1994 Infiniti J30 problems
The Infiniti J30, marketed as the Nissan Leopard J Ferie in Japan, was a rear wheel drive luxury car. The J30 went into production on April 7, 1992 as a 1993 model to replace the M30 (which was a coupe), and was launched in the United States after its competitors, the Lexus GS and Acura Legend. The car was sold in the mid-size sedan segment between the smaller G20 and the larger Q45, both by size and price. The small interior resulted from its rounded styling uncharacteristic of the crowded executive car class, which is now considered an early variant of a four-door coupé.
Design
Exterior styling
The J30 was designed at Nissan Design International (NDI) in La Jolla, California under the direction of president Jerry Hirshberg and exterior designer Doug Wilson in 1988-1989. Hirshberg said it was "the first car in what we see as a trend toward breaking away from the long tyranny of the wedge". Design work was frozen in 1989. In a promotional video produced in 1994, it was referred to as a "personal luxury sedan" as attempt to define it as a four-door coupé. The rounded styling resembles the contemporary Nissan Altima/Bluebird U13, also styled at NDI at approximately the same time..
Paul Dean, in a review for the Los Angeles Times, likened the J30 to "a 1961 Jaguar Mark X that melted", adding the "styling magic ... has softened the bulk of a sedan into the visual delicacy of a coupe". Bob Sikorsky drew a parallel to the 1947 Studebaker Champion and was positive about his driving impression, calling the J30 "one of the best-engineered cars in the world today ... a paragon of smoothness and silence with a remarkable balance between cornering ability and straight-ahead highway cruising". At the launch event, held at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, Hirshberg presented the design theme as "a bold, calligraphic sketch of a line and an egg" and noted it was an attempt to grant "instant heritage" to the nascent Infiniti brand. In a retrospective, Mickey Kaus derided the design as "a pretentious fashion statement" with a "massively round, sagging rear end" that was based "on the bottom of a toilet bowl".
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Common 1994 Infiniti J30 problems
The 1994 Infiniti J30 had a few reported problems that owners should be aware of. One of the most common issues was related to the electrical system. Some owners reported that their J30 had electrical problems, such as the alternator not charging the battery, the engine light coming on and off on its own, and the power windows sticking and not operating. These problems could be caused by a faulty alternator or a malfunctioning electrical system component.
Another issue that was reported by owners was related to the suspension system. Some owners reported that their J30 had a rough ride, or that it bounced excessively on rough roads. This problem was often caused by worn-out shocks or struts. Replacing the shocks or struts should resolve the issue.
Owners of the 1994 Infiniti J30 also reported issues with the air conditioning system. Some owners reported that their J30 had a weak or warm air conditioning, or that the system was not working at all. This problem was often caused by a leaking refrigerant, a faulty compressor or a clogged filter. Recharging the refrigerant, replacing the compressor or filter should fix the issue.
Another problem that was reported by owners was related to the steering system. Some owners reported that their J30 had a steering wheel that was difficult to turn or that it made a whining noise when turning. This problem was often caused by a faulty power steering pump or a leak in the power steering system. Replacing the pump or repairing the leak should fix the issue.
Additionally, owners reported problems related to the engine, such as the car having a hard time starting or stalling while driving. This problem was often caused by a faulty fuel pump or a clogged fuel filter. Replacing the fuel pump or filter should resolve the issue.
Overall, the 1994 Infiniti J30 had a few reported problems that owners should be aware of. Regular maintenance and care can prevent many of these issues from occurring, and owners should consult a qualified mechanic or technician for proper diagnosis and repair.
Is Infiniti J30 reliable?
The exterior and interior of the car is very elegant, it's beauty on the outside and a beast on the inside. A great value for your money, worth every penny. The car is very reliable. Overall it is a well built car and even though it's old it still performs very well.
What engine is in the Infiniti J30?
3.0 L VG30DE V6
Infiniti J30
| Infiniti J30 (Y32) | |
|---|---|
| Engine | 3.0 L VG30DE V6 |
| Transmission | 4-speed automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 108.7 in (2,760 mm) |
Are old INFINITI cars reliable?
RepairPal ranks the INFINITI brand 16th out of 32 best car brands, with a 3.5 out of five overall reliability rating. INFINITIs visit the shop 0.7 times per year on average, with a 10% chance the repairs are severe. The average annual repair cost is $638, lower than the $652 average repair costs across all models.
