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Infiniti I30Model year report

1997 Infiniti I30 Problems

Complaints
20filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
93,000miles, 8 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 3.0L 6-cyl FWD · 18 city / 26 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 Infiniti I30 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 1997 Infiniti I30. The part named most often is electrical system, with 6 complaints (30% of the total), followed by brakes (5) and engine cooling (3). 8 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 93,000 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 31 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 5 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Transmission and drivetrain (1).

Example complaints

Electrical system: “My 1997 Infiniti I-30 was having a hard time starting and eventually the car died one weekend and would not start. I spent some time on it and got the car started and drove it down to o'neil auto parts and they put their starting system analysis machine on the starting system...their results were that the car battery was ok and the car starter was ok but the car alternator was putting out 34 amps. Instead of the prescribed 129 amps. I had called Infiniti motor corp. …”

NHTSA complaint #10133650, filed 2005-08, 89,197 miles

Brakes: “Rear brake hum at low speed, mainly when accelerating from full stop. Both rear rotors replaced and pads replaced, still occurs. Occasional grinding from driver's rear brake - mechanic cannot solve problem despite frequent brake part replacements. Dealer cannot find problem either.”

NHTSA complaint #10080917, filed 2004-07, 105,000 miles

Engine cooling: “The contact owns a 1997 Infiniti I30. The contact stated while driving approximately 30 MPH the vehicle suddenly stalled. After driving onto the side of the road fumes began to come from the engine. The vehicle was towed to the contacts home. The vehicle was not inspected by the dealer nor had it been repaired. The manufacturer was notified and a complaint was filed. The failure and current mileage was approximately 96,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10425215, filed 2011-09, 96,000 miles

Other or unknown: “The chrome plated (they are really plastic covers) inside door handle on the passenger side has prematurely worn off, leaving extremely sharp shards on the inside of the handle. When an unsuspecting passenger opens the door without caution, a severe laceration of the hand cam occur. Very dangerous, this has happened in my I30 on three different occasions in spite of my warnings to passengers.”

NHTSA complaint #10023159, filed 2003-06, 60,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 8 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 89,197 and 105,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–5025%50–7538%75–10025%100–15013%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (8 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 93,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

19973200120033200520082016
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1997 Infiniti I30. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
I30 · sedan not rated4 / 3———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1997 Infiniti I30 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
I30 FWD3.0L 6-cyl4-speed automatic182621$3,900
I30 FWD3.0L 6-cyl5-speed manual192421$3,900

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1997 Infiniti I30 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 31 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 31 bulletins →

Other model years of the Infiniti I30

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
200175106,5003—20Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20005046,0000—20Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19992694,0960—21Not compared (before 2008)Rising
19984985,5002—21Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19972093,0001—21—Stable
199624123,5700—21—Falling

All Infiniti I30 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 Infiniti I30 have?

NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 1997 Infiniti I30 as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1997 Infiniti I30 is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 6 complaints (30% of the total), followed by brakes with 5.

Has the 1997 Infiniti I30 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1997 Infiniti I30 get?

The EPA rates the 1997 Infiniti I30 (I30, 3.0L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1997 Infiniti I30 reported?

Among the 8 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 93,000 miles and the middle half falls between 89,197 and 105,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.