Infiniti is a Japanese carmaker founded in 1989, now part of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.. The cars themselves are another matter: across 8 VIN prefixes on record they came off lines in 4 countries — Japan 74.2%, the United States 19.6%, Mexico 5%. 33 models are tracked here (1990–2026). Reliable? yes, on balance — 4.0 out of 5 across 33 rated models, though the spread between model years is far wider than the badge suggests (every model ranked →).
Who makes Infiniti
INFINITI is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Nissan, headquartered in Yokohama and operating as a wholly owned subsidiary. Launched in the United States on November 8, 1989 (the same calendar year as Lexus), INFINITI was conceived to compete with German and other Japanese luxury brands in North America. The original 1990 Q45 paired a 4.5-liter V8 with active suspension and zero-emblem grille styling — a reference to the brand's minimalist Japanese-influenced design philosophy. The brand has historically run behind Lexus and Acura in US luxury sales but has competed in product engineering — INFINITI's 2018 VC-Turbo Variable Compression engine was the first production powertrain with on-the-fly compression-ratio change. The current US lineup centers on the QX60, QX55 and QX80 SUVs and the Q50 sedan. INFINITI's parent Nissan trades on OTC US markets as NSANY. Recall data for every INFINITI VIN is reported to NHTSA, and EPA fuel-economy ratings, IIHS scores and J.D. Power studies provide independent benchmarks. ForCar.org decodes any INFINITI VIN to surface trim, factory options, open recalls and original window-sticker MSRP.
Nissan launched INFINITI in November 1989 with two models: the Q45 V8 sport sedan and the M30 coupe and convertible. The 1989 advertising campaign — natural landscapes with no vehicles shown — became a case study in zen marketing. The 2003 G35, a rear-drive sport sedan benchmarking BMW 3-Series, established INFINITI as a credible enthusiast brand. The G37 Sedan and Coupe carried the formula until 2013 when INFINITI rebranded its model nomenclature to Q (cars) and QX (SUVs).
| Infiniti | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founded by | Nissan Motor Corporation |
| Headquarters | Yokohama, Japan |
| Owned by | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. |
| Listed as | NSANY |
| Slogan | «Empower the Drive» |
| Models tracked here | 33 (1990–2026) |
| Assembled in | 4 countries |
Technology it is known for: VC-Turbo Variable Compression engine, ProPILOT Assist 2.0, Direct Adaptive Steering, INFINITI InTouch infotainment, Forest Air HVAC purification.
This page covers INFINITI, the Nissan luxury division — not the mathematical infinity symbol or any Infiniti-branded products outside Nissan.
Where Infiniti cars are actually built
A badge says where a company is registered, not where its cars were bolted together. The first three characters of any VIN — the world manufacturer identifier — say the second thing, and that is what we counted: 4,562 vehicles on record, 8 distinct manufacturer codes.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JNK, JN1, JN8, JNR | 1990–2026 | |
| the United States | 5N1, 5N3 | 2004–2026 | |
| Mexico | 3PC | 2019–2025 | |
| the United Kingdom | SJK | 2017–2019 |
Read your own: the first character is the region, the first three together identify the plant's manufacturer. A Infiniti beginning JNK was assembled in Japan.
All Infiniti models 33
Every Infiniti model we track, grouped by body type. Click any model for its VIN decoder, recalls, MPG, safety and ForCar Reliability Score — broken down by year.
Infiniti SUVs & crossovers 13
Infiniti Cars & sedans 20
Infiniti by the numbers
What the federal records say about the marque. Each line links to the full breakdown by model and year.
| Topic | Infiniti | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 522 campaigns | Most recalled: Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module |
| Owner complaints | 4,288+ filed | Most reported: G35 |
| Fuel economy | 31 mpg best | Leader: Q50 |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ top rated | 7 models tested by NHTSA |
| Insurance | $1,783/yr typical | Cheapest: FX37 |
Compare model years like a dealer does.
- Full research report on any model year
- Market chart: how this model holds value
- Exact values with mileage adjustment
- Price-drop alerts on the trims you're watching
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Infiniti hybrids & electric models
Infiniti's electrified lineup — 4 hybrids. Click any model for its full powertrain, MPG and range by year.
Infiniti hybrids 4
Electrified variants from EPA fueleconomy.gov powertrain data. A model may offer gas, hybrid and electric versions across years.
Get a Infiniti window sticker by VIN
Recreate any Infiniti's original Monroney label — MSRP, factory options, EPA MPG and safety — free from the VIN.
Infiniti window stickers →How to read a Infiniti VIN
Every Infiniti built since 1981 carries a unique 17-character VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). It encodes where and when the vehicle was made, its engine and body — here's what each part means:
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Infiniti and the country it was built in.
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled it.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
The remaining digits — engine (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the number is stamped, see our free VIN decoder.
Who owns Infiniti, and what you get
Infiniti belongs to Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.. INFINITI competes in the US, Canadian, Middle Eastern and select Asian luxury segments against Lexus, Acura, Cadillac, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. Sales volumes have declined sharply since 2017 as the brand has narrowed its lineup to focus on SUVs. INFINITI's 2025 product cycle promises full electrification, including the QX Inspiration concept that previews a battery-electric crossover.
| Infiniti | |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Japan |
| Ownership | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. |
| Stock ticker | NSANY |
| Basic warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
| Powertrain warranty | 6 years / 70,000 miles |
| Assembly countries | Japan, United States, Mexico, United Kingdom |
⚠ Worth knowing before you rely on it: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, while basic cover here runs 4 years / 50,000 miles. See when Infiniti models actually start to break →
Infiniti — frequently asked
Is Infiniti japanese?
Infiniti is a Japanese company, headquartered in Yokohama and founded in 1989. The cars are a separate question: 74.2% of the Infiniti vehicles in our records were assembled in Japan.
Where are Infiniti cars made?
Across 8 manufacturer codes on record, assembly splits as: Japan (74.2%), the United States (19.6%), Mexico (5%), the United Kingdom (1.2%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the manufacturer and plant country — that is where these shares come from.
Who owns Infiniti?
Infiniti is part of Nissan Motor Co., Ltd..
How many Infiniti models are there?
We track 33 Infiniti models spanning 1990–2026. The full list is above, ordered by how often each is searched.
What is the Infiniti warranty?
New vehicles come with 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 6 years / 70,000 miles on the powertrain. Terms vary by model year and market — confirm with a dealer.
Is Infiniti reliable?
It depends far more on the model and year than on the badge. Every Infiniti model is ranked by complaint rate here, along with the age at which each starts to fail.