How long can INFINITI engines last?
Most INFINITI models can typically last up to 200,000 miles.
1994 Infiniti J30 car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Infiniti J30 problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Air bags problems
- Electrical system problems
- Power train problems
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1994 Infiniti J30 vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Latest 25 complaints 1994 Infiniti J30
The NHTSA has received 27 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1994 Infiniti J30. Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for 1994 Infiniti J30 vehicles.
TIRES PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2009-06-09
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: GOODYEAR MODEL GT-1 ON 1994 INFINITY RIGHT REAR TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM TIRE IN ONE PIECE. *TR
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-05-15
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: I WAS THE PASSENGER SO I DON'T HAVE THE VIN NUMBER. WE WERE IN A MINOR COLLISION, AND THE AIR BAGS WERE ACTIVATED. MY AIR BAG FELT LIKE IT LITERALLY PUNCHED ME IN THE FACE. I GOT TREATED AT THE SCENE WHERE AN EMT POURED ABOUT TWO BOTTLES OF SALINE SOLUTION IN MY RIGHT EYE BECAUSE IT WAS STINGING SEVERELY AND I COULDN'T KEEP IT OPEN. I HAD EXTREMELY BLURRY VISION IN MY RIGHT EYE AND COULDN'T EVEN MAKE OUT LARGE SPEED LIMIT SIGNS CLOSE UP. THE AREA AROUND MY EYE WAS BRUISED AND MY OPTOMETRIST SAID THAT I HAD BRUISED THE FOCUSING MUSCLES IN MY EYE AND TO RETURN IMMEDIATELY IF I HAD FURTHER PROBLEMS THAT COULD INDICATE A TORN RETINA. I HAVE JUST RECENTLY HEARD ABOUT THE PROBLEMS WITH THE EARLY ALTIMA AIR BAGS (94-95'S) AND THE OWNER OF THE INFINITI INFORMED ME THAT THE SAME AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS USED IN HIS CAR, A 1994 INFINITI.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-10-26
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- VIN: JNKAY21D4RM
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR UNDER CONTROL AND SAFELY PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SUSTAINED SCRAPES AND BRUISES ON MY LEFT FOREARM. OTHER PASSENGERS (1 ADULT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND A CHILD IN A CHILD SEAT IN THE BACK SEAT WERE UNINJURED). SEVERAL MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAD PERMANENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, AT WHICH TIME THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE DEPLOYMENT SYSTEM AND THAT, IF NOT FIXED, THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY EVEN IN AN ACCIDENT. DUE TO THE COST OF THE REPAIR, IT WAS DECIDED NOT TO REPAIR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM AT THE TIME. *AK
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-01-28
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: PLEASE PROV
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: WHEN HIT AT 65MPH IN THE FRONT CENTER OF THE VEHICLE THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: JNKAY21D1RM
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: AIR BAG DEPLOYED ON MODERATE IMPACT COLLISION. RIGHT EYE SERIOUSLY INJURED BY AIR BAG. SURGERY WAS REQUIRED FOR INJURY TO RIGHT EYE. INJURY CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO NERVES IN THE EYE. DOCTOR SAID I CAN NO LONGER HAVE CORRECTIVE EYE SURGERY IN THE FUTURE AND I WILL DEVELOP CATARACT BECAUSE OF THE DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT EYE. DT
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-09-12
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: CAR AT FIRST WAS DIFFICULT TO START... ULTIMATELY AFTER SOME FOUR TO FIVE INCIDEENTS IT FAILED TO START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A REPAIR SITE.. EMISSION SYSTEM AND STARTING HAVE BEECOME CONSTANT PROBLEMS. *AK
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-07-03
- VIN: JNKAY21D9RM
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: POSSIBLE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE LEADING TO ENGINE OVERREVVING, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO HOLD A CRUISING SPEED. REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY AT A COST OF $3,600 FOR REMANUFACTURED PART. FAILURE AT ONLY 76K MILES SEEMS PREMATURE. *AK
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Crash: 1
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ABOVE 50 MPH. CONSUMER RAN THROUGH A CAR WASH PARKING LOT BEFORE BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO AN HOLT, THE VEHICEL WAS STOPPED WITH THE BRAKES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-11-13
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JNKAY21DORM
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: I HAD A ACCIDENT ON THE INTERSTATE AND ENDED UP CRASHING INTO A UTILITY POLE AT NO TIME DID MY AIRBAGS DEPLOY. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A VEHICLE FOR A MONTH AND I CANNOT BELIEVE WITH THAT MUCH FRONT END DAMAGE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY VEHICLE IS AT BROWN BROTHERS COLLISION CENTER AND WILL BE THERE FOR ANOTHER TWO WEEKS. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1999-06-01
- Fire: 1
- VIN: JNKAY21D9RM
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: WHEN COMING TO A RED LIGHT CONSUMER SMELLED SOMETHING AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD. CONSUMER HAD TO PULL OVER. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME OUT AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. FIRE WAS CAUSED BY ELECTRICAL WIRES OVERHEATING. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-04-01
- VIN: JNKAY2107RM
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: POSSIBLE ODOMETER FRAUD.
