2003 INFINITI M45 Engine Problems

2003 INFINITI M45 WITH APPROXIMATELY 106,000 MILES. CAR WILL STALL SUDDENLY AT HIGHWAY OR CITY ROAD SPEEDS NECESSITATING PUTTING CAR INTO NEUTRAL OR PULLING OVER TO RESTART. PREVIOUSLY, AFTER THIS HAD HAPPENED, A CODE FOR FAULTY CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS RECOVERED, AND BOTH THE CRANKSHAFT AND CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS WERE REPLACED WITH AFTERMARKET NEW PARTS FROM DURALAST. CAR NO LONGER HAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE ASSOCIATED WITH THE STALLING, BUT THE STALLING PERSISTS. ALSO, WHEN CAR IS COOLED TO AMBIENT TEMPERATURE, IT MAY TAKE 2-3 IGNITION ATTEMPTS TO START THE CAR AND OCCASIONALLY A BACKFIRE/MISFIRE IS HEARD DURING FAILED ATTEMPTS. IF CAR HAS SAT FOR MULTIPLE DAYS WITHOUT BEING DRIVEN, IT MAY TAKE 10-15 ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE.

Mileage: 106,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. WHILE STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS,THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND "CHECK YOUR FUEL CAP" DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT CITED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AS A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES, AS REPORTED BY A CODE READER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

Mileage: 145,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING, PRECEDED BY THE DYNAMIC CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE, BUT NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,000.

Mileage: 149,000

WHILE LEAVING AN ENTRANCE RAMP TO MERGE ONTO THE INTERSTATE, THE VEHICLE SUFFERED A COMPLETE AND TOTAL ENGINE POWER LOSS ALONG WITH ITS POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING FUNCTIONS. AFTER THIS FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START, LEAVING IT STRANDED. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL IN PLACE FOR THE VEHICLE'S MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR (RECALL #03V455000), HOWEVER I WAS TOLD BY BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND INFINITI THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL BECAUSE THE PART IN QUESTION WAS MADE BY A DIFFERENT MANUFACTURER THAN WHAT WAS INCLUDED UNDER THE EXISTING RECALL. THE SUMMARY AND CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FAILURE ALIGN EXACTLY WITH THAT OF THE EXISTING RECALL. IT IS EVIDENT THAT THE SAFETY HAZARD EXISTS BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL AND THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMPLAINT IS TO ADDRESS THAT DEFICIENCY.

Mileage: 128,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RANDOMLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 12V088000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHILE TURNING LEFT WITH ON COMING TRAFFIC THE ENGINE DIED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE COMMUNICATIONS CENTER SAID IT WAS EMISSIONS RELATED. THE CAR DID RESTART, THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON, AND AFTER A SHORT DRIVE THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL AND HEAT COMING FROM THE CAR. THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER WILL ONLY WORK ON IT AS CUSTOMER PAY, AND WILL NOT DO ANY RECALL WORK, SAID I NEED TO GO TO THE INFINITY DEALER 2 HOURS AWAY. I JUST NOTIFIED NISSAN CORP TODAY OF THE ISSUE AND WAITING FOR THEIR RESPONSE.

Mileage: 120,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AFTER WAITING FIFTEEN MINUTES, THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED NORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO TIMES. ON TWO SEPARATED OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START UNTIL AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

Mileage: 120,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 30V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Mileage: 115,000

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. SHORTLY AFTER THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR RESTARTED ONLY TO DO THAT AGAIN THE NEXT DAY. IT DID IT ANOTHER TIME AND DIDN'T RESTART. HAD IT REPAIRED BY AND INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. 6MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM IS BCK. DECIDED TO CHECK ON THE RECALLS AND THERE WAS A RECALL CALLED ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING THAT DESCRIBED MY ISSUE TO A T BUT DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN! THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE. BOTH TIMES MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE CAR.

Mileage: 140,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND ENGINE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000... ....UPDATED 12/30/15 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS ADVISED FOR THE CONTROL MODULE TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 2/23/2016 *JS

Mileage: 156,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THERE WAS A FAILURE IN THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

Mileage: 190,000

THIS VEHICLE RANDOMLY WILL SHUT DOWN ALL MECHANICAL SYSTEMS SIMULTANEOUSLY AT ANY SPEED WHICH CREATES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY AROUND OTHER TRAFFIC, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE CAR'S "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT APPEARS, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOSES ENGINE POWER, BRAKES, AND STEERING AND MANY TIMES WILL NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY WHICH PUTS THE PASSENGERS AT RISK OF A CRASH IN ANY SITUATION. THESE ARE THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS OF A RECALL ISSUED BY INFINITI FOR THE 2003 M45, HOWEVER, INFINITI INSISTS THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE ALREADY CHANGED THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR(S), AND IN SOME CASES, THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSOR(S). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,009.

