Infiniti G35 2003–2006 problems by year and mileage
1st generation (V35)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20261,137 complaints, 898 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 2003 Infiniti G35
Close- Median failure report
- 87,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 533
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2003
- Electrical system220 reports · median 90,000 mi
- Visibility equipment68 reports · median 96,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system67 reports · median 98,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 2003: Fuel system, gasoline; Engine and engine cooling; Exterior lighting — brake lights. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2004 Infiniti G35
Close- Median failure report
- 61,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 244
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2004
- Engine43 reports · median 106,000 mi
- Electrical system41 reports · median 96,000 mi
- Exterior lighting41 reports · median 87,000 mi
1 recall campaign names the 2004: Fuel system, gasoline. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2005 Infiniti G35
Close- Median failure report
- 78,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 215
- Recalls naming this year
- 1
Most reported on the 2005
- Airbag system46 reports · median 88,000 mi
- Engine38 reports · median 103,000 mi
- Exterior lighting30 reports
1 recall campaign names the 2005: Seats. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2006 Infiniti G35
Close- Median failure report
- 55,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 145
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2006
- Engine and its cooling system21 reports
- Airbag system20 reports
- Exterior lighting20 reports
2 recall campaigns name the 2006: Seats; Exterior lighting — headlights. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. The 2003 reports latest and the 2006 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 2003 has had 3 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.
The short answer
“Is the 2003–2006 Infiniti G35 reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 80,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 140,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 898
- Recalls
- 7
Most reported
- Electrical system26.5% of complaints · median 93,000 mi
- Engine13.8% of complaints · median 108,000 mi
- Exterior lighting12.8% of complaints · median 81,000 mi
Documented problems
- Engine Oil Consumption (VQ35DE)2003–2004
- Timing Chain Guides and Tensioner2003–2006
- Crankshaft/Camshaft Position Sensors2003–2006
- Front Brakes2003–2005
Owners filed 1,137 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003–2006 Infiniti G35; the electrical system leads with 26.5% of them, and half of the 898 that record an odometer reading came by 80,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 46,000 and 110,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 2003–2006 Infiniti G35 last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 2003–2006 Infiniti G35, half of the 898 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 80,000 miles and 90% by 140,000 miles.
79 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 11 past 200,000 — each one proof that a G35 reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Infiniti G35 2003–2006 · 898 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 10,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 88 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 11 complaints (1.2%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 10,000
- 25%
- 45,591
- Median
- 79,895
- 75%
- 110,000
- 90%
- 140,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 88 | 9.8% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 50 | 5.6% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 28 | 3.1% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 33 | 3.7% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 40 | 4.5% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 58 | 6.5% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 65 | 7.2% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 87 | 9.7% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 84 | 9.4% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 69 | 7.7% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 62 | 6.9% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 61 | 6.8% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 42 | 4.7% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 29 | 3.2% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 23 | 2.6% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 17 | 1.9% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 15 | 1.7% |
| 170,000–180,000 | 16 | 1.8% |
| 180,000–190,000 | 13 | 1.4% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 7 | 0.8% |
| 200,000+ | 11 | 1.2% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common G35 problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Infiniti G35 2003–2006
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Hydraulic brake circuit75 reports14,0007,500–31,000Hydraulic brake circuit: 75 reports, median 14,000 miles, middle half 7,500 to 31,000 miles.
- Engine and its cooling system130 reports80,00030,000–107,000Engine and its cooling system: 130 reports, median 80,000 miles, middle half 30,000 to 107,000 miles.
- Exterior lighting145 reports81,00060,000–111,000Exterior lighting: 145 reports, median 81,000 miles, middle half 60,000 to 111,000 miles.
- Airbag system106 reports86,00055,000–116,000Airbag system: 106 reports, median 86,000 miles, middle half 55,000 to 116,000 miles.
- Visibility equipment83 reports88,00078,000–110,000Visibility equipment: 83 reports, median 88,000 miles, middle half 78,000 to 110,000 miles.
- Electrical system301 reports93,00074,000–115,000Electrical system: 301 reports, median 93,000 miles, middle half 74,000 to 115,000 miles.
