2000 Infiniti I30

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

69/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Infiniti I30, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Electrical system	7	13%
Structure	4	8%
Service brakes	4	8%
Unknown or other	4	8%
Exterior lighting	3	6%
Engine and engine cooling	3	6%
Engine and engine cooling	3	6%
Vehicle speed control	3	6%
Electrical system	2	4%
Tires	2	4%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

WHILE WORKING UNDER MY CAR, I NOTICED THAT THE SUPPORT STRUCTURE UNDER THE RADIATOR IS RUSTING BADLY AND CAN BE MOVED BY HAND. THIS IS NOT SAFE AND APPEARS TO BE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I CAME ACROSS SIMILAR
NHTSA complaint: Structure

DRIVE TO GAS STATION A MILE AWAY WAS A DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE, THE ISSUE I THOUGHT WAS A TIRE BLOWN OUT HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY LOCAL POLICE OFFICER UPON OCCURRENCE AND DETERMINED IT IS SUSPENSION DEFECT. RIGHT REAR AXLE IS
NHTSA complaint: Steering

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC FOR A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE MECHANIC LATER FOUND OUT THAT THE NOISE WAS COMING FROM BELTS BECAUSE THE SUPPORT BAR THAT HOLD THE ENGINE WAS SAGGING. THIS IS CALLED THE CROSS ME
NHTSA complaint: Structure

THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE BLEW, THE CAR THEN LOCKED UP, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, THE CAR SPED OUT OF CONTROL (POLICE ESTIMATED UP TO 70 MILES PER HOUR), THE CAR RAN INTO A BRICK BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY
NHTSA complaint: Steering

2000 INFINITI I30 WITH APPROX. 100K MILES. THE VEHICLE IS USED AS A SPARE AND IS GARAGE KEPT. WENT TO GET AN OIL/FILTER CHANGE AND FOUND THE FRAME UNDER THE RADIATOR IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND IS ACTUALLY SAGGING. IT LO
NHTSA complaint: Structure

I HAVE A WELL MAINTAINED 2000 INFINITI I30 WITH 168,000 MILES . THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. APPROXIMATELY 2009 THE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT (FRONT CROSS FRAME TIE BAR) STARTED TO RUST NEAR THE CENTER OF THIS BOX
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AT NIGHT AND USING THE TURN SIGNAL, WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL CANCELS AFTER A TURN, THE HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF BRIEFLY THEN COME BACK ON. AN ONLINE SEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT THE 2000-2003 NISSAN MAXIMA AN
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting

PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE. HAD TO BACK UP TO GET ALIGNED. VEHICLE WAS FULLY STOPPED WITH THE RIGHT FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. SHIFTED FROM R THROUGH N TO D. VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AT VERY HIGH RPMS. RIGHT FOOT WAS ST
NHTSA complaint: Power train

The seven scores

Reliability raw	84	excellent
Longevity est.	79	good
Maintenance	78	good
Depreciation	52	average
Performance	54	average
Efficiency	38	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 52% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 63% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 61% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 22% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 84: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 79: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2000 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 78: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2000 Infiniti I30?

Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 7 of them (13%). No recalls are on record for it.

Is the 2000 Infiniti I30 reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2000 Infiniti I30 last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2000 Infiniti I30?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 69/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.