2003 Infiniti I35 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (27) · Engine And Engine Cooling (18) · Vehicle Speed Control (9)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Infiniti I35 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
82 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2020-01-09 · campaign 20V008000 · 307,962 vehicles
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. T
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2016-05-24 · campaign 16V349000 · 413,852 vehicles
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2011 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Nis
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2017. All owners should receive a second notice by May 15, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Air Bags 2015-05-15 · campaign 15V287000 · 1,090,569 vehicles
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: On December 18, 2015 Nissan informed NHTSA of an amendment of this recall to remove 2004-2005 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 vehicles.
Air Bags 2015-04-17 · campaign 15V226000 · 12,606 vehicles
Defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2003-2005 FX35 and FX45, and 2006 M35 and M45 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Saipan, Guam, and American Samoa, as well as Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, and Georgia, are included. Upon deployment of the pas
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Note: This recall supersedes recall 14V-701.
Service bulletins (64)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2026-04-13 · ITB09-063C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
certification label and vin plate replacement service information because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “certification label” or “vin plate/label” may be needed. hint: certification label = fmvss (federal motor vehicle safety standards) label. these items may be availabl
Electrical System 2024-05-20 · ITB13-052E · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
intelligent key not detected / engine will not start this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · ITB17-009H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
window glass warranty information this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-30 · ITB13-007I · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
removing foreign material from the window glass this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility/Wiper 2024-04-29 · ITB09-039K · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
windshield cracking this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Visibility 2023-02-27 · ITB13-007H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
removing foreign material from the window glass this bulletin has been amended. see amendment history on the last page. please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Showing the 6 most recent of 64 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2021-06-14 · Vehicle Speed Control“camshaft sensor according to the infiniti dealership (ray brandt on causeway in metairie la.) is malfunctioning at makes the car engine die while driving. then when you restart the car the engine revs fine in neutral but once in drive it won't go over 5 mph. also the timing chain tensioner fails on this car and can cause severe engine damage while …”
2021-04-12 · Engine · 80,000 mi“2003 infinity i35 stalls/dies without warning, spits/jerks forward, check engine light, tcs and slip. happens while driving but usually starts right back up afterwards. has happened a number of times have replaced one camshaft position sensor and still have the same issue.…”
2021-03-04 · Power Train · 117,440 mi“tl* the contact own a 2003 infiniti i35. the contact stated while driving 45 mph, the vehcile decelerated, loss motive power, and stalled with an unknown warning light illuminated. the contact pulled over to the side of the road, restarted the vehicle and continued driving however, the failure persisted. the vehicle was taken to an independent mech…”
2020-03-12 · Power Train · 98,000 mi“replaced complete exhaust system, all o2 sensors, both cam sensors, fuel pump with strainer, fuel pump relay, spark plugs and coils, fuel regulator, had key programmed, key antenna replaced, vehicle fails to start…”
2020-02-18 · Engine · 135,600 mi“my 2003 infinity i35 stalsl while driving on local roads and busy state highways located in the greater hilton head sc area. it requires coasting to the side of the road, turning the vehicle off. the service engine light turns on. i then can restart the engine and return to my home as soon as i can. i researched the problem and found a recall …”
2020-01-31 · Engine · 88,000 mi“car shuts down. over three years ago it died while driving. i took it to the infinity dealership. they told me it was cam sensor. had it & crank sensor replaced. problem persisted. took back to infinity & was told it was the cylynoid. had thatbreplace. problem persisted. the infiniti dealer said the timing chain need replaced but my car was not w…”
2020-01-16 · Air Bags“driver side air bag not recalled yet confirmed from dealer- airbag is takata airbag and prone to releasing shrapnel…”
2019-08-16 · Air Bags“takata recall 2003 infiniti i35 passenger air bags were recalled and replaced by dealer but drivers side air bag has not been recalled. dealer will not replace driver's side takata airbag unless recall is announced. drivers side takata airbag is "same design as passenger unit," and is "likely just as dangerous" according to infiniti dealer. …”
2019-07-01 · Service Brakes · 35 mi“car stops without warning on city street…”
2019-05-03 · Power Train · 128,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2003 infiniti i35. while driving between 35-40 mph, the vehicle decelerated without warning. the contact placed the transmission into neutral, restarted the engine, and the drove away safely. an independent mechanic came to the contact's home to diagnose the vehicle, but the test could not be read. the vehicle was not repaire…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.