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1998 Infiniti Q45 Recalls & Complaints

3

open safety recalls on record

Moderate

16 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 2.69 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Moderate02V171000

Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator

IF THE COMBUSTIBLE GAS EMITTED BY THE MELTING PLASTIC DOES NOT DISPERSE DUE TO AIR FLOW THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, IT COULD IGNITE AND IN TURN IGNITE THE FAN GUIDE IN THE ALTERNATOR.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 29, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, ONE OF THE DIODES USED IN THE ALTERNATOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED WHEN BUILT. THIS CAN EVENTUALLY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE DIODE AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH COULD MELT THE PLASTIC HOUSING.

Moderate99V129000

Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator

IF THE COMBUSTIBLE GAS EMITTED BY THE MELTING PLASTIC DOES NOT DISPERSE DUE TO AIR FLOW THROUGH THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, IT COULD IGNITE AND IN TURN IGNITE THE FAN GUIDE IN THE ALTERNATOR.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. ONE OF THE DIODES USED IN THE ALTERNATOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED WHEN BUILT. THIS CAN EVENTUALLY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE DIODE AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH COULD MELT THE PLASTIC HOUSING.

Moderate98V325000

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

IF THIS OCCURRED AND THE DRIVER FAILED TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER TO 'PARK' OR ENGAGE THE PARKING BRAKE, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY IF PARKED ON A SLOPE.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SHIFT LOCK CONTROL UNIT.

VEHICLE DESRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE IGNITION KEY CAN BE REMOVED WHEN THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF WITHOUT PLACING THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER IN THE "PARK" POSITION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION BRAKING EFFECT."

Complaint volume

16 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

4Crashes
1Fires
8Injuries
0Deaths

Across 16 complaints. Severity Index 2.69.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Air Bags · Frontal3 · 19%Air Bags2 · 13%Suspension1 · 6%Vehicle Speed Control · A…1 · 6%Service Brakes, Hydraulic…1 · 6%Service Brakes, Hydraulic…1 · 6%Air Bags · Side/Window1 · 6%Electrical System · Wirin…1 · 6%
  1. Air Bags:Frontal — 3 reports
  2. Air Bags — 2 reports
  3. Suspension — 1 reports
  4. Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal — 1 reports
  5. Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components — 1 reports
  6. Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum — 1 reports
  7. Air Bags:Side/Window — 1 reports
  8. Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood — 1 reports
  9. Electrical System:Ignition — 1 reports
  10. Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator — 1 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1995 · 1996 · 1997 (3) · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 (1) · 2001 (1) · 2002 (1) · 2003 (1) · 2004 (2) · 2005 (3)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.

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