QUART AFTER 2,000 MILES TO GET TO NEXT OIL CHANGE. *TR
Mileage: 72,000
CAR HAD NO FUEL DESPITE GAUGE READING. TRAVELING 65MPH IN LEFT LANE OF CROWDED RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON GARDEN STATE PARKWAY WITH NO LEFT SHOULDER. VERY DANGEROUS SERIES OF RIGHT LANE CHANGES AND COASTING IN NEUTRAL TO EXIT TRAFFIC. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURY BUT CHALLENGING SITUATION THAT DID NOT NEED TO HAPPEN SINCE WE ALL KNOW THESE GAUGES WILL FAIL BUT NOT WHEN. ENGINE HAS ALWAYS BURNED OIL. REQUIRES A QUART AFTER 2,000 MILES TO GET TO NEXT OIL CHANGE. *TR
Mileage: 72,000
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD CAR SLOWED THEN DIED. SYSTEM READ 1/2 TANK OF GAS AND OVER 150 MILES LEFT TO REFUEL. GAS TANK WAS EMPTY. *KB
Mileage: 82,319
PURCHASED A 2004 INFINITI M45 WITH 76K IN MAY 2010. WITHIN 2 DAYS OF BUYING THE CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I HAD IT SCANNED AND IT SAID "FUEL SENDING UNIT" SO I REPLACED THAT PART AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. ABOUT 2 DAYS LATER, THE GAS TANK WAS ABOUT 1/4 TANK SHOWN, AND I WATCHED THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE MOVE FROM 1/4 TANK TO "FULL" AT THE STOP LIGHT. SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I DID A QUICK "GOOGLE" SEARCH AND FOUND MULTIPLE ONLINE FORUMS DISCUSSING THIS TOPIC AND THE REAL FAULT IS THE GAUGE CLUSTER. I CONTACTED A LOCAL INFINITI DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD "IT'S ONLY HAPPENED A FEW TIMES" BUT I HAD PAGES OF OTHER OWNERS POSTING ON THE FORUMS SAYING IT HAD HAPPENED TO THEM. THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $800 TO REPLACE THE GAUGE CLUSTER, SO I SAID "NO THANKS" AND HAD MY ORIGINAL CLUSTER REPAIRED WITH A LIFETIME WARRANTY AT BBA REMANUFACTURING AND IT HAS WORKED PERFECTLY SINCE SEPTEMBER 2010. PRIOR TO REPAIRING THE ORIGINAL ONE, I PU
Mileage: 76,000
MY FUEL GAUGE WAS SHOWING A HALF A TANK OF GAS AND I RAN OUT OF GAS STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY DO TO TIME FRAME BUT WELL WITHIN THE MILEAGE. THIS CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM AND I HAVE RUN OUT OF GAS 2 ADDITIONAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE READS FULL 99% OF THE TIME BUT WILL DROP DOWN TO ABOUT A HALF A TANK EVERY NOW AND THEN (BUT NOT OFTEN), USUALLY AS IT GETS CLOSE TO BEING EMPTY. THE DATES AND MILEAGE FOR THIS COMPLIANT ARE NOT ACTUALLY BUT ARE TO MY BEST GUESS. *TR
Mileage: 45,000
Complete loss of motive power due to engine failure
Occupant Classification System Failure
Improper Frontal Air Bag Deployment
Steering column separation
Collision Mitigation System Malfunction
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.