Model year record

2004 Infiniti M45 recalls & problems

The 2004 Infiniti M45 has 2 safety recalls and 43 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is fuel system, gasoline (23 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints43filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Fuel system, gasolineMar 6, 2012

Fuel system, gasoline

Recall 12V0880008,120 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: 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.
Risk: THE VEHICLE MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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.

Exterior lightingOct 13, 2004

Brake lights › Switch

Recall 04V49700096 vehicles

Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION.
Risk: IF THIS OCCURS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 25, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2004 Infiniti M45 4-DR. w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

M45

18mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 22 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

4.5 L · 8 cyl · Automatic (S5) · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,550/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Typical mileage*
Fuel system, gasoline	23	72,750 mi
Fuel system, otherStorage › Fuel gauge system	7	59,000 mi
Engine	7	137,523 mi
Electrical system	5	117,500 mi
Seats	3	88,000 mi
Air bagsFrontal; Side/window	2	—
Engine and engine cooling	1	—
Exterior lightingBrake lights	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Engine
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.
Oct 17, 2015 · 168,000 miles
Engine
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.
Sep 19, 2015 · 171,000 miles
Exterior lighting › Brake lights
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.
Mar 10, 2015 · 155,924 miles
Engine
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.
May 5, 2014 · 111,191 miles
Seats
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.
Sep 14, 2012 · 88,000 miles
Engine
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…
Jun 3, 2013 · 137,519 miles
Engine
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
Jun 3, 2013 · 137,523 miles
Seats
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
Jan 19, 2013 · 99,500 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

Fuel level gauge system failureClosedLed to recall 12V088000
In a March 5, 2012 letter to NHTSA, Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) submitted a Defect Information Report identifying a defect in the combination meter circuit board in approximately 8,120 model year 2003 through 2004 Infiniti M45 vehicles manufactured from March 7, 2002 through June 3, 2004 (Recall No. 12V-088). According to Nissan, heat generated by several components of the circuit board may cause solder cracks due to thermal shock.Open circuits created by the solder cracks may cause the fuel gauge to read higher than the actual amount of fuel remaining in the gas tank or always indicate full.Because of this condition, drivers may run out of fuel without notice, resulting in an engine stall without warning with no possibility of restart. The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) analyzed complaint data provided by Nissan as well as complaints submitted to ODI from consumers.In…
PE11038 · opened Dec 14, 2011 · closed Mar 22, 2012
Non-deployment of Side Thorax Air BagsClosedLed to recall 12V079000
The subject vehicles are equipped with seat-mounted, side thorax air bags for the driver and front passenger.This investigation revealed that faulty side air bag module electrical connectors located under the driver and front passenger seats can cause an interruption in the electrical circuit that will drop the input voltage below the specified range.As a result, the air bag warning lamp illuminates on the instrument panel and the affected side air bag becomes deactivated.In June 2009, Nissan conducted a service campaign to repair the defective air bag electrical connectors in the subject vehicles (both Infiniti Q45 and M45 models).In June 2010, Nissan sent a second notification concerning the 2009 campaign to owners of vehicles that have not been remedied.Nissan is now conducting a safety recall of the Q45 vehicles not remedied under the service campaign (approximately 1,349 vehicles;…
EA09005 · opened Apr 1, 2009 · closed Apr 3, 2012
SIDE AIR BAG NON-DEPLOYMENTClosed
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH SEAT-MOUNTED, SIDE TORSO AIR BAGS FOR THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS REVEALED THAT FAULTY SIDE AIR BAG MODULE CONNECTORS LOCATED UNDER THE FRONT SEATS CAN CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION IN THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT THAT WILL DROP THE INPUT VOLTAGE BELOW THE SPECIFIED RANGE.AS A RESULT, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATES AND THE AFFECTED SIDE AIR BAG IS DEACTIVATED.THE RATES OF COMPLAINTS, FIELD REPORTS AND WARRANTY CLAIMS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT ISSUE ARE VERY HIGH.FOR EXAMPLE, NISSAN SUBMITTED 4,853 WARRANTY CLAIMS ON 3,551 DISTINCT SUBJECT VEHICLES OUT OF 13,836 TOTAL SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALSO, ANALYSES OF WARRANTY CLAIMS INDICATE AN INCREASING FAILURE TREND OVER TIME.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA09-005) TO FURTHER STUDY THE ISSUE.
PE08067 · opened Dec 2, 2008 · closed Apr 1, 2009