InfinitiQ451990Overview/infiniti/q45/1990/base/

1990 Infiniti Q45

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1990 Q45.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1990 Infiniti Q45, powered by a 4‑speed automatic transmission and requiring 6.3 quarts of 5W‑30 or 10W‑30 oil, returned EPA fuel economy of 15 city, 20 highway, and 17 combined mpg. With 33 total owner complaints and one recall, its most frequently cited trouble area was the powertrain, and within the model’s 1990–2006 complaint history—where 1991 peaked at 47 complaints and 1993 bottomed at just two—this debut year occupies a moderate position, offering researchers a baseline for reliability comparisons across the generation.

Model year200620052004200320022001199919981990

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.3 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 / 10W-30 API SMOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/20/17 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length200 in
Overall width72 in
Overall height56.3 in
Wheelbase113.4 in
Track (front / rear)61.4 / 61.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 20 / 17 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume95 cu ft
Cargo volume15 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Q45 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.9–7.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.90 sec — 1990 Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1990Sedan 4.5L V86.90 sec15.40 sec278 hpRWD
1990Sedan 4.5L V87.20 sec15.30 sec278 hpRWD
1990Sedan 4.5L V87.90 sec15.80 sec278 hpRWD
1991t Sedan 4.5L V87.30 sec15.60 sec278 hpRWD
1994t Sedan 4.5L V88.20 sec16.30 sec278 hpRWD
1995a Sedan (Full-Active Suspension) 4.5L V87.80 sec16.10 sec278 hpRWD
1995t Sedan 4.5L V87.90 sec16.20 sec278 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6.3 qt of 5W-30 / 10W-30 API SM engine oil, 75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil75W-90 · 80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3.1 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · 10W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.3 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

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) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · PCV Hose (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miActive Suspension System (drain & refill) · Spark 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 1990 model sits at the leading edge of the federal record, carrying 33 complaints, 1 recall, 1 investigation, and just 10 TSBs—substantially fewer technical bulletins than the 30 recorded in 1991 and 34 in 1992, and below the 47 complaints and 3 investigations seen in 1991. Across the early years of the record, the trend shows an initial spike to 47 complaints and 3 investigations in 1991 followed by volatility, including a dip to 2 complaints in 1993 and a rebound to 36 in 1994, before complaints settle to single digits by 1995–1996 and recalls disappear entirely after 1992. Relative to that arc, the 1990 model year logged the fewest TSBs of any year in the dataset and only one recall and one investigation, though its 33 complaints exceed every later year through 1996 except for the 47 filed in 1991 and the 36 filed in 1994. Federal filings for 1990 include zero fire complaints and one crash complaint, with the top complaint areas being Power Train (13), Engine & Engine Cooling (4), Visibility (4), and Steering (2), though the data does not specify root causes. Because 1990 combines a moderate complaint load with the lowest TSB count and minimal recall exposure of the early run, it presents a relatively favorable risk profile for a Q45 buyer, provided the single recall has been completed and power train symptoms are inspected.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
10
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
33
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 33 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train13
Engine & Engine Cooling4
Visibility4
Steering2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
Electrical System2
Fuel System, Gasoline,Power Train1
Equipment1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

95V103002Seat Belts:Front:Buckle AssemblyReported 24/05/1995

THE FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLE RELEASE BUTTONS CAN BREAK. THESE RED PLASTIC RELEASE BUTTONS ARE MARKED "PRESS." IF A BUTTON BREAKS, PIECES CAN FALL INTO THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY CAUSING THE BUCKLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY. Remedy: OWNERS SHOULD PROMPTLY CHECK THE CONDITION AND OPERATION OF BOTH FRONT SAFETY BELT BUCKLES AND CAREFULLY INSPECT THE RED RELEASE BUTTON FOR ANY BREAKS OR CRACKS. THEY SHOULD…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 10 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…
ITB-08-024A2014-01-27Air BagsINFINITI: SRS PRECAUTIONS DURING SERVICE. INCLUDED IN THE RESTRAINTS SECTION OF THE…
ITB-09-0502010-09-30TiresINFINITI: TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WARNING LIGHT ON/BLINKING. NO MODELS OR…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Q45. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1990 Q45 take?

6.3 qt of 5W-30 OR 10W-30 API SM, per the factory manual.

Does the 1990 Q45 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Q45 get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 20 highway / 17 combined mpg.