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Infiniti QX4Model year report

1997 Infiniti QX4 Problems

Complaints
45filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
127,500miles, 22 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns 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
15 mpgcombined, 3.3L 6-cyl 4WD/AWD · 14 city / 17 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1997 Infiniti QX4 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 45 consumer complaints for the 1997 Infiniti QX4. The part named most often is suspension, with 20 complaints (44% of the total), followed by steering (11) and engine cooling (4). 22 of the complaints include a mileage, and 9% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 127,500 miles. Of all complaints, 7 involved a crash, 5 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 33 technical service bulletins for this model year. Suspension complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign and 4 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Steering complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

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: Wheels (2), Air bags (1), Electronic stability control (1), Equipment (1), Seats (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Suspension: “I had my car sitting in my driveway detailing it. I've always took exceptional care of my vehicles and one thing I've always done was made sure the undercoating was top-notch. As I proceeded to undercoat the inside of the front fender wells on my 97 QX4 I noticed some rust forming behind the strut tower. Some of it was flaky and some of it was raised rust. I took my scraper and lo and behold found a hole behind the strut tower. …”

NHTSA complaint #11233265, filed 2019-07, 254,432 miles

Steering: “All 1997 thru 2003 frame suspension, suspension body panels were improperly undercoated to prevent rusting. Warning was issued in 2011, as third owner of vehicle, I was never notified. Causing imminent body harm and possibly death. Infinity was totally responsible for follow thru, and should be held responsible for my $20,000 loss, not to mention risk to my life. Thanks a lot you money mongers! You should be held responsible for failure of notification.”

NHTSA complaint #10825232, filed 2016-02, 105,460 miles

Engine cooling: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10447928, filed 2012-02, 120,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

9% of the 22 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 90,000 and 172,000 miles.

9%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–7518%75–10027%100–15045%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (22 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 127,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

’99’02’06’107’14’18’23
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 QX4. 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
QX4 · sedan not rated3 / 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 QX4 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
QX4 4WD3.3L 6-cyl4-speed automatic141715$4,450

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 QX4 → · 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. 33 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 33 bulletins →

Other model years of the Infiniti QX4

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20032098,0503—16—Stable
200237123,0005—15Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20017398,0004—15Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200028183,0003—15Not compared (before 2008)Rising
199943135,0002—15Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199829159,0002—15Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199745127,5002—15Not compared (before 2008)Stable

All Infiniti QX4 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1997 Infiniti QX4 have?

NHTSA recorded 45 consumer complaints for the 1997 Infiniti QX4 as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1997 Infiniti QX4 is reported most often?

Suspension is named most often, in 20 complaints (44% of the total), followed by steering with 11.

Has the 1997 Infiniti QX4 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1997 Infiniti QX4 get?

The EPA rates the 1997 Infiniti QX4 (QX4 4WD, 3.3L 6-cyl) at 15 mpg combined, 14 city and 17 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,450 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1997 Infiniti QX4 reported?

Among the 22 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 127,500 miles and the middle half falls between 90,000 and 172,000 miles; 9% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 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.