The Infiniti J30 spans 1993–1997 with 5 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 3.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 1994, 1993, 1995 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 1996, 1997, 1995. It delivers up to 18 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Infiniti J30 is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 1993 to 1997 across multiple generations.
How to read a Infiniti J30 VIN — every digit explained
Every Infiniti J30 carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit 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 this J30.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. For the full year-code table (2001–2026), country codes and where the VIN is stamped on your J30, see the complete guide to reading a VIN.
How many recalls does the Infiniti J30 have?
The Infiniti J30 has 5 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1993–1997. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
1995 Infiniti J30 recalls 1
Seat Belts:front:anchorage
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. A FIRE CAN OCCUR IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THESE VEHICLES.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HARNESS CONNECTOR PROTECTORS WITH ONES HAVING SUFFICIENT RESISTANCE TO THE COMBUSTION GAS OF THE PRE-TENSIONERS WHEN ACTIVATED.
1994 Infiniti J30 recalls 1
Seat Belts:front:anchorage
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. A FIRE CAN OCCUR IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THESE VEHICLES.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HARNESS CONNECTOR PROTECTORS WITH ONES HAVING SUFFICIENT RESISTANCE TO THE COMBUSTION GAS OF THE PRE-TENSIONERS WHEN ACTIVATED.
1993 Infiniti J30 recalls 1
Seat Belts:front:anchorage
What's wrong. 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.
Risk. A FIRE CAN OCCUR IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THESE VEHICLES.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HARNESS CONNECTOR PROTECTORS WITH ONES HAVING SUFFICIENT RESISTANCE TO THE COMBUSTION GAS OF THE PRE-TENSIONERS WHEN ACTIVATED.
Best and worst years for the Infiniti J30
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 5 tracked years, the worst years are 1994, 1993, 1995 and the best (fewest complaints) are 1996, 1997, 1995.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 J30 | Air Bags | Avoid | |
| 1994 J30 | Air Bags | Avoid | |
| 1995 J30 | Vehicle Speed Control | Avoid | |
| 1996 J30 | Vehicle Speed Control | Best | |
| 1997 J30 | Electrical System | Best |
What are the most common Infiniti J30 problems?
The most-reported Infiniti J30 problems are Seats (3 reports), Tires (3 reports) and Wheels (1 reports) — out of 92 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Infiniti J30 specifications & dimensions
The 1993–1997 Infiniti J30 measures 191″ long on a 109″ wheelbase, with a curb weight near 3,474 lb. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Infiniti J30 window sticker.
| Years | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–1997 | 191″ | 70″ | 54″ | 109″ | 3,527 lb |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Infiniti J30 cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the J30 holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 87 cu ft of passenger volume and 10 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Infiniti J30 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Infiniti J30 get?
The Infiniti J30 returns up to 18 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $4,300/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 1997 Infiniti J30 (3L 6-cyl) gets 18 mpg combined and costs about $4,300/yr to fuel, emitting 494 g/mi CO₂ — about $10,500 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 J30 | 16 | 22 | $4,300 | 494 | — | 3L 6-cyl | |
| 1996 J30 | 16 | 22 | $4,300 | 494 | — | 3L 6-cyl | |
| 1995 J30 | 16 | 22 | $4,300 | 494 | — | 3L 6-cyl | |
| 1994 J30 | 16 | 22 | $4,300 | 494 | — | 3L 6-cyl | |
| 1993 J30 | 16 | 21 | $4,300 | 494 | — | 3L 6-cyl |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the J30 stacks up against the most fuel-efficient sedans, or calculate this J30's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Infiniti J30 have? Power & range
The Infiniti J30 is offered with 1 powertrain — 3L 6-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.0L · 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
How much does a Infiniti J30 cost to own?
A Infiniti J30 tends to depreciate faster than average. A typical example keeps roughly 37% of its value after five years — losing about 63% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 75% | $22,500 | −$7,500 |
| Year 2 | 63% | $18,900 | −$11,100 |
| Year 3 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 4 | 44% | $13,200 | −$16,800 |
| Year 5 | 37% | $11,100 | −$18,900 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this J30 loses about 63% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $21,500 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the J30 ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Infiniti J30 safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the J30 yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
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How many miles does a Infiniti J30 last?
A well-maintained Infiniti J30 typically lasts 200,000–250,000 miles. With regular oil, transmission and timing service, most examples comfortably pass the 200,000-mile mark. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 3.5/5.
Check your Infiniti J30’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this J30’s VIN free →All Infiniti J30 model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Infiniti J30 — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 J30 | 1 recall | — | |
| 1996 J30 | 1 recall | — | |
| 1995 J30 | 1 recall | — | |
| 1994 J30 | 1 recall | — | |
| 1993 J30 | 1 recall | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the J30?
By owner-complaint volume, 1994, 1993, 1995 drew the most reports. 1996, 1997, 1995 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the J30 have?
5 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1993–1997. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Infiniti recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the J30 get?
Up to 18 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a J30 last?
A well-maintained J30 typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the J30 reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the J30 is 3.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Infiniti J30 warranty?
New Infiniti models carry a 4 years / 50,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 6 years / 70,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Infiniti dealer.
Where is the Infiniti J30 made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your J30's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Infiniti may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much does a J30 weigh?
The J30's curb weight is around 3,474 lb. Its GVWR — the maximum loaded weight — decodes from the VIN.
How much ground clearance does the J30 have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.