AI Damage2003 Infiniti I35: common problems
Owners of the 2003 Infiniti I35 filed 93 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 93
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 47% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 29% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 11% of all complaints
- 5 Air bags 9% of all complaints
- 6 Electronic stability control 9% of all complaints
- 7 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 4% of all complaints
- Engine: 44 complaints (47% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 27 complaints (29% of all).
- Electrical system: 13 complaints (14% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 10 complaints (11% of all).
- Air bags: 8 complaints (9% of all).
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
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 93 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 | 44 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 27 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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 brake pedal and accelerator pedal are close together. With my size 12 foot, it is easy to accidentally have my shoe on both pedals. The car has enough engine power to overcome the braking system, and lead to a collision.
And shouldn't hazing headlights be a safety issue on ALL cars? Almost all cars have this problem and manufacturers keep building cars with UNSAFE headlights. Why aren't these recalls? Thank you for this website.
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.
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.
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.
For about 6 months or so no problems with the airbag however in the middle of the summer my airbag light comes on? So I called my brother and he told me the car already had the airbag replace per the recall.
The car loses power after a while and will just stop as if it ran out of gas. This has happened several times, otherwise the car is ok. The mechanic suspects it has something to do with the crank position or circuit board.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,734 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 10% most complained about).
On average one model year of the I35 has 50 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 93, above average.
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.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Infiniti I35?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, engine and cooling, electrical system. Total complaints: 93. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (48%), warning lights, check engine (42%), loss of power / limp mode (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2003 Infiniti I35?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2003 Infiniti I35 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2003 models
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.