Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Infiniti I30, and it carries 3 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.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 12 | 15% |
| Structure | 7 | 9% |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 9% |
| Air bags | 6 | 8% |
| Power train | 5 | 6% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 5% |
| Steering | 3 | 4% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 2 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
In the last 2 months I have had the front passenger tire blow out 3 times. After this last tire repair the car started to shake, vibrate and make a knocking noise while driving. When driving faster the steering wheel wou
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
I RECENTLY TOOK MY CAR IN FOR A REGULAR SMOG CHECK, AND THE TECHNICIAN REPORTED THAT THERE IS 1 OPEN RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE. I CALLED AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH INFINITI OF ROSEVILLE. BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN AND THE TECH
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL. THE CONTACT'S HUSBAND OWNED A 2001 INFINITI I30. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS IN LINE AT A DRIVE THRU, A SMELL EMITTED THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. AS THE BURNING S
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
THERE IS VIBRATION AND A CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING. IT IS HARD TO STEER STRAIGHT ON ROAD. THE REAR SUSPENSION INCLUDING IT'S PARTS HAVE FAILED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO PROPERLY ALIGN THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS CAUSED THE FR
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TAKERS RECALL WHEEL JERKS TO EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT AND CAUSES CARE TO JERK TO EITHER SIDE I WAS GOING 55 TO 60 MILES PER HOUR AND IT ALMOST THREW ME COMPLETELY OFF THE ROAD AND ANOTHER TIME IT JERKED ME TOWARDS A CAR COMI
NHTSA complaint: Steering
TAKATA RECALL FOR FRONT SUSPENSION TRANSVERSE LINK. I THINK THIS VEHICLE BELONGS IN THE LIST AND OF THE I30T 2001 INFINITI AND SO DOES THE MECHANIC THAT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint: Steering
I WAS DRIVING THE CAR THE ENGINE WAS WARM AND RUNNING JUST FINE. THEN OUT OF NO WHERE THE CAR AT 40 MPH ENGINE BEGIN WILDLY REVVING THE RPMS WENT DIRECTLY HOME AND IN PARK IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING. TURNED IT OFF CALL
NHTSA complaint: Electronic stability control (esc)
I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE MIDDLE LANE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. AT THE INTERSECTION WITH TRAFFIC LIGHTS, THE LANE WAS STUCK IN FRONT OF ME AND THERE WAS NO SPACE TO GO. IN ORDER NOT TO BLOCK THE INTERSECTION, I HAD TO SLOW DOWN AN
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2001 Infiniti I30. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may caus
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious inj
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. N
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE PIN AT THE END OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION TRANSVERSE LINK (LOWER CONTROL ARM) COULD BREAK WHERE IT IS MOUNTED TO THE FRAME.
Risk: THIS CAN CAUSE A KNOCKING SOUND AND ABNORMAL STEERING. THIS COULD RESULT IN DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRANSVERSE LINKS ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES WITH NEW ONES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 29, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UP
| Reliability raw | 68 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 72 | good |
| Maintenance | 78 | good |
| Depreciation | 52 | average |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 79 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and suspension is the most reported area with 12 of them (15%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 68/100 (good) 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.
AVOIR scores its longevity 72/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2001 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
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 64/100. 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.