2002 Infiniti QX4 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Apr 27, 2026 · 37 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other QX4 years
More complaints than other years 4th of 9 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 37 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Infiniti QX4. That ranks 4th out of 9 QX4 model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is suspension (14 complaints, 38%), typically at around 140,000 miles. Complaints mention 5 crashes, 3 injuries. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2002 Infiniti QX4 problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Suspension14 · ~140,000 mi
Steering7 · ~132,000 mi
Air Bags5 · ~96,508 mi
Vehicle Speed Control4 · ~119,443 mi
Engine and Engine Cooling3 · ~120,000 mi
Structure3 · ~146,000 mi
Electrical System2 · ~125,000 mi
Exterior Lighting2
Power Train2 · ~62,500 mi
Seat Belts2 · ~30,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Suspension1438%140,000——
Steering719%132,000——
Air Bags514%96,508——
Vehicle Speed Control411%119,443——
Engine and Engine Cooling38%120,000——
Structure38%146,000——
Electrical System25%125,000——
Exterior Lighting25%———
Power Train25%62,500——
Seat Belts25%30,000——
Service Brakes25%89,445——
Unknown or Other25%———
Engine13%127,451——
Equipment13%12,200——
Fuel/propulsion System13%195,000——
Fuel System, Gasoline13%100,400——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic13%56,000——
Wheels13%110,630——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2011, with 5 complaints
2002: 2200222003: 222006: 1200612007: 112008: 1200812009: 112010: 3201032011: 552012: 3201232013: 332014: 3201432015: 222016: 2201622017: 222019: 1201912020: 112021: 1202112023: 112025: 1202512026: 11

n = 37 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2002 Infiniti QX4 recalls (5)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleJan 9, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V008000 · 307,962 vehicles

Problem: 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.

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 customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator moduleFeb 2, 2017 · NHTSA campaign 17V068000 · 46 vehicles

Problem: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2002 Pathfinder and Infiniti QX4 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with Takata 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.

Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on March, 31, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

Air bagsMay 15, 2015 · NHTSA campaign 15V287000 · 1,090,569 vehicles

Problem: 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 cause the inflator to rupture.

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 injury or death.

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. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed NHTSA of an amendment of this recall to remove 2004-2005 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 vehicles.

Suspension:front; steering:columnApr 20, 2011 · NHTSA campaign 11V244000 · 195,991 vehicles

Problem: Nissan is recalling certain model year 1996-2004 pathfinder and model year 1997-2003 infiniti qx4 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in, 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. In areas of the country in which heavy concentrations of road salt are used, a mixture of snow/water and salt may enter an assembly location hole in the upper strut housing, causing water to collect at the mating surface of the strut housing panel and the inner hood ledge assembly. Over time, this snow/water and salt intrusion may result in corrosion of the strut tower housing in some subject vehicles.

Risk: The strut housing may crack and pull away from the inner hood ledge assembly. This may lead to grinding noises, increased steering effort, and possibly the steering column to break, resulting in the loss of steering control, which could result in a crash.

Fix: Nissan will inspect the strut housing and repair the vehicles as necessary, free of charge. An interim notification letter was sent out in may 2011. The second notice was mailed on july 25, 2011. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261.

Air bags:frontalJul 6, 2010 · NHTSA campaign 10V312000 · 46 vehicles

Problem: Nissan is recalling forty-six certain model year 2002 pathfinder and infiniti qx4 vehicles manufactured from august 24, 2001 through august 28, 2001. The air bag inflator contains propellant wafers that are required to properly deploy the front passenger air bag. Due to improper propellant wafer installation during the air bag inflator assembly process, some air bag inflators may be missing one of the wafers. As a result, the remaining wafers in the inflator used for the deployment of the front passenger air bag may, over time, break up into powder due to normal vibration experienced while driving. This causes the combustion rate of the propellant to increase inside the inflator, which can lead to internal pressure rising suddenly during air bag deployment.

Risk: The inflator housing may rupture and pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants.

Fix: Nissan will notify the owners of the forty-six affected vehicles. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module assembly with a new one free of charge. The safety recall began on august 19, 2010. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261 and infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.
  • Frame/Body Structure Corrosion (PE11004) — opened Jan 28, 2011, closed Jun 30, 2011, led to recall 11V244000.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Driving in a snow storm and slid in to a rail ,no damage but the back light,airbag deployed,. My regular headlights on the driver side went out three years ago , neighbor got it to work ,now both headlights are not working.

Air Bags · received Apr 27, 2026 · NHTSA complaint 11734154

Drivers side low beam failure (2000 pathfinder and 2006 titan also same issue) Replaced bulbs twice in one year now low beam headlight doesn’t work at all always the driver side

Exterior Lighting · received Dec 27, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11707295

My issues are related to the SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN 1997-2003 QX4 IN SALT STATES FRONT STRUT HOUSING CORROSION. I brought my car in for the recall at Infiniti of Bloomington, Minnesota and they only fixed the Driver’s side strut housing using a brace but only painted the Passenger’s side. Now…

Unknown or Other · received Jan 23, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11503175

I have tried to get passenger airbag recall (and a confirmed driver seatbelt defect) replaced and the part was needed one year ago around march or april 2020 and today when i tried to make a appointment 03/29/2021 was told that it is a 3 to 4 hour job and no loaner vehicle or tow is available for…

Air Bags · received Mar 29, 2021 · NHTSA complaint 11405348

Extensive rust and decay is found on the passenger side frame where the lower control arm connects. This is just below the strut housing and is visible through the front wheel well. I have attached both passenger and driver side photos as the defect only appears on the passenger side.

Structure · received Sep 12, 2020 · NHTSA complaint 11354574

Other Infiniti QX4 years

← 2001 QX4 · 2003 QX4 →

YearComplaintsRecalls
2006 QX410
2004 QX410
2003 QX4203
2002375
2001 QX4734
2000 QX4283
1999 QX4432
1998 QX4292
1997 QX4452

See all Infiniti QX4 problems by year, every Infiniti model, or the Infiniti VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2002 Infiniti QX4?

Owners most often report suspension, steering, air bags problems. The top one, suspension, accounts for 14 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2002 Infiniti QX4?

Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2002 Infiniti QX4 a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other QX4 model years, the 2002 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.