KnownCarProblems2003 Infiniti FX45 Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Infiniti FX45, most often about the lights (20% of complaints). It is the most complained-about FX45 model year since 2000 and has 9 recalls.
Most common 2003 Infiniti FX45 problems
Lights
5 complaints · 20%Parts named most often: headlights.
The contact owns a 2003 Infiniti FX45. The contact stated that during inclement weather, the drivers side headlights would fail. In addition, the contact stated that there was a crack on the front passenger side dashboard near the air bag. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of…
Air bags
5 complaints · 20%Vehicle experienced a minor grazing impact on both right side doors (in the middle of an intersection), which deployed the right side airbags and also the airbag inside the front passenger leather seat. After the accident, the window glass didn't break, the doors opened and closed normally. The safety issue is that…
Transmission
4 complaints · 16%Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.
Owner was driving at approximately 50 MPH and suddenly the driveshaft fell out from under the vehicle. Owner was able to get to the side of the road, and had the vehicle towed to the dealership. Currently this year, make, and model was being recalled for this defect however, this vehicle was not included due to VIN.
The child was able to move the gear from park without the consumer being present to step on the brakes or without the key being in the vehicle. The manufacture states the vehicle is designed as such.
Fuel system
4 complaints · 16%Parts named most often: carburetor system.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Infiniti FX45. The contact stated the fuel tank sensor sending unit failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated they had to repair two sending units which was not under recall or warranty. The contact had to pay for labor and parts. The manufacturer stated there was no recall and…
Body and structure
4 complaints · 16%Parts named most often: body.
I own a 2003 infinity FX45 AWD. About june 2007 the steering wheel started to peel and breakdown and become sticky. So I put a wheel cover. Problem covered up. Thought nothing of it until about a month ago I noticed a crack on the dash in the corner by the speaker in the center of the dash. Then the next time I…
The contact owns a 2003 Infiniti FX45. The contact stated that there were cracks in the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to the dealer nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 113,000.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Infiniti FX45 recalls
Air bags: inflator module
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began december 21, 2017. All owners should receive a second notice by may 15, 2017. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 infiniti fx35 and fx45, 2003-2004 infiniti i35, 2006-2010 infiniti m35 and m45, and 2007-2011 nissan versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless included in "zone a" above, nissan is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 infiniti fx35 and fx45, 2003-2004 infiniti i35, 2006-2008 infiniti m35 and m45, and 2007-2008 nissan versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tenn
Air bags
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengerâs 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 16, 2015. Owners may contact nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: this recall supersedes recall 14v-701.
Full defect summary
Nissan north america, inc. (nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 infiniti i35, 2003-2005 fx35 and fx45, and 2006 m35 and m45 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in florida, hawaii, puerto rico, the u.s. Virgin islands, saipan, guam, and american samoa, as well as alabama, mississippi, louisiana, texas, and georgia, are included. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Lights: headlights
Risk: This standard is to reduce traffic accidents and deaths and injuries resulting from traffic accidents, by providing adequate illumination of the roadway, and by enhancing the conspicuity of motor vehicles on the public roads so that their presence is perceived and their signals understood, both in daylight and in darkness or other conditions of reduced visibility.
Fix: Dealers will replace the headlamp assemblies. The recall began on december 18, 2006. Owners may contact infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.
Full defect summary
During a canadian compliance test, certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, 'lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.' the headlamp assemblies do not meet the headlamp photometric values requirements of the standard.
Lights: exterior lighting
Risk: This standard is to reduce traffic accidents and deaths and injuries resulting from traffic accidents, by providing adequate illumination of the roadway, and by enhancing the conspicuity of motor vehicles on the public roads so that their presence is perceived and their signals understood, both in daylight and in darkness or other conditions of reduced visibility.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear combination lamp assemblies. The recall began on december 18, 2006. Owners may contact infiniti at at 1-800-662-6200.
Full defect summary
During a canadian compliance test, certain sport utility vehicles failed to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, 'lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.' a rear combination lamp assembly did not meet the requirements.
Fuel system: fuel system, gasoline
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel filler hose. Recall began on february 27, 2006, for nissan owners, and on march 13, 2006, for infiniti owners. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261 or infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, the fuel filler hose may crack and result in fuel leakage from the hose while refueling.
Brakes: caliper
Risk: If this occurs, it would allow the caliper to rotate or separate from its mounting bracket. This could cause the brake to fail, reducing the vehicle's ability to stop. It could also damage the wheel, causing the tire to go flat. Either one of these conditions could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will tighten the front brake caliper mounting bolts to ensure that they are secure. Owner notification began on january 5, 2004. Owners should contact infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.
Full defect summary
On certain sport utility vehicles, the front brake caliper mounting bolts may not be adequately tightened. This could result in one or both of the caliper mounting bolts loosening.
Transmission: automatic transmission
Risk: If the bolts come loose, the propeller shaft may come off the vehicle which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the propeller shaft bolts and tighten the bolts to the proper specification. Owner notification began may 27, 2003. 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 infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.
Full defect summary
On certain sport utility vehicles, the bolts which attach the propeller shaft(s) to the transaxle and differential(s) may not have been adequately tightened.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
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 substa
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe14-016 in june 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.all six vehicles were operated in florida or puerto rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.during the course of pe14-016, odi determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.nonetheless, at odi's in
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe14-016 in june 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.all six vehicles were operated in florida or puerto rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.during the course of pe14-016, odi determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.nonetheless, at odi's in
Questions about the 2003 Infiniti FX45
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Infiniti FX45?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: lights (5 complaints); air bags (5 complaints); transmission (4 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Infiniti FX45 have?
- 9 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from January 9, 2020 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Infiniti FX45?
- It is the most complained-about FX45 model year since 2000, with 25 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.
Other Infiniti FX45 years
- 2003