2007 INFINITI FX45

Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: Sudden loss of oil pressure with no external leaks, Rattling on cold start that doesn't go away after 30 seconds, Metal shavings in oil during changes, Check engine light with cam/crank correlation codes, Complete engine seizure without warning in severe cases

Fix: The VK45DE has a known design flaw where internal gallery gaskets fail and timing chain guides disintegrate. Once oil pressure drops or chains stretch, you're looking at complete engine replacement or full rebuild with updated gaskets and guides. 35-50 labor hours for rebuild, 25-30 for used engine swap.

Estimated cost: $6,000-12,000

Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Pink or milky transmission fluid on dipstick, Coolant level dropping with no external leaks, Transmission slipping or delayed engagement, Overheating transmission temp warnings, Sweet smell from exhaust or coolant overflow

Fix: The internal radiator transmission cooler fails and cross-contaminates coolant into ATF (or vice versa). Once mixed, the transmission is toast. Requires external cooler bypass installation, radiator replacement, transmission flush or full rebuild, and coolant system flush. 12-18 hours if caught early, 25-35 if transmission needs replacement.

Estimated cost: $2,800-8,500

Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Whining or grinding from center of vehicle during acceleration, Binding sensation when turning at low speeds, Vibration at highway speeds that worsens over time, Clunking when shifting from park to drive, AWD warning light illuminated

Fix: Most owners never service the transfer case or front diff, leading to bearing and gear failures. Transfer case rebuild runs 10-14 hours, front diff 8-12 hours. Many shops just replace with used units to save labor.

Estimated cost: $1,800-4,200

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front suspension, Steering wheel off-center after hitting potholes, Uneven front tire wear on inside edges, Wandering or loose steering feel, Alignment won't hold after fresh adjustment

Fix: The front lower control arm bushings are undersized for this heavy SUV and fail predictably. Infiniti doesn't sell bushings separately, so you're replacing entire arms. 3-4 hours for both sides including alignment.

Estimated cost: $800-1,400

Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: Harsh or delayed 2-3 shift, Slipping between gears under moderate throttle, Transmission stuck in limp mode (3rd gear only), Check engine light with P0745 or P0750 codes, Erratic shifting when transmission is cold

Fix: The RE5R05A transmission has weak solenoid packs and valve bodies that wear internally. Requires pan drop, valve body removal, and solenoid replacement. 6-8 hours labor. Often done when addressing cooler failure.

Estimated cost: $1,200-2,200

Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi

Symptoms: No-start condition with crank but no fire, Stumbling or hesitation under hard acceleration, Fuel gauge reading erratically or stuck on empty, Engine dies at idle after driving, Whining noise from rear of vehicle when key is on

Fix: Fuel pump assemblies fail, often taking the sending unit with them. Tank must be dropped on this AWD model. 4-5 hours labor plus parts.

Estimated cost: $900-1,500

Symptoms: Airbag warning light illuminated, Recall notice from Infiniti/NHTSA, Passenger airbag deactivation indicator stays on, SRS codes stored for passenger inflator circuit

Fix: Multiple Takata recalls affect this year. Parts availability has been spotty, and some dealers still have backorders. Verify recall completion before purchase. 1-2 hours per inflator replacement.

Estimated cost: $0 (recall repair)