Most common 2004 Infiniti M45 problems
Share of the 43 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Infiniti M45 complaints by model year
Best M45 years: 2010, 2009, 2008. Years to avoid: 2003, 2006, 2004. Compare all years →
2004 Infiniti M45 recalls (2)
Fuel system, gasoline
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.
Remedy: 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 lighting › Brake lights › Switch
On certain passenger vehicles, the brake lamp switch May malfunction.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake lamp switch. The recall began on October 25, 2004. Owners should contact Infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2004 Infiniti M45:
Fuel level gauge system failure
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).
Side air bag non-deployment
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…
Non-deployment of Side Thorax Air Bags
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…
What 2004 Infiniti M45 owners say
Fuel & propulsion system all 29 →
This complaint relates to a 2004 infinity M45. In the spring of 2010, I noticed that the fuel gauge was showing nearly a full tank of gas, but it had been a long period of time before I had put gas in the tank. When I filled up the tank, I realized that the tank was nearly empty. Since that time, the fuel gauge has not worked. Shortly after that time the "check engine" light illuminated. I've taken the vehicle to the dealership several times. They have replaced several sensors. Finally, they concluded that the instrument cluster is bad and needs to be replaced, a costly repair. Running out of fuel on a busy interstate is a danger, and something that must be fixed. Moreover, the vehicle will not pass state inspection with an illuminated "check engine" light. …
This car died on me on the highway when the fuel gauge said that I had a 3/4 tank of gas remaining. The car started sputtering like it had run out of gas so we added gas and it started right up. I drove it to a local Infiniti dealership right away. They diagnosed the problem as in instrument cluster, which shocked me as I have never heard of an instrument cluster being responsible for a car running out of gas. I searched some online forums only to discover that there were hundreds of other people who had the same problem. Had the fuel sending unit or furl pump went out, that would be understandable, but the instrument cluster going bad could have been very dangerous. Since the cluster controls mileage and all the warning lights such as check engine lights, this was very scary. …
Engine & cooling
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.
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.
Electrical system
Purchased a 2004 Infiniti M45 with 76K in May 2010. Within 2 days of buying the car the check engine light came on. I had it scanned and it said "fuel sending unit" so I replaced that part and the light went off. About 2 days later, the gas tank was about 1/4 tank shown, and I watched the fuel gauge needle move from 1/4 tank to "full" at the stop light. Shortly thereafter the check engine light came back on. I did a quick "google" search and found multiple online forums discussing this topic and the real fault is the gauge cluster. I contacted a local Infiniti dealer and asked about the problem and was told "it's only happened a few times" but I had pages of other owners posting on the forums saying it had happened to them. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Infiniti M45. The contact stated that while at a complete stop, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle restarted after an hour and was able to be driven to the dealer where the failure could not be replicated. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact also stated that the failure recurred approximately eight times over the span of a month. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 164,000...updated 02-13-13 updated 02/14/13
2004 Infiniti M45 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 22 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Infiniti M45 a good car?
Based on 43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 M45 rates avoid: 3.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the M45 at the same age. It is one of the M45 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Infiniti M45?
The fuel & propulsion system — 29 complaints, 67% of all complaints for this model year, most often about storage › fuel gauge system. Next are the engine & cooling (8) and electrical system (5).
How many recalls does the 2004 Infiniti M45 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2004 Infiniti M45, the most recent from March 6, 2012 (fuel system, gasoline). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Infiniti M45?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2010, 2009 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003, 2006 and 2004. See the full Infiniti M45 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Infiniti M45 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 84,000 miles; 12% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.