2005 Infiniti FX35 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often write about power door lock actuators that stop locking or unlocking, and about the Takata passenger air bag inflator recalls and related air bag warning lights. Many also describe a dashboard surface that melts, bubbles or becomes shiny in hot weather. Reports span a wide mileage range, from under 40,000 to over 160,000 miles, and lock and dash problems tend to appear gradually and worsen with heat.

1. 1
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Power door locks and hatch stop working

   • 17 complaints (18%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 6.9 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $1,600 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2020

   Owners describe door lock actuators that lock or unlock only intermittently, then stop working altogether on individual doors and the rear hatch. Several note that it began on one door and spread to the others, and that the only keyhole is on the driver's door, so other doors and the hatch must be opened manually from inside. Complaints mention dealer quotes running from a few hundred dollars per door to more than a thousand dollars for replacing several actuators, and owners say the dealer declined to cover the work. Reported from roughly 24,000 to 200,000 miles, frequently worsening in hot weather or after the car sits in the sun.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Try every door and the rear hatch with the remote, the interior switch and the key, ideally after the car has sat in warm weather. Ask whether any lock actuators have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My door locks on my 2005 Infiniti fx 35 work sporadically. It started with the left front door and is now affecting the right front and well as the rear hatch. It is hit or miss with the issue on the rear hatch, but for the front doors I must manually lock and unlock the doors.”

   NHTSA complaint #10369799, filed 2010-12, 80,000 miles

   “Started in 2008 for first time, but was intermittent. By summer of 2011 none of the doors/rear hatch unlock or lock automatically. Neither using the fob clicker, or pressing any of the interior lock/unlock buttons activates the locks. Since there is only one key hole, for entire vehicle, on driver's side, I am unable to access rear hatch area, and this is where I keep my dog as well as caged pet birds when transporting. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10461996, filed 2012-06, 30,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Air bag warning light and recall parts availability

   • 23 complaints (24%)
   • median 115,000 mi at 11.5 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2018

   Owners report the air bag warning light staying lit, sometimes for months, and being told the driver's side air bag module or a sensor needs replacement at their own cost. Others describe waiting a long time for Takata recall parts to become available, or being told their vehicle was not covered by a particular campaign. A few describe air bags deploying without an impact, or the driver's side not deploying in a collision while the passenger side did. Reported from around 55,000 to 161,000 miles; several complaints relate to recall notices received years after the car was sold.

   Recall 20V008000Recall 17V028000Recall 16V349000Recall 15V287000Recall 15V2260008 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the air bag warning light on a cold start and confirm with a dealer whether the Takata passenger inflator recall was completed for this vehicle's VIN. Ask for the recall repair paperwork.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The air