EQUIPMENT PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-04-01
- VIN: JNKAY2107RM
- Components: EQUIPMENT
- Summary: CD PLAYER AND REAR SPEAKERS FAILED.
VISIBILITY PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-04-01
- VIN: JNKAY2107RM
- Components: VISIBILITY
- Summary: SUNROOF IMPACTED WITH DEBRIS.
STRUCTURE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1997-06-01
- VIN: INKAY21D5RM
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: LEATHER UPHOLSTRY ON WINDOW PANELS ARE CRACKING.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1998-03-12
- VIN: JNKAY21D8RM
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT A STOP LIGHT.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1997-10-22
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JNKAY21D7RM
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG DURING COLLISION.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- VIN: JNKAYYY21D4
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: UNSPECIFIED.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1997-06-23
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JNKAYYY21D4
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING CRASH.
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-11-16
- VIN: JNKAY21D4RM
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, ENGINE WAS RUNNING BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT BACK BY THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-10-09
- VIN: JNKAY21D5RM
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT REPLACED.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-09-13
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JNKAY21D5RM
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: INTERMITTENT STALLING, CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURY.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-03-01
- VIN: JNKAY21D6RM
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: FUEL INTAKE PROBLEMS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *DSH
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-06-23
- VIN: JNKAY2107RM
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE, ADAPTIVE TYPE OF TRANSMISSION WILL REACT ERRATICALLY. TT
AIR BAGS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1994-08-01
- Components: AIR BAGS
- Summary: PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG HUB IS LIFTING AND DETERIORATING. TT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-02-08
- Crash: 1
- VIN: JNKAY21D6RM
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: COMPRESSOR COMES ON WHILE IDLING CAUSING UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT, CAUSING ACCIDENT. TT
1994 Infiniti J30 recalls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1994 Infiniti J30.
- Manufacturer: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
- Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
- Summary: A HARNESS CONNECTOR PROTECTOR LOCATED NEAR THE SEAT BELT PRE-TENSIONER CAN IGNITE DUE TO THE PROXIMITY TO THE COMBUSTION GAS GENERATED BY THE PRE-TENSIONER WHEN THE DEVICE IS TRIGGERED.
- Consequence: A FIRE CAN OCCUR IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THESE VEHICLES.
- Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HARNESS CONNECTOR PROTECTORS WITH ONES HAVING SUFFICIENT RESISTANCE TO THE COMBUSTION GAS OF THE PRE-TENSIONERS WHEN ACTIVATED.
Negative 1994 Infiniti J30 car reviews
Positive 1994 Infiniti J30 car reviews
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I purchased my J almost 9 years ago, used, with nearly 39,000 miles on it and have been driving it low mileage ever since. It has been THE BEST car I have ever owned. Although I had a problem with the sunroof, I reached out to Nissan and they reimbursed me half of the cost. The car does not get great mileage, but I love to punch it. The stereo is amazing. I recently replaced the transmission, but that is the ONLY repair I have had to make outside of the sunroof and normal wear and tear such as oil changes, tires, and brakes. I DO take good care of my car. I do not believe that the unhappy owners are lying, but I am astounded by their dissatisfaction. The J is, in a word, awesome, and it is unfortunate that cars of this quality are not made anymore.