- Engine157 reports108,00076,000–140,000Engine: 157 reports, median 108,000 miles, middle half 76,000 to 140,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 301 | 26.5% | 93,000 | 74,000–115,000 |
| Engine | 157 | 13.8% | 108,000 | 76,000–140,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 145 | 12.8% | 81,000 | 60,000–111,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 130 | 11.4% | 80,000 | 30,000–107,000 |
| Airbag system | 106 | 9.3% | 86,000 | 55,000–116,000 |
| Visibility equipment | 83 | 7.3% | 88,000 | 78,000–110,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 75 | 6.6% | 14,000 | 7,500–31,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 68 | 6.0% | 40,000 | 7,000–77,000 |
| Equipment | 63 | 5.5% | 81,000 | 64,000–100,000 |
| Seats | 52 | 4.6% | 67,000 | 45,000–94,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 80,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The electrical system accounts for 26.5% of complaints (301 reports, 253 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 93,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 74,000 and 115,000 miles.
A single system taking 26.5% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The engine accounts for 13.8% of complaints (157 reports, 129 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 108,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 76,000 and 140,000 miles.
The exterior lighting accounts for 12.8% of complaints (145 reports, 107 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 81,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 60,000 and 111,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 11.4% of complaints (130 reports, 118 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 30,000 and 107,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 9.3% of complaints (106 reports, 76 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 86,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 55,000 and 116,000 miles.
Visibility equipment accounts for 7.3% of complaints (83 reports, 72 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 88,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 78,000 and 110,000 miles.
Known problems with the 2003–2006 G35
Engine Oil Consumption (VQ35DE) 2003–2004
High oil consumption and blow-by from worn piston ring sealing, typically surfacing around 60,000-80,000 miles on the earliest cars.
Timing Chain Guides and Tensioner 2003–2006
Premature wear of the timing chain rail guides and tensioner causes rattle/tapping; disintegrating guide material can fall into the oil pan and block pickup.
Crankshaft/Camshaft Position Sensors 2003–2006
Position sensor failures cause stalling at idle and no-start conditions; failure rates were high enough that Nissan addressed them through a recall/service campaign.
Front Brakes 2003–2005
Rotor warping and rapid pad wear generate heavy vibration complaints, concentrated on the sedan in the early years.
Torque Converter Clutch Solenoid (automatic) 2005–2006
TCC solenoid failure as early as around 30,000 miles causes slippage and hard shifts; the fix pairs solenoid replacement with a PCM reflash per TSB.
Before you buy a 2003–2006 G35: the 3-minute check
Generated from 898 mileage-tagged complaints, 7 recall campaigns, 5 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 7 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine oil consumption (VQ35DE) on 2003–2004 cars. High oil consumption and blow-by from worn piston ring sealing, typically surfacing around 60,000-80,000 miles on the earliest cars.
- Check timing chain guides and tensioner on 2003–2006 cars. Premature wear of the timing chain rail guides and tensioner causes rattle/tapping; disintegrating guide material can fall into the oil pan and block pickup.
- Check crankshaft/camshaft position sensors on 2003–2006 cars. Position sensor failures cause stalling at idle and no-start conditions; failure rates were high enough that Nissan addressed them through a recall/service campaign.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 46,000 and 110,000 miles, with a median of 80,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the electrical system and the engine are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 93,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
G35 problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi33% below | At 90k mi59% below | At 120k mi81% below | At 150k mi91% below | At 200k mi99% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 74,000–115,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine | 76,000–140,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Exterior lighting | 60,000–111,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 30,000–107,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Airbag system | 55,000–116,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Visibility equipment | 78,000–110,000 | later | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 7,500–31,000 | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Infiniti G35 2003–2006 · 898 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 33% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 59% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 81% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 91% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 99% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 99%: the remaining 1.2% of reports (11) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
2003–2006 Infiniti G35 recalls (7)
NHTSA records 7 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the exterior lighting (3), the fuel system (2), seats (1). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Apr 2010 · 2005–2006 · SeatsIn the event of a crash, the airbag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
The defect. Nissan is recalling certain model year 2005 through 2007 Infiniti G35 sedans manufactured from march 29, 2004 through august 25, 2006 and Infiniti G35 coupes manufactured from april 1, 2004 through may 30, 2007. The wire harness connecting the belt tension…
What can happen. In the event of a crash, the airbag may not deploy, increasing the risk of injury.
The free fix. Nissan will notify owners and dealers will repair the vehicles free of charge. The safety recall began on july 12, 2010. Owners may contact Nissan toll-free at 1-800-662-6200.
Oct 2006 · 2006 · Exterior LightingThis standard is to reduce crashes, injuries and deaths by providing adequate illumination of the roadway…
The defect. Certain vehicles fail to comply with the "vertical gradient" and "headlamp photometric values" requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, 'Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.'
