The Infiniti M45 is a full-size car built from 2003 to 2010 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in Japan — 100% of those on record. Engines offered: V8. Worth buying? It holds up well, with the usual caveat about model years at 4.0/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the M45 is
The Infiniti M45 is a full-size car that Infiniti built from 2003 to 2010 — 8 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 2006. It has been offered with V8 power. Its closest sibling in the Infiniti range: M35.
Where the M45 is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 154 M45s on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JNK | 2003-2004 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Infiniti VIN decide which of these 2 lines your M45 belongs to. What every character in a M45 VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Infiniti M45 adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
M45 generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the M45's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the M45 that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-2004 | 501 cm | 280 cm | 1761 kg | - | - |
| 2006-2010 | 491 cm | 289 cm | 1800 kg | -10 cm | +39 kg |
Between 2003 and 2010 the M45 gained -10 cm in length (-2.0%) and 39 kg in weight (+2.2%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the M45 that is 39 kg against -10 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Infiniti M45 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment M45 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 engines does the Infiniti M45 have? Power & range
The Infiniti M45 is offered with 1 powertrain — 4.5L 8-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Infiniti M45, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V8 | 4.5L · 8-cyl | Automatic (S5) | 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.
The M45 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Infiniti M45. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | M45 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 33 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 174 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.0 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,682/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 24 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Infiniti M45?
The M45 is a full-size car, built from 2003 to 2010 across 2 generations. Engines offered: V8.
Where is the Infiniti M45 made?
Across 154 cars in our records the split is: Japan (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the M45 have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2006. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car.
What is the Infiniti M45 warranty?
New models carry 4 years / 50,000 miles basic cover and 6 years / 70,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the M45 reliable?
It scores 4.0/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific M45?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Infiniti
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Infiniti Q50 | 2014–2026 | 31 | 31 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Infiniti QX60 | 2014–2026 | 33 | 26 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Infiniti QX80 | 2014–2026 | 31 | 18 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Infiniti G37 | 2008–2013 | 22 | 22 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Infiniti G35 | 2003–2009 | 19 | 20 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Infiniti Q60 | 2014–2022 | 16 | 25 mpg | 4.0/5 |
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