2006 INFINITI Q45

Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1+ quart per 1,000 mi), Blue smoke on startup or acceleration, Loss of compression, Rough idle and misfires, Metal shavings in oil, Catastrophic engine seizure if ignored

Fix: The VK45DE has weak nickel-composite cylinder liners that wear prematurely, allowing piston slap and ring failure. Fix requires shortblock replacement or full engine rebuild with sleeved cylinders. Expect 20-30 labor hours for engine removal, disassembly, machine work, and reinstall. Many owners opt for used low-mileage JDM engines instead of rebuild.

Estimated cost: $6,500-12,000

Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: Rattling noise from engine on cold start that fades, Check engine light with cam correlation codes (P0011, P0021), Sudden catastrophic engine failure if chain jumps, Metal debris in oil

Fix: The VK45 has primary and secondary timing chains; the secondary tensioners fail and allow chain slack. If the chain jumps timing, valves hit pistons and destroy the engine. Preventive replacement requires engine removal or very tight quarters work—figure 18-24 hours. Must replace all guides, tensioners, and chains as a set.

Estimated cost: $3,500-5,500

Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Transmission fluid leaking near radiator, Low transmission fluid level, Harsh or delayed shifts, Transmission overheating, Pink fluid mixing with coolant if internal cooler fails

Fix: The external transmission cooler lines and connections corrode and leak. If the internal radiator cooler fails, coolant contaminates ATF and destroys the transmission. Replace external lines and consider adding auxiliary cooler. If cross-contamination occurs, both transmission and cooling system need full flush or transmission rebuild. External line replacement is 2-3 hours; contamination recovery is 15-20 hours with transmission rebuild.

Estimated cost: $400-800 for lines; $3,500-5,000 if transmission damaged

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive/Reverse, Excessive engine/trans movement felt through chassis, Vibration at idle in gear, Drivetrain thud on acceleration

Fix: The hydraulic and rubber transmission mounts deteriorate and allow excessive powertrain movement. Replacing all mounts requires supporting the engine/trans and takes 3-4 hours. Should be done with any major engine or transmission work.

Estimated cost: $600-1,200

Typical onset: 100,000+ mi

Symptoms: Hard starting especially when hot, Sputtering or hesitation under load, Fuel smell, Check engine light with lean/rich codes, Loss of power

Fix: The in-tank fuel pump and filter assembly ages poorly; filter clogs and pump loses pressure. Injectors also clog on higher-mileage examples. Fuel pump/filter assembly replacement requires dropping the tank—4-5 hours. Injector cleaning or replacement adds another 3-4 hours.

Estimated cost: $800-1,500 for pump assembly; $600-1,200 for injector service

Symptoms: Brake lights not illuminating, Cruise control not working, Shift interlock preventing gear changes, Check engine or ABS light

Fix: Covered under NHTSA recall for brake light switch failure. Affects ability to shift out of Park and brake light operation—safety issue. Dealer should replace under recall at no cost. If done independently, it's a 0.5-hour job.

Estimated cost: $0 under recall; $150-250 if paying out of pocket