2003 Infiniti FX35 Problems

What owners report

Complaints about this model year cluster around two long-running themes: door and hatch lock actuators that stop working, and the passenger-side air bag recall campaign. Owners also describe a cracked dashboard and, less often, cooling-system or stalling symptoms. The lock and air bag complaints appear across a wide mileage range, including many vehicles over 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Door and hatch lock actuators stop working

   • 15 complaints (25%)
   • median 74,000 mi at 8.9 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2008–2021

   Owners describe power door locks that work intermittently and then quit, often starting with one door and spreading to the others, including the rear hatch. Complaints say the lock button or key fob produces no response even though the lock sound may still be heard, and that the only manual release is on the driver's door. According to complaints, dealers or independent shops identified failed actuators and recommended replacing all of them at significant cost per lock; several owners report the problem returning after a repair. Reported from roughly 27,000 to 125,000 miles, with several complaints in the 60,000-100,000 mile range and a gradual, one-door-at-a-time onset.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test every door and the rear hatch with both the key fob and the interior lock button, and listen for the lock sound without actual locking. Ask whether any actuators have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Power door lock actuators operate intermittently. There has been several instances having the rear child door lock engaged and we could not open the rear doors from the outside because the actuators failed. Children had to exit out the front by climbing over the front seats. While at a parking garage a large vehicle parked close to the passenger side of our car and could not open doors to re-enter. Again, intermittent operation of power door lock actuators , both front and rear driver side door locks failed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10493569, filed 2013-01, 97,878 miles

   “I bought my vehicle used (2003 fx 35) in 2010 and have experienced what seems to be some very common complaints associated with the vehicle . Defects that the local dealers (mcallen , texas) have refused to address. 1) cracked dash. Several large cracks running the length of the dashes. 2) faulty car lock actuators. This seems absolutely ridiculous that the problems can be so prevalent (check the web) , but yet nissan fails to take responsibility for it. I can understand the dash not being a hazard , however, the locks can be. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10637788, filed 2014-09, 65,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Passenger air bag recall and warning light

   • 11 complaints (18%)
   • median 139,000 mi at 16.4 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2016–2026

   Many owners describe the passenger-side front air bag recall and the difficulty of getting the remedy completed, including waiting for parts and being told the vehicle was not covered. Complaints also describe the air bag warning light staying on or blinking after a recall repair, and being quoted over $1,000 for a later repair. According to the complaints, dealers told owners the vehicle was safe to drive while parts were pending, sometimes with the advice to keep the front passenger seat empty. Complaints span from the mid-2010s onward and are reported at mileage from below 60,000 to about 150,000.

   Recall 21V139000Recall 20V008000Recall 16V349000Recall 15V287000Recall 15V226000

   What to check: Check the air bag warning light on the dash at start-up, and confirm with a dealer whether the passenger inflator recalls have been completed on this VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall the recall was issued on this car in may 2016, and the dealerships still do not have parts as of today, 10/21/2016. We are now being told that the parts will not be here before mid to end of november. Customers are being told that it is safe to still drive the car, as long as we refrain from anyone being in the front seat. However, this is not feasible if you only have one car, and multiple family members. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10917940, filed 2016-10

   “Takata recall for airbag taking too long!!!! First the dealer said my car was not subject to the recall. Now your site says the dealer is waiting on parts . I think the oldest cars should be fixed first.”

   NHTSA complaint #11053805, filed 2017-12
3. 3
   Engine

   Overheating and sudden loss of power

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • median 101,000 mi at 8.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2008–2019

   Complaints describe the engine overheating while driving, sometimes with the temperature gauge rising quickly, followed by reduced power or shutdown. Owners report that thermostats and coolant were serviced without a lasting cure, and that dealers could not identify the cause. A few complaints describe stalling at speed with the engine, VDC and slip lights coming on, followed by normal running after the car is restarted. Mostly reported between roughly 35,000 and 235,000 miles, often on long drives or at highway speed.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for cooling-system service records and watch the temperature gauge on a long test drive; have any stored engine codes read before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have an '03 Infiniti FX35 with 90,000 miles. I'm not an abusive nor negligent operator and have had all my services well maintained. Car began by overheating 15 hours into my 16 hour drive home from yellowstone this summer. It started overheating when I slowed down in towns and such...replaced my thermostat....flushed everything....drove for quite a few weeks more with no problems...thought it was solved :/ not quite. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10307630, filed 2010-02, 85,000 miles

   “Purchased a new 2003 Infiniti FX35 which currently has 238,000 and properly maintained with the dealer recommended maintenance schedule. At 234,634 and frequently thereafter the vehicle when driving would just suddenly overheat and engine cooling system malfunction causing automobile to suddenly lose power and start to shut down while driving on major highways or roads. This is a very serious safety hazard and dangerous on highway when you driving at 65 MPH. Very, very scary and just barely avoided several rear end collision. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10464486, filed 2012-07, 236,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Cracked dashboard

   • 6 complaints (10%)
   • median 51,500 mi at 8.2 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2008–2025

   Owners describe cracks appearing in the dashboard, sometimes several running the length of the dash and often near the passenger air bag area. Complaints say the cracks developed without impact and spread over time, and that dealers and the manufacturer did not offer a fix. One owner also mentions water intrusion under the dash from a poorly sealed windshield. Reported from about 20,000 to 67,000 miles, with cracks sometimes noticed a few years into ownership.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the dash top and the area around the passenger air bag for cracks, and check the floor for dampness after rain.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In the summer or fall of 2012, I took my vehicle in for service of the horn, wasn't working nor was my remote foe locking and unlocking. A few days later I seen a crack near the passenger side of the air vent. Now the cracks have spreaded to other areas of my dashboard. I was never informed of any recalls in the past about repairing/or replace dashboard.”

   NHTSA complaint #10631172, filed 2014-09

   “The contact owns a 2003 Infiniti FX35. The contact stated that the vehicle has approximately 13 cracks across the dashboard. There are also approximately 4 cracks near the front passenger side air bag. The dealer and manufacturer were notified, but could not correct the failures. The VIN was unknown. The current mileage was 44,000 and failure mileage was 38,000. Updated 5/6/08 updated 05/06/08”

   NHTSA complaint #10224669, filed 2008-04, 38,000 miles

Buying note. On a car this old, the practical checks are the door and hatch locks, the air bag warning light and recall status, and the dashboard for cracks. Service records for the cooling system and a scan for stored engine codes are worth asking for before purchase.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 51 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.