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I really like it! It handles well, has a big engine, is super reliable, and looks like a Jag.
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I purchased my '94 J30 in December '99 with only 58,000 miles on it for less than $8,500. To be honest, I haven't been the best at keeping up with maintenance over the past year, but this car just keeps going. The transmission, engine, and HVAC systems are all still running smoothly. The 3.0L engine definitely lives up to its reputation and I can go about 5,000 miles between oil changes without any issues (I use Castrol Syntec oil). Even after a serious rear collision, the car is still in great shape.
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I've been the proud owner of my Infiniti J30 for 5 years now. I'm so grateful that I decided to get the extended warranty when I purchased it. It really paid off when I needed major transmission work, but thankfully it was all covered. Additionally, thanks to the warranty, I was able to get new shocks for the car. When I first bought it, the car had 44k on the clock. Since all of those issues were corrected, this car has been running like a dream and I haven't experienced any other problems. Overall, it's been an excellent automobile!
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I love the way this car looks, handles, and rides, but unfortunately the repair costs have been quite high. The sunroof motor needed replacing at 100k miles and cost $1700, while the left door window motor needed replacing at 105k miles and cost $450. The timing chain also needed replacing at 98k miles and cost $700. Now it needs new struts, which are $386 each before labor costs. Despite these issues, the car has held up well for 10 years and still looks luxurious as a used luxury car. However, I personally would not purchase another one.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1994 Infiniti J30 problems:
1994 infiniti j30 transmission problems - Nissan Forum | Nissan ...
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1994 Infiniti J30 Reviews - Carsurvey.org
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I just bought a 1994 infinity J30 and it wont start.
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Other years of Infiniti J30
Are you having problems with your 1994 Infiniti J30?
Freeman Harris 2024-10-09
I recently purchased a car from an elderly couple with only 80k miles on it, with the intention of giving it to my son for school. However, I soon realized that the car was too powerful for a 19-year-old to handle, so I decided to drive it myself. It turned out to be a wise decision, as the car has had several issues with the steering, transmission, radio, sunroof motor, airbag light, and it was designed for someone shorter than 5'10
Bernardo Kihn 2024-10-09
I hope you're doing well! I noticed that you've owned your Infiniti for three years now. It sounds like you've had some mixed experiences with it. While you find it fun to drive and appreciate the excellent performance, you've also found it to be unreliable. Additionally, you've noticed that the cabin is well isolated from the outside, but road and engine noise are very noticeable. You've also found the seats to be poorly shaped and too hard, which can make long trips unpleasant. Headroom is barely adequate, and foot room is mediocre, especially on the passenger side. On the bright side, the auto-temp climate control system works well, and the Bose sound system is top-notch. Overall, it sounds like you've had some ups and downs with your Infiniti, but I appreciate you sharing your thoughts with me!
Tyrel Pfeffer 2024-04-12
Just recently bought mine and I'm really enjoying it. The handling and acceleration are great. I also love the power and the heated driver and passenger seats. If you're considering a used luxury sedan, the J30 is definitely the way to go. You get a more powerful engine and more standard features for your money than a similarly equipped ES300.
Parker Roberts 2024-02-24
The transmission of the car I purchased started having issues at 72K miles, despite the seller's assurance that it was in good condition. I made the mistake of taking it to AAMCO for repairs, enticed by their lifetime warranty, but it ran poorly afterwards. Additionally, I encountered some issues with AAMCO's pricing, as they quoted $1500 initially but charged $2500 after the repair was completed. Unfortunately, the transmission failed again on the first day I got it back, after two weeks. The second repair, which took another two weeks, only lasted a year. I also experienced an AC leak that neither AAMCO nor Nissan could locate, despite the latter's exhaustive search.
Murl Sipes 2024-02-08
I purchased a car with 36000 miles on it, but unfortunately, it spent a considerable amount of time in the shop for the next 6 months. I had a difficult experience with Bob Moore Infiniti in Okla City, and I would not recommend buying anything from them. During my sixth visit, the engine shorted out the computer and blew it up, causing significant damage. However, the staff was understanding and decided not to charge me for the repairs. The car's interior quality and electronics have not met my expectations, and I have experienced more problems than with any other car. As a result, I have decided not to purchase another Infiniti.