The 2009 M45 packs Nissan's VK45DE V8 and a 5-speed automatic that's generally solid, but catastrophic engine failures from cylinder bore scoring plague these motors, often without warning. When the engine goes, it typically requires a full rebuild or replacement, overshadowing otherwise manageable issues.
Symptoms: Sudden loss of compression in one or more cylinders, Severe oil consumption (1+ quart per 500-1000 miles), Blue smoke on cold start or acceleration, Rough idle, misfires, loss of power, Metal shavings in oil during changes
Fix: Complete engine rebuild or short-block replacement required. Scoring of cylinder walls from inadequate piston-skirt clearance or oil starvation destroys bore integrity. Expect 25-35 labor hours for rebuild with new pistons, rings, bearings, and machine work, or 18-22 hours for short-block swap plus ancillary seals and gaskets.
Estimated cost: $6,500-12,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid mixing with coolant (strawberry milkshake in overflow tank), Transmission slipping or delayed engagement, Engine overheating or erratic temperature gauge, Check engine light with transmission temp codes
Fix: Internal cooler fails inside radiator, cross-contaminating fluids and destroying transmission internals if not caught early. Requires radiator replacement, full transmission fluid flush (sometimes multiple times), and often transmission rebuild if contamination was severe. 8-12 hours labor for cooler/radiator plus flush; add 20+ hours if transmission is damaged.
Symptoms: Clunking on acceleration or deceleration, Vibration at idle in Drive, Excessive driveline movement felt through shifter or floor, Difficulty engaging gears smoothly
Fix: Hydraulic transmission mounts fail from age and heat. Rear mount most common. Replacement requires lifting transmission slightly. 2-3 hours labor per mount, often do both front and rear simultaneously.
Estimated cost: $450-800
Fuel Filter Clogging and Fuel Pump Wear
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Hard starting, extended cranking, Hesitation or stumble during acceleration, Loss of power at highway speeds, Intermittent stalling, especially when fuel level is low
Fix: In-tank fuel filter and pump assembly often neglected. V8 fuel demands accelerate wear. Requires dropping tank for pump/filter module replacement. 3-4 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $650-1,100
Head Gasket Seepage (External)
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Oil seepage at cylinder head mating surfaces (visible externally), Slight oil burning smell after engine reaches full temp, No coolant loss or overheating (external leak only), Oil residue on exhaust manifolds
Fix: External head gasket weeping is common but often non-critical on VK45s. If caught before internal failure, replacement is 12-16 hours labor per bank. Many owners defer until selling or until internal failure forces the issue.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800 (both banks)
Takata Airbag Inflator Recall (Multiple)
Common · high severity
Symptoms: Recall notice in mail or discovered via VIN check, No symptoms until inflator ruptures in crash (catastrophic shrapnel risk)
Fix: Multiple Takata airbag recalls affect driver and passenger inflators. Infiniti dealers replace at no cost, but parts availability has been intermittent. Verify completion before purchase — inflator rupture can be fatal. 1-2 hours per inflator at dealer.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall repair)
Owner tips
Check oil level every 500 miles religiously — sudden consumption spike is your only early warning for bore scoring
Inspect coolant reservoir immediately if transmission shifts rough; catching oil cooler failure early saves $4,000+
Change transmission fluid at 30k intervals max (Nissan says lifetime, but cooler failures prove otherwise)
Budget $1,000/year reserve fund starting at 80k miles — engine grenades with little notice
Verify all Takata airbag recalls completed via NHTSA VIN lookup before purchase
A comfortable highway cruiser with a ticking time bomb under the hood — only for buyers with deep pockets or mechanical skills to swap engines preventively.
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.
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AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 22E066000
2022-08-09
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that may have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair. The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti 2002-2003 QX4, 2006-2010 M35 and M45; Nissan 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, and both driver and passenger-side inflators designed to fit 2007-2012 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback vehicles. Please see Nissan's recall report for the specific part numbers. These replacement inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the inflators as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 14, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 20V008000
2020-01-09 · EA15001
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 equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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 customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 17V028000
2017-01-10 · EA15001
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012 Nissan Versa hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A".
Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Nissan is recalling certain 2009-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45 and 2009 Nissan Versa sedans and hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B".
Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Nissan is recalling certain 2005-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2008 Nissan Versa vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on June 8, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 16V349000
2016-05-24 · EA15001
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2011 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A."
Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Nissan is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2008 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2008 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B."
Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Nissan is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Infiniti I35 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2017. All owners should receive a second notice by May 15, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45 vehicles manufactured April 4, 2004, through October 5, 2010. Over time, the accelerator pedal sensor signal may deteriorate resulting in the output of an incorrect signal causing the engine to go into fail-safe (limp home) mode.
Consequence: In this fail-safe mode, throttle valve deposits may cause the engine to stall when the vehicle is coming to a stop or at idle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the accelerator pedal assembly and reprogram the engine control module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during November 2013. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS · 09V393000
2009-10-05
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. THE MATERIAL IN THE NUT USED TO SECURE THE SENSOR-TRANSMITTER OF THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) MAY CORRODE AND POTENTIALLY CRACK IN AREAS WITH HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE NUT MAY COME OUT OF THE SENSOR-TRANSMITTER AND THE TPMS LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE.
Consequence: IF THE TPMS LAMP IS DISREGARDED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN IN THIS CONDITION, THE TIRE WILL QUICKLY LOSE AIR PRESSURE AT A CONSISTENT RATE RESULTING IN A FLAT TIRE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TPMS NUT WITH A NEW, MORE ROBUST NUT. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 AND INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
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