The 1994 Infiniti G20 is essentially a rebadged Nissan Primera with the SR20DE engine — a fundamentally solid platform undermined by chronic distributor issues, aging motor mounts that cause cascading damage, and surprising frequency of catastrophic engine failures from oil starvation and pre-ignition.
Distributor Failure (Ignition Module and Shaft Wear)
Common · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Random stalling at operating temperature, No-start condition after heat soak, Intermittent tach drop and misfire, Check engine light with crank sensor codes
Fix: Complete distributor replacement required — rebuilt units fail quickly. OEM Nissan unit is 2.5 hours labor including timing verification. Ignition module alone rarely solves it long-term due to worn shaft bushings causing sensor gap problems.
Estimated cost: $450-750
Transmission and Engine Mount Collapse
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Severe clunking on acceleration and deceleration, Excessive engine movement visible from engine bay, CV axle popping due to misalignment, Shifter vibration at idle
Fix: Front engine mount (dogbone) and transmission mount both fail, often together. Transmission mount is notorious — requires subframe drop or creative access. Budget 4-5 hours for both mounts with proper tools. Delaying this causes axle and subframe damage.
Estimated cost: $600-900
Catastrophic Engine Failure (Oil Starvation and Pre-Ignition)
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 100,000-180,000 mi
Symptoms: Bearing knock developing suddenly, Loss of compression across multiple cylinders, Metal shavings in oil, Engine seized or rod through block in extreme cases
Fix: SR20DE engines in this chassis have documented issues with oil control ring failure and oil pump pickup screen clogging. When owners run conventional oil or extend intervals, bearing and piston failure follows. Repair requires short block replacement or full rebuild — 18-25 hours labor. Often not economical on a $2,000 car.
Estimated cost: $3,500-6,500
Fuel Filler Neck Corrosion and Leakage
Common · medium severitySymptoms: Fuel smell especially after filling, Visible corrosion or wet spots at filler neck-to-tank junction, Difficulty inserting fuel nozzle, Check engine light from EVAP leak codes
Fix: Rubber hose at filler neck deteriorates and metal neck itself corrodes where it meets the tank. NHTSA recall addressed some units but many still have original parts. Replacement requires tank drop — 3-4 hours labor. Not a DIY job due to fuel system safety.
Estimated cost: $400-650
Valve Cover Gasket and Distributor O-Ring Oil Leaks
Common · low severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Oil seepage down front of engine, Burning oil smell from exhaust manifold heat, Oil pooling in spark plug tubes causing misfire, Distributor base wet with oil
Fix: Valve cover gasket hardens and leaks, but the real issue is the distributor O-ring allowing oil into the distributor itself, accelerating electrical failure. Replace both together — 2 hours labor. Use OEM gaskets; aftermarket valve cover gaskets leak within months.
Estimated cost: $250-400
Front Lower Control Arm Bushings
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front suspension, Steering wander and poor return to center, Uneven inner tire wear, Alignment won't hold camber spec
Fix: Front lower control arm bushings tear and allow excessive movement. Nissan doesn't sell bushings separately — complete arms required. 3 hours labor for both sides with alignment. Aftermarket arms are hit-or-miss on fitment.
Estimated cost: $500-800
Solid chassis and transmission, but the SR20DE in this application has too many catastrophic failure modes for a 30-year-old car unless you have full maintenance records proving religious oil changes and distributor replacement — otherwise it's a $1,500 gamble on when the engine grenades.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.