Mileage: 134,009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINI M45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 80 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,000.

Mileage: 171,000

MY VEHICLE HAS ROUGH START, STALLS AND HAS TURNED OFF WHILE IN OPERATION. *TR

Mileage: 142,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V357000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

Mileage: 147,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT BUT INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT LISTED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140000.

Mileage: 140,000

THIS VEHICLE RANDOMLY WILL SHUT DOWN ALL MECHANICAL SYSTEMS SIMULTANEOUSLY AT ANY SPEED WHICH CREATES AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY AROUND OTHER TRAFFIC, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THE CAR'S "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT APPEARS, THE CAR IMMEDIATELY LOSES ENGINE POWER, BRAKES, AND STEERING AND MANY TIMES WILL NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY WHICH PUTS THE PASSENGERS AT RISK OF A CRASH IN ANY SITUATION. THESE ARE THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS OF A RECALL ISSUED BY INFINITI FOR THE 2003 M45, HOWEVER, INFINITI INSISTS THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. MAYBE ONCE SOMEONE IS KILLED IN A CRASH INFINITI WILL RECONSIDER ITS POSITION ON THIS MATTER. ACCORDING TO THE INFINITI DEALER, THEY DO NOT KNOW THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THEIR SUGGESTION WAS TO LEAVE THE CAR WITH THEM FOR 2 OR 3 DAYS SO THEY COULD HOOK UP EQUIPMENT TO THE CAR AND DRIVE IT AROUND (AT $130 PER HOUR) HOPING THAT THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR. BOTH THE DEALER AND INFINITI USA SEEM UNWILLING TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT COSTING ME HUNDREDS OR EVEN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FUND THEIR RESEARCH IN AN EFFORT TO PREVENT A CRASH. HERE IS THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SYMPTOMS CAUSED BY THE RECALL: THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. *TR

Mileage: 157,236

I AM STARTING TO NOTICE THAT MY ENGINE IS BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. I ONLY HAVE 2 THOUSAND MILES ON AN OIL CHANGE AND MY VEHICLE WAS ALMOST OUT OF OIL WHEN I CHECKED. I DON'T DRIVE THE VEHICLE HARD AT ALL, JUST NORMAL DRIVING. I'VE CHECKED OTHER FORUMS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THE VEHICLES. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE EVERYONE AWARE OF THIS, IT COULD BE DANGEROUS. HTTP://FORUMS.NICOCLUB.COM/2003-M45-BURNING-OIL-ENGINE-REPLACEMENT-T385113.HTML. *TR

Mileage: 124,000

HELLO, WHILE DRIVING OUR 2003 INFINITY M45 ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CAR SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. I WAS DRIVING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL AND THIS SUDDENLY HAPPENED. THE CAR TURNED ON IMMEDIATELY AND DROVE BACK HOME. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOME ISSUE WITH THE FUEL. I DROVE IT AGAIN AND THIS HAPPENED TO ME ONCE MORE, THE VEHICLE JUST SUDDENLY SHUTS OFF. I WENT TO THE DEALER TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS AND WAS TOLD AFTER BEING CHECKED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE SAME CAR AND YEAR FOR THE CAM & CRANK SENSORS BUT NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THIS CAR WAS PART OF IT. TO MY SURPRISE IT WASN'T! WHY WOULD THEY RECALL SAME YEAR AND MODEL BUT NOT MINE? MY VEHICLE STALLS ON THE ROAD AND COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY GOTTEN INJURED DUE TO THIS MALFUNCTION. PLEASE HELP US OUT. THANK YOU! *TR

Mileage: 138,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI M45. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE CAM SHAFT AND CRANK SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 101,134.

Mileage: 101,134

AT ABOUT 60 SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY, ALL ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. THE CAR STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND SUCCESSFULLY RESTARTED THE CAR AFTER ABOUT 10 ATTEMPTS. THE CAR STARTED AGAIN AND RAN WELL FOR ANOTHER 10 MINUTES. AGAIN, AT ABOUT 60 MILES PER HOUR, THE ENGINE HALTED AND I HAD TO CHANGE 3 LANES TO GET TO A SHOULDER. THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE COMING AT FULL SPEED WHILE MY SPEED WAS GOING DOWN FAST. THERE SEEMS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS MODEL YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL, BUT INFINITI DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT MY VIN # IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE ONLINE WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 129,000