Model year guide

1997 Infiniti I30

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1997 Infiniti I30 is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 4 on record.

1997 Infiniti I30 — representative photo
Representative photo

1997 Infiniti I30 at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints21
Combined21 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1997 Infiniti I30 recalls 1

Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator NHTSA Campaign #02V171000 · 24/06/2002

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, ONE OF THE DIODES USED IN THE ALTERNATOR MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED WHEN BUILT. THIS CAN EVENTUALLY RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE DIODE AND AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH COULD MELT THE PLASTIC HOUSING.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ALTERNATOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 29, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1997 Infiniti I30 common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Hydraulic
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Vehicle Speed Control
Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.
Fuel/propulsion System
Check for fuel or battery warnings, hard starts and stalling. On a hybrid/EV, confirm charging and range behave normally.

1997 Infiniti I30 safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★
Side — front seat★★★★★
Side — rear seat★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 1997 Infiniti I30 4-DR.. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

1997 Infiniti I30 MPG & running costs

Combined21 mpg
City19 mpg
Highway25 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,900
EPA size classMidsize Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd or Manual 5-spd
Passenger volume100 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$7,500 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1997 Infiniti I30 costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$19,500
Fuel only$19,500
Per mile$0.26

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 93

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 93.

REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

Bulletin ITB13-007H · Structure, Visibility · Feb 2023

WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

Bulletin ITB09-039J · Visibility, Structure · Feb 2023

WHEEL BEARING COLLISION DAMAGE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

Bulletin ITB10-067C · Wheels · Feb 2023

INFINITI; FRONT SONAR PARKING SENSOR SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.

Bulletin ITB16-006A · Electrical System · Mar 2021

VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN I30 P/S RETURN HOSE LEAKS Service Campaign ID # P8145 is no longer active.  Repair orders opened after this bulletin’s published date are no longer eligible for reimbursement under Campaign ID # P8145.  Discard all previous v…

Bulletin ITB98-033a · Steering · Aug 2020

VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN F04 AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE SOLENOID VALVE ASSEMBLY Service Campaign ID # P8122 is no longer active.  Repair orders opened after this bulletin’s published date are no longer eligible for reimbursement under Campaign ID # P8122. …

Bulletin ITB98-023d · Power Train · Jul 2020

EXTERIOR CLEANING INFORMATION SERVICE INFORMATION When cleaning the exterior of an Infiniti vehicle, damage may occur when using a cleaner with too high of an alkaline concentration. - Always refer to the Appearance and care section of the related owner?s manu…

Bulletin ITB19-008 · Equipment · Apr 2019

PLASTIC INTERIOR TRIM PROTECTIVE COVERING REMOVAL SERVICE INFORMATION Vehicles are delivered with plastic interior trim protective covering on the front and rear seats, front and rear door panel finishers, steering wheel, and sun visors (see examples on page 2…

Bulletin ITB18-037 · Structure, Equipment · Oct 2018

TRANSMISSION & ENGINE AUTOMATED DATA COLLECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC REPORTING SERVICE INFORMATION To support proper diagnosis and to promote Fixed-Right-First-Time ? Infiniti may review CONSULT-III plus (CIII plus) data relating to vehicle operation and function to…

Bulletin ITB18-034 · Power Train · Oct 2018

Infiniti USA Electronic Field Communication Subject: Retailed Vehicle Open Campaign Report Lists Updated The lists for each retailer?s Retailed Vehicle Open Campaign Report has been updated today in DBS. We made our best effort to reassign vehicles to retailer…

Bulletin Infiniti USA Ret · Equipment · Oct 2018

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the I30. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 2

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1997 Infiniti I30. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Electrical

On certain vehicles one of the diodes used in the alternator may have been damaged when built. This can eventually result in failure of the diode and an electrical short, which could melt the plastic housing. If the combustible gas emitted by the melting plastic does not disperse due to air flow through the engine compartment, it could ignite and in turn ignite the fan guide in…

Transport Canada #2002117 · Jun 2002

Electrical

On certain vehicles, a damaged alternator diode may result in diode failure and a short circuit in the diode assembly. This could result in melting of the plastic housing and a possible alternator fire. Correction: Alternator will be replaced.

Transport Canada #1999106 · Jun 1999

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Infiniti I30

The Nissan Cefiro is a mid-size passenger car manufactured and marketed by Nissan Motors over three generations. Almost all Cefiro's were marketed as four-door sedans, though a five-door wagon body style was briefly available (1997–2000). In most cases, the Cefiro used Nissan's VQ six-cylinder engines, named Ward's 10 Best Engines more than ten years running.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1997 Infiniti I30 vehicles on record

Other Infiniti I30 model years

1997 Infiniti I30 — frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Infiniti I30 have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1997 Infiniti I30. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1997 Infiniti I30?

Across all 21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are electrical system, service brakes, hydraulic.

What is the 1997 Infiniti I30 safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 1997 Infiniti I30 crash-test ratings of frontal 4★, side 4★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 1997 Infiniti I30 get?

The 1997 Infiniti I30 has a U.S. EPA estimate of 21 mpg combined (19 city / 25 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.