Most common 1997 Infiniti QX4 problems
Share of the 45 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Infiniti QX4 complaints by model year
Best QX4 years: 2000. Years to avoid: 2001, 1997. Compare all years →
1997 Infiniti QX4 recalls (2)
Suspension › Front
Nissan is recalling certain model year 1996-2004 pathfinder and model year 1997-2003 Infiniti qx4 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode…
Remedy: Nissan will inspect the strut housing and repair the vehicles as necessary, free of charge. An interim notification letter was sent out in May 2011. The second notice was mailed on July 25, 2011.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly › Filler pipe and cap
On certain vehicles originally sold in or currently registered in the states of connecticut, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, kentucky, massachusetts, maine, maryland, michigan, minnesota, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, tennessee, vermont, virginia, west virginia , wisconsin and the…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel filler tube assembly with a new one with an improved coating process. The recall began on November 26, 2007. Owners May contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1997 Infiniti QX4:
Frame/Body Structure Corrosion
In their Defect Information Report (DIR) of April 20, 2011, Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) notified NHTSA that it would conduct a safety recall of certain 1996-2004 Nissan Pathfinder and 1997-2003 Infinity QX4 vehicles to repair corrosion damage to the driver's side front strut tower.The vehicles included in the recall are those that were originally sold, or are currently registered in salt belt states…
What 1997 Infiniti QX4 owners say
Suspension all 20 →
The contact owns a 1997 Infiniti QX4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V244000 (Steering, Suspension). The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH and other various speeds over bumps in the roadway, the vehicle was shaking abnormally with the steering wheel becoming difficult to turn to the left or to the right. Additionally, the contact heard abnormal metal on metal grinding sounds particularly while turning the vehicle to the left or the right. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer and was advised that the vehicle had failed a safety inspection and he would be contacted by a third party to buy back the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. …
the rear end started to sway and shake ... made the car uncrontrlable, I reacted instantly and took my foot off the gas peddle and gripped the steering firmly like driving on snow...it came back under control as I was braking softly ....what a scary incident ...
Steering
The contact owns a 1997 Infiniti QX4. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 11V244000 (Steering, Suspension). The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH and other various speeds over bumps in the roadway, the vehicle was shaking abnormally with the steering wheel becoming difficult to turn to the left or to the right. Additionally, the contact heard abnormal metal on metal grinding sounds particularly while turning the vehicle to the left or the right. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer and was advised that the vehicle had failed a safety inspection and he would be contacted by a third party to buy back the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. …
At 6:45 a.m car traveling down freezeland road, linden, va at about 30mph. Weather conditions: clear, dry. Road conditions: no defects, oil or other traction faults that would cause accident. QX4 as described by witness to police looked at though rear of vehicle body was acting independent of body frame. At this point driver could not recover, had no time to brake, steering would not respond. QX4 would not respond and continued straight up an embankment, hit large bolder and flipped onto passenger side. Driver was pulled from vehicle by retired emt. Driver sustained right knee injuries including fracture to lower leg directly below knee, ligament damage still being evaluated. Driver was not given citation by virginia state police, due to driver and witness statements. State police indicated that it appeared to be a major mechanical failure. …
Wheels & tires
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Infiniti QX4 equipped with Michelin ltx m/s tires, size: pt245/70 r16 (na). While adding air to the front passenger side tire, the contact noticed tread separation. The contact mentioned all four tires experienced tread separation. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was informed that all four tires needed to be replaced due to tread separation. The independent mechanic only replaced the rear passenger side tire. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The tire and vehicle failure mileage was 180,000.
My 1997 Infiniti QX4 started to have a side to side wobble. It got worse over time. Now I can barely drive on the freeway. At speeds of about 50-65 it wobbles to the point that it is very dangerous. I bought an Infiniti for the safety and I do not feel safe in it anymore. I have replaced shocks, tires, have done tire balancing, wheel alignment. None have done anything to remotely fix the problem. I can not afford to fix this problem. A recall is needed for the pathfinder and QX4.
1997 Infiniti QX4 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.3L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 14 / 17 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Infiniti QX4 a good car?
Based on 45 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 QX4 rates use caution: 1.6× as many complaints as a typical year of the QX4 at the same age. It is one of the QX4 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 1997 Infiniti QX4?
The suspension — 20 complaints, 44% of all complaints for this model year, most often about front. Next are the steering (11) and wheels & tires (5).
How many recalls does the 1997 Infiniti QX4 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 1997 Infiniti QX4, the most recent from April 20, 2011 (front). 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 QX4?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2000. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2001 and 1997. See the full Infiniti QX4 years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Infiniti QX4 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 135,000 miles; 9% 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.