2003 Infiniti I35: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 93 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine (35% of complaints); the 2004 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jan 2020
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 93 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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.”Owner report · Engine · Apr 2021
“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 mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was notified of a camshaft cylinder misfire. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,440.”Owner report · Power Train · Oct 2020
“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”Owner report · Power Train · Mar 2020
Show 7 more owner reports
“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. 2003 infiniti i35 and nissan maxima are identical shared platforms.”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2019
“Takata recall : I received a notice from the nys d of m stating that there was an urgent recall on my car, and listing the VIN and make, model, year. I checked with your web site and found no recalls on my car. My infiniti dealer checked and found no recall for my car, but said there may have been recalls for that model, year, etc. But not for my VIN. Who do I trust?”Owner report · Air Bags · Aug 2018
“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 repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not assist. The dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 128,000.”Owner report · Engine · Feb 2018
“My vehicles crank/cam sensor I believe has gone bad. I was driving on a city street, the car was driving fine and it was like the engine shut off but it was not I could drive 1 mph, and car would not rev up. I saw there were recalls on this for infinitis made in 2202-2003 but for some reason my 2003 infiniti is not included in this! Car no longer will move.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Nov 2017
“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. There was recalls on this model in 11/2003 and 12/2003 that describe exactly what happens to my vehicle. This slowing down to stopping happened on a major expressway and I had to be towed. It also happened again in my street and driveway having to be towed again.”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Oct 2017
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 infiniti i35. The contact stated that the tcs warning indicator flashed, the vehicle failed to accelerate when the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle stalled intermittently. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 179,000.”Owner report · Traction Control System · Apr 2017
“Service engine soon warning light came on, cause reduced engine power during vehicle operation. Take awhile to start back up. Drive a little then shuts off again. Highway or road.”Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2017
When filing, owners marked a crash in 2 of these complaints and injuries in 0 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
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.
Remedy: 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 ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
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, Nissan is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2008 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2008 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Nissan is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Infiniti I35 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Remedy: 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.
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. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Remedy: 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.
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 passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Remedy: 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.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2003 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact I35 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Infiniti I35 reliable?
NHTSA has 93 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2003 Infiniti I35. The most complained-about area is engine (35% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2003 Infiniti I35 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 101,000 miles or less.
Does the 2003 Infiniti I35 have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning engine and engine cooling. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.