AI DamageInfiniti I35: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Infiniti I35 across 4 model years: 200 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 30% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 23% of all complaints
- 3 Air bags 16% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 12% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 11% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 7 Suspension 7% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- Engine: 60 complaints (30% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 46 complaints (23% of all).
- Air bags: 32 complaints (16% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 23 complaints (12% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 21 complaints (11% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl 2002–2004named in 1 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed 2002–2004
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 200 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 60 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 46 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 32 | 4 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 23 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 21 | 3 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 14 | 2 | 0 |
| Suspension | 13 | 2 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 12 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 9 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 6 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Another issue my 2002 infiniti i35 was having, not related to the accident referenced above, was stalling without warning on several different occasions. This happens sometimes when I am driving. When this happens, the lights on my dash panel blink on and off rapidly for a few seconds and then turns off completely.
Tl contact owns a 2002 infiniti i35. The contact stated while driving 5 mph, she could not move her seat forward enough to reach her brake pedal which caused her to crash into another vehicle in front of her. The crash was a minor incident.
I was parking my 2003 infiniti i35 on the third level of a santa monica city parking structure when my car suddenly surged. I immediately put my foot on the brake and turned the car (I was heading into a wall). I held my foot on the brake until it finally came of a complete stop.
The passenger airbag deployed in my vehicle but the driver airbag did not deploy. I was wearing my safety belt. When I reported the incident to nissan/infiniti their response was to send the 2009 airbag safety manual and stated that their were no differences between the 2002/2009 model vehicles.
I called infiniti consumer affairs, and they told me, if the airbag feels the driver is rigid enough and that the seat belt will hold them back, it will not deploy. Why would an airbag and a seatbelt work properly when no one was in the seat, yet the driver one did not?
Our 2002 infiniti I-35 has accelerated on its own 3 times. The first time we were turning around in our friend's driveway and it took off in reverse. The second time we were first in line at a stop light.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.