InfinitiI301996Electric/infiniti/i30/1996/electric/

1996 Infiniti I30

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 I30.

Body PASSENGER CAREngine ElectricTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1996 Infiniti I30 Electric is a passenger car powered by an electric engine paired with an automatic 4-speed transmission, representing Infiniti's early commitment to zero-emission technology during a period of experimental electric vehicle development. This model year accumulated 31 total owner complaints, with vehicle speed control emerging as the most frequently reported issue, though notably it experienced zero recalls—a distinction that separated it from many contemporaries facing safety-related manufacturer interventions. When examined within the broader 1996-2004 I30 complaint history, the 1996 model's 31 complaints positioned it well below the peak of 79 recorded in 2001, suggesting that initial production challenges and owner expectations for electric vehicle performance were relatively manageable compared to later model years. The absence of recalls combined with complaint levels that remained well below the model's highest-complaint years indicates that the 1996 I30 Electric established a comparatively solid foundation for Infiniti's electric vehicle program, though the relatively low complaint floor eventually reached by the 2004 model suggests ongoing refinement throughout the model's lifecycle.

Model year2001199819971996

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque72-87 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA efficiency18/26/21 MPGeEPA · verified
EPA electric range0 miEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 U.S. · 360 U.S. CCA battery, OE oil filter 152089E01A. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 U.S. · 360 U.S. CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205-65R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rim6-, 6.5-JJ inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter152089E01A
Engine air filter16546V0100
Fuel filter1640041B1A
Front wiper blades288901E301 alt 288903W40A
Serpentine belt1195031U00 alt 1192031U02
Thermostat1305031U00 alt 2120031U03

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length189.8 in
Overall width69.7 in
Overall height55.9 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight3155 lb
Track (front / rear)59.8 / 59.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)63/37

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 26 / 21 MPGe
Electric range0 mi
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume100 cu ft
Cargo volume15 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 72-87 ft-lbs.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidNissan Matic-D
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity9.9
Brake FluidDOT 3
Power Steering FluidATF

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts72-87 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub174-231 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub163 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.32-1.55 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity8.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35 U.S.
Standard BCI Cranking Performance360 U.S. cca
Optional BCI Group Number24F Canada

Service checks

Pressure Test23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief11-14 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature180 °F

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket53-72 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle72-87 ft-lbs / 16-23 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.059 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0004 in / 0.0008 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0031 in / 0.0059 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.87 in / 0.35 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.87 in / 0.35 in
Rotor Minimum Machining0.787 in / 0.31 in

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 7,500 miBattery (inspect electrolyte level) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Transmission Assembly (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1996 I30 debuts as the generation's first model year with 31 complaints, zero recalls, and zero investigations — a cleaner federal record than the 19982001 peak period when complaints reached 79 and recalls climbed to three annually. Its 93 technical service bulletins match the 1997 high before tapering toward 1999, then spiking again in 2000–2001, suggesting early production adjustments were typical for this platform. The leading complaint categories — vehicle speed control (6), tires (5), and visibility (5) — align with common first-year teething issues, though the data does not specify root causes. Four crash-related complaints appear with no fire incidents reported. Compared to the escalating recall and complaint trajectory through 2001, the 1996 model avoids the later systemic campaigns, making it a relatively lower-risk vintage provided all 93 TSBs have been addressed.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
93
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
31
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 31 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Vehicle Speed Control6
Tires5
Visibility5
Air Bags3
Engine & Engine Cooling2
Fuel System, Gasoline2
Suspension,Seat Belts,Engine1
Electrical System,Vehicle Speed Control1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 93 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
ITB13-007H2023-02-27StructureREMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See…
ITB09-039J2023-02-27VisibilityWINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last…
ITB10-067C2023-02-22WheelsWHEEL BEARING COLLISION DAMAGE This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on…
ITB16-006A2021-03-24Electrical SystemINFINITI; FRONT SONAR PARKING SENSOR SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended…
ITB98-033a2020-08-06SteeringVOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN I30 P/S RETURN HOSE LEAKS Service Campaign ID # P8145 is no…

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Vehicles with shared specs

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Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 1996 I30 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What is the EPA range and efficiency of the I30?

EPA figures are 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined MPGe. EPA electric range is 0 miles.