Recall 12V088 affects 8,120 2003-2004 INFINITI M45 vehicles for a fuel-gauge circuit defect. Repair is free at any franchised INFINITI dealer.
INFINITI is recalling 8,120 2003-2004 M45 sedans because a circuit board failure can make the fuel gauge show more fuel than the tank contains. If the vehicle runs out of gas, it can stall without warning and increase crash risk; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The fuel gauge in the 2003-2004 INFINITI M45 is supposed to show how much gasoline is in the tank before you decide whether to keep driving or stop for fuel. A circuit board in the gauge receives the fuel-level signal and helps turn it into the needle reading on the dashboard. That reading only helps if the board reports the tank level accurately.
In affected M45 vehicles, that circuit board fails and sends the wrong information to the gauge. The dashboard needle reads higher than the actual fuel level in the tank. The driver sees fuel remaining, but the tank is closer to empty than the gauge shows. As a result, the vehicle can run out of gas without warning.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is that the gauge itself gives the misleading reading, so an owner has no separate signal that the tank is lower than shown.
Who's affected?
Both model years are tied to the same fuel system component.
| 2004 INFINITI M45 | fuel system |
|---|---|
| 2003 INFINITI M45 | fuel system |
| Units affected | 8,120 |
Not every 2003-2004 INFINITI M45 sedan is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific sedan is included.
What's the safety risk?
A stall without warning can leave the 2003-2004 M45 stopped in traffic and increases the risk of a crash. If the engine stalls, steer to a safe location, shift to park, and call an INFINITI dealer before driving again. Repair will be free at any franchised INFINITI dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2003-2004 INFINITI M45 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised INFINITI dealer and ask whether recall number 12V088 is open for your VIN.
- Schedule the free circuit-board modification that corrects the fuel-gauge reading.
- Bring the recall notice if INFINITI mailed one, or give the dealer recall number 12V088.
- Keep fuel in the tank until the repair is complete because the gauge can read higher than the actual fuel level.
What happens at the repair
The source remedy says an INFINITI dealer modifies the circuit board tied to the fuel gauge system. That work is meant to stop the gauge from showing more fuel than the tank actually contains. Because the remedy status field is not marked available, do not assume the final repair appointment is open from this section alone. The dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered by the recall.
Timeline
| March 6, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 27, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V088?
Recall 12V088 covers 8,120 2003-2004 INFINITI M45 vehicles with a fuel-gauge circuit board failure. The gauge can show more fuel than the tank contains, which can let the vehicle run out of gas and stall without warning. INFINITI dealers modify the circuit board for free.
What should I do if my 2003-2004 INFINITI M45 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific M45 is included in recall 12V088. If it is, contact a franchised INFINITI dealer and ask for the fuel-gauge circuit board recall repair. Reference recall number 12V088 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Will the INFINITI M45 recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal recall law requires the recall repair to be performed at no cost, and INFINITI's remedy provides the circuit board modification free of charge through franchised dealers. Parts and labor are covered for an included VIN.
What is the safety risk in recall 12V088?
The safety risk is an unexpected stall. If the fuel gauge reads higher than the actual fuel level, the M45 can run out of gas without notice. That stall increases crash risk, so confirm your VIN and get the free dealer repair completed.
What if I bought my INFINITI M45 used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. If you never received the owner letter, check your VIN, then call a franchised INFINITI dealer with recall number 12V088 and ask to schedule the circuit board modification.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V088000 |
|---|---|
| INFINITI customer service | 1-800-647-7261 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V088 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V088000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →