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2003 Infiniti I35Problems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 93 owner complaints about the 2003 Infiniti I35, most often about the engine. It is covered by 5 safety recalls, and for recall 15V-287 the manufacturer reports only 27% of affected cars repaired.

2003 Infiniti I35
50
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.0× the I35 median · #2 of 3 years by complaints
Safety recalls5Lowest repair rate 27%Owner complaints932 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage132kEngine, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 14, 2021. Updated daily. Photo: Bull-Doser, Public domain.

Complaints by system

Where the 2003 Infiniti I35 has problems

93 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine440
Engine and engine cooling270
Electrical system130
Vehicle speed control100
Air bags80
Electronic stability control (ESC)80
Power train50
Service brakes30
Fuel/propulsion system30
7 other systems72

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

5 recalls

2003 Infiniti I35 recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

36%repaired · 2021 Q2

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 20V-008 · Jan 9, 2020 · 307,962 vehicles · 111,354 repaired

Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

33%repaired · 2018 Q1

Passenger side: inflator module

Recall 16V-349 · May 24, 2016 · 413,852 vehicles · 138,299 repaired

Risk. An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

27%repaired · 2017 Q1

Air bags

Recall 15V-287 · May 15, 2015 · 1,090,569 vehicles · 297,865 repaired

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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

35%repaired · 2017 Q1

Air bags

Recall 15V-226 · Apr 17, 2015 · 12,606 vehicles · 6,775 repaired

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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 1 more recall
–no report yet

Engine and engine cooling

Recall 03V-455 · Nov 17, 2003 · 630,000 vehicles

Risk. 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…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Infiniti.

Mileage at failure

When do engine problems start?

132kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 42 engine complaints. 38% were reported before 100,000 miles.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
2under 30k miles16under 100k miles26100k miles or more
Best & worst years

2003 vs. every other I35 year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the I35 median. How we score

'01'02'03'04
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

2003 Infiniti I35 safety ratings

2003 Infiniti I35 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: Optional
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 2003 Infiniti I35, and the recalls they led to.

  1. Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA15001 · still open
    Led to recall 14V-668
  2. Desiccated Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA21002 · still open
    Open
  3. Air Bag Inflator RupturePE14016 · closed Mar 2, 2015
    Led to recall 15V-226
In owners' words

What I35 owners report

Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

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…
Complaint 11420889 · Jun 14, 2021
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.
Complaint 11407567 · Apr 12, 2021 · 80,000 miles
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…
Complaint 11399113 · Mar 4, 2021 · 117,440 miles

Own a 2003 I35?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.