What can happen. This standard is to reduce crashes, injuries and deaths by providing adequate illumination of the roadway, and by enhancing the conspicuity of motor vehicles on the public roads so that their…
The free fix. Dealers will replace the headlamp assemblies. The recall is expected to begin on or about april 16, 2007. Owners may contact Infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.
Dec 2005 · 2003–2004 · Fuel System, GasolineFuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
The defect. On certain passenger and sport utility vehicles, the fuel filler hose may crack and result in fuel leakage from the hose while refueling.
What can happen. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the fuel filler hose. Recall began on february 27, 2006, for Nissan owners, and on march 13, 2006, for Infiniti owners. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261 or Infiniti at…
Nov 2003 · 2003 · Engine and Engine CoolingThis could cause the "service engine soon" warning light to come on, create a no start condition, cause…
The defect. On certain passenger vehicles, the circuit board for the crank position sensor or cam position sensor may have an improper solder joint due to solder deformation caused by heat stress accelerated by the existence of flux residue during the soldering process.
What can happen. This could cause the "service engine soon" warning light to come on, create a no start condition, cause reduced engine power, or cause the engine to stop running without warning during vehicle…
The free fix. Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. Camshaft position sensor(s), and in some cases, the variable timing control sensor(s). Vehicles involved in a previous recall campaign, 01v357, are…
Jun 2003 · 2003 · Exterior LightingIf this occurs, the brake lamps will not illuminate when the brake is applied, which could result in a crash…
The defect. On certain sedan and coupe model vehicles, the brake stop lamp switch may malfunction.
What can happen. If this occurs, the brake lamps will not illuminate when the brake is applied, which could result in a crash without warning.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the brake lamp switch. Owner notification began on june 23, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…
Dec 2002 · 2003 · Exterior LightingCertain sedans fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Certain sedans fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." In the assembly of the headlamps, it is necessary to have a means to adjust the headlamps. Tamperproof caps to prevent horizontal adjustment of the headlamps are…
The free fix. Dealers will install the missing tamperproof caps on the headlamp assemblies. Owner notification began january 20, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…
Sep 2002 · 2003 · Fuel System, GasolineIf the connection comes loose while driving, the engine will stop running due to lack of fuel, increasing the…
The defect. On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel hose connection for the outlet of the fuel pump which is located at the top of the fuel tank may not have been properly attached when the vehicle was assembled and could come loose while driving or when starting the…
What can happen. If the connection comes loose while driving, the engine will stop running due to lack of fuel, increasing the risk of a crash. Also, if the connection comes loose while driving or attempting to start…
The free fix. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, properly attach the fuel hose to the fuel pump. Owner notification is expected to begin october 7, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 1,137 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 48 (4.2%)
- Fires
- 16
- Injury reports
- 25
- Fatality reports
- 2
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
G35 problems by model year
The 2003 drew the most complaints of this generation, 533, most of them about the electrical system, and the 2006 the fewest, 145. A typical year drew about 230.
That makes the 2003 stand out at roughly 2.3 times a typical year. A count like this follows how many cars of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as how often they failed, so it is not by itself evidence of a worse year; what each year's reports name, in its card and row, is the useful part.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 533 | 416 | 87,000 | Electrical system (220) | 5 |
| 2004 | 244 | 192 | 61,000 | Engine (43) | 1 |
| 2005 | 215 | 176 | 78,000 | Airbag system (46) | 1 |
| 2006 | 145 | 114 | 55,000 | Engine and its cooling system (21) | 2 |
What G35 owners reported
The contact owns a 2005 Infiniti G35. The contact stated that the seat failed to recline. The service engine light was illuminated. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V175000 (Air Bags, Seats). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the cause…
2005 · 190,000 miles · Airbag system
The contact's girlfriend owns a 2005 Infiniti G35. The contact stated that his girlfriend received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V175000 (Air Bags, Seats). The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the recall repair was completed; however, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the…
2005 · 85,000 miles · Airbag system
The contact owns a 2005 Infiniti G35. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, there was an abnormal sound as if the sunroof was opened. The contact stated that the sunroof was glued in place to a rubber gasket which had started coming apart. The contact called a local dealer and was informed that the sunroof was no…
2005 · 80,000 miles · Visibility equipment
The contact owns a 2003 Infiniti. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds with the accelerator pedal was depressed, the transmission lever shifted inadvertently into neutral(N) for several few seconds and then remained in drive(D). The contact stated that the check engine, automatic transmission, and…
2003 · 99,000 miles · Transmission and driveline
Built from 898 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other G35 generations
- G35 2007–2008 153 reports with mileage, most about the airbag system