VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Infiniti Q451992–2006
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Infiniti Q45
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Infiniti Q45 Years to Avoid
0 recalls · 14 complaints
Top issue: AIR BAGS
0 recalls · 13 complaints
Top issue: ENGINE
1 recall · 5 complaints
Top issue: STEERING
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 3 past investigations into the Q45 became recalls.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of September 15, 2026.
Infiniti Q45 — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Excellent |
| 2005 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2004 | 1 | 5 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2003 | 0 | 13 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2002 | 0 | 14 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2001 | 0 | 3 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Excellent |
| 2000 | 0 | 7 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 1999 | 0 | 7 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 1998 | 1 | 5 | 2 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 1997 | 1 | 5 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 1996 | 0 | 5 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 1995 | 0 | 7 | 1 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 1994 | 0 | 15 | 2 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 1993 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 1992 | 1 | 21 | 5 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Infiniti Q45 Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the Q45 compares — best year within each era shown.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Q45 to buy?+
The 2000 Infiniti Q45 scores highest on our Buyer Score (51/100) — combining a reliability score of 57/100 with a value score of 39/100. It has 0 recalls and 7 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which Q45 years have the most problems?+
The 2002, 2003, 2004 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2002 Q45 leads with 0 recalls and 14 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common Q45 problems?+
The most frequently reported Infiniti Q45 issues involve: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, STEERING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, TIRES. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.