Most common 2002 Infiniti Q45 problems
Share of the 20 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Infiniti Q45 complaints by model year
Best Q45 years: 2003, 2005, 2001. Years to avoid: 2002. Compare all years →
2002 Infiniti Q45 recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling
On certain passenger vehicles, the circuit board for the crank position sensor or cam position sensor May have an improper solder joint due to solder deformation caused by heat stress accelerated by the existence of flux residue during the soldering process.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. Camshaft position sensor(s), and in some cases, the variable timing control sensor(s).
What 2002 Infiniti Q45 owners say
Wheels & tires
I had a problem with my car, with the tires constantly leaking. I had to fill them with air all the time, had them checked a number of times, and had to have the rims cleaned and reground, etc., trying to determine and solve the problem. After incredible aggravation, we finally tracked the problem down to cracks in the valve stems. The valve stems contained the air pressure sensors and were expensive to replace, parts were as much as $135 or so each, plus labor, which could be $200 or more, and then all the tire pressure sensors had to be re-set - I think the term was recalibrated or something, which most places didn't have equipment to do or couldn't do correctly, and I always ended up having to go to a dealership. At least they sometimes didn't charge as much as they could, as I was a captive; if they didn't do it, none of the sensors would work. …
Right rear tire suddenly began to lose pressure, as much as 5 psi in one mile of freeway driving. I kept stopping to air up tire, confirming low pressure with accurate bourdon tube-type gauge. After four stops to air up, problem quit. When I reached destination city, set up service appt. With local Infiniti dealer. After four days of a long weekend, including slow-speed and freeway driving of over 200 miles, pressure loss had quit. Cancelled dealer appointment. Three months later, problem occurred again. Had tire checked at ntb, no leaks found. Tire dismounted, checked on inside, no defects or punctures or blisters found, wheel in good shape, tire remounted. One month later, problem occurred again, this time losing 10 psi in two miles of freeway driving. Aired up. Lost 5 psi. Changed to spare. Dealer mounted new tire. Pressure dropped two days later. …
Engine & cooling
In March 2008 my 2002 Infiniti Q45 would not start, had it towed from fayetteville, nc to Infiniti dealer in raleigh, nc. They r/r starter assy to resolve issue at no charge, old part not available. On 5/15/08 my car would not start, had it towed from fayetteville to Infiniti dealer in raleigh. They r/r starter assy to resolve issue at no charge, old part not available. On 7/26/08 car would not start again. Had it towed from fayetteville to Infiniti dealer in raleigh. They said motor burned out due to ignition switch malfunction & r/r starter assy & ignition switch to resolve & charged $1,205.54. I asked about recall I found on NHTSA website regarding engine & engine cooling because it stated this could cause a no start condition. They did not acknowledge this recall and that's why they charged me. …
1 - there is up to a two second delay when quick acceleration is required. At times it feels as if the engine completely stalled. 2 - the vehicle often will not downshift to slow the vehicle on a hill. I could be in 5th gear at around only 1800 RPM, and when I downshift twice, it will not go to 3rd. I often have to downshift up to 6 times for it to respond and switch to third. I need to take my eyes off the road to constantly check if I'm in the gear I select. 3 - the parking/emergency break will not hold the fully loaded vehicle on a hill. If the transmission in park fails, the vehicle will roll. All issues are considered to be normal by the manufacturer. They corrected the problem on their new 2005 version and refuse to do so on my vehicle.
Lights
Have had 3 HID headlight actuator/ballast failures, leading to inoperative lamps (two left side, one right side). The ballast is a high-voltage transformer that drives the discharge lamps. Occurrences at 24K, 95K, and 105K miles. Car only has 110K. First failure replaced under warranty. Last two repairs almost $1,000 ea for parts and labor (must remove entire front fascia of car to reach ballast units). The part appears to be serially defective, with the obvious safety hazard of having only one working light until time and money for repair are found. Calculated mean time between failure seems to be one thousand operating hours or less.
Vehicle unsafe to drive at night due to the short distance that the headlights illuminate. The consumer requested that the dealer adjust the headlights but was told that they could not be adjusted. The consumer contacted the manufacturer who indicated that the car meets government specifications which were enforced at the time of production.
2002 Infiniti Q45 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.5L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Infiniti Q45 a good car?
Based on 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Q45 rates use caution: 1.9× as many complaints as a typical year of the Q45 at the same age. It is one of the Q45 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 2002 Infiniti Q45?
The wheels & tires — 4 complaints, 20% of all complaints for this model year, most often about pressure monitoring and regulating systems. Next are the engine & cooling (4) and lights (3).
How many recalls does the 2002 Infiniti Q45 have?
There is 1 recall for the 2002 Infiniti Q45, the most recent from November 17, 2003 (engine and engine cooling). 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 Q45?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2003, 2005 and 2001. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2002. See the full Infiniti Q45 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Infiniti Q45 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 63,000 miles; 41% 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.