Model year record

2003 Infiniti QX4 recalls & problems

The 2003 Infiniti QX4 has 4 safety recalls and 20 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is suspension (9 complaints).

Recalls4safety recalls

Complaints20filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths4 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Air bagsAug 9, 2022

Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Recall 22E066000375 vehicles

Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that may have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair. The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti 2002-2003 QX4, 2006-2010 M35 and M45; Nissan 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, and both driver and passenger-side inflators designed to fit 2007-2012 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback vehicles. Please see Nissan's recall report for the specific part numbers. These replacement inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the inflators as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 14, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.

Components: Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module; Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

Air bagsJan 9, 2020

Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Recall 20V008000307,962 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.

Air bagsMay 15, 2015

Air bags

Recall 15V2870001,090,569 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed NHTSA of an amendment of this recall to remove 2004-2005 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 vehicles.

SuspensionApr 20, 2011

Front

Recall 11V244000195,991 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1996-2004 PATHFINDER AND MODEL YEAR 1997-2003 INFINITI QX4 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD, OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. IN AREAS OF THE COUNTRY IN WHICH HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT ARE USED, A MIXTURE OF SNOW/WATER AND SALT MAY ENTER AN ASSEMBLY LOCATION HOLE IN THE UPPER STRUT HOUSING, CAUSING WATER TO COLLECT AT THE MATING SURFACE OF THE STRUT HOUSING PANEL AND THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. OVER TIME, THIS SNOW/WATER AND SALT INTRUSION MAY RESULT IN CORROSION OF THE STRUT TOWER HOUSING IN SOME SUBJECT VEHICLES.
Risk: THE STRUT HOUSING MAY CRACK AND PULL AWAY FROM THE INNER HOOD LEDGE ASSEMBLY. THIS MAY LEAD TO GRINDING NOISES, INCREASED STEERING EFFORT, AND POSSIBLY THE STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: NISSAN WILL INSPECT THE STRUT HOUSING AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES AS NECESSARY, FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS SENT OUT IN MAY 2011. THE SECOND NOTICE WAS MAILED ON JULY 25, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.

Components: Suspension › Front; Steering › Column

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

2003 Infiniti QX4 4-DR. w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	★★★★★

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

QX4 2WD

16mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $4,200/year to fuel

QX4 4WD

15mpg combined

City / highway	14 / 18 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

3.5 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,450/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	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
SuspensionFront; Front › Macpherson strut	9	0	0	139,500 mi
StructureBody; Frame and members	6	0	0	143,025 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicAntilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	3	1	0	—
Steering	2	1	4	—
VisibilityPower window devices and controls	1	0	0	—
Power trainAxle assembly	1	0	0	—
Fuel/propulsion system	1	0	0	—
Engine	1	0	0	—
Air bags	1	0	0	—

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

Recent owner complaints

Air bags
I KEEP GETTING NOTICES ABOUT THIS AIRBAG RECALL, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS DONATED TO HUDSON HIGH SCHOOL AND BROKEN DOWN FOR PARTS. THIS VEHICLE HASN'T BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR OVER 3 YEARS. PLEASE TAKE THIS OFF THE RECALL LIST.
Jun 1, 2016
Structure › Body
BOUGHT A USED CAR FROM A USED CAR DEALER WITH 1 PREVIOUS OWNER. IN 2011 A RECALL WAS SUPPOSEDLY DONE BY INDICATING "INSPECTED!" WHY WASN'T THE PARTS REPLACED?
May 21, 2018 · 204,000 miles
Suspension › Front › Macpherson strut
2003 INFINITI QX4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE FRONT STRUT TOWER SEVERE RUSTS AND CRACKS RECALL ISSUES. *SMD *TR
Nov 16, 2016
Structure › Body
THIS CONCERN IS INVOLVING THE R1109 RECALL ISSUED BY INFINITI. THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED SIX YEARS AGO, HOWEVER RUST, AND HOLES IN THE METAL ARE NOW VISIBLE. I WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE THE RECALL WAS ALREADY PERFORMED, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO ASSIST ME. THIS VEHICLE WILL SOON BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
Mar 19, 2018 · 188,000 miles
Suspension
THE CONTROL ARM IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AS THE PATHFINDERS THAT THEY RECALLED AND IS DOING EXACTLY AS THEY HAVE DONE...BUT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE INFINITI I WAS WONDERING WHY THOSE AND NOT THE INFINITI AS WE LIVE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND THE SALT DOES THE SAME ON THIS CAR NOW WE HAVE THE DEATH WOMBLE ON THIS CAR
Feb 2, 2017 · 200,000 miles
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI QX4. WHILE DRIVING OVER 45 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE CRADLE WAS CRACKED DUE TO RUSTING AND CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Mar 15, 2016 · 200,000 miles
Fuel/propulsion system
FUEL FILLER NECK HAS CORRODED CAUSING GAS TO LEAK ON TO TIRE AND BRAKES WHILE FILLING GAS TANK. RECALL OF PREVIOUS MODEL. *JS
Nov 26, 2014 · 95,000 miles
Structure › Body
RUNNING BOARDS ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED, THEY WILL EITHER FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR AN UNSUSPECTING PERSON COULD BE RELYING ON THEM TO ENTER THE SUV AND HURT THEM SELVES. THE SUV WAS WELL TAKEN CARE OF, 1 OWNER, AND THE FRAME RAILS AND CHASSIS ARE CONSIDERABLY RUST FREE. HOW COME THESE ARE IN SUCH BAD CONDITION? WHY DON'T INFINITI HAVE REPLACEMENTS FOR THEM ALONE AND NOT THE WHOLE RUNNING BOARD FOR OVER $1300 PER SIDE! THAT'S INSANE AND NO ONE IS GOING TO PAY THAT FOR A 11+ YEAR OLD SUV! *TR
Aug 30, 2014 · 98,050 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

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureOpen
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled…
EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021
Frame/Body Structure CorrosionClosedLed to recall 11V244000
In their Defect Information Report (DIR) of April 20, 2011, Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) notified NHTSA that it would conduct a safety recall of certain 1996-2004 Nissan Pathfinder and 1997-2003 Infinity QX4 vehicles to repair corrosion damage to the driver's side front strut tower.The vehicles included in the recall are those that were originally sold, or are currently registered in salt belt states including Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.The DIR states in part, ...the strut housing may crack and pull away from the inner hood ledge assembly.This could lead to the strut housing panel separating and contacting the steering column lower shaft.Contact with the steering…
PE11004 · opened Jan 28, 2011 · closed Jun 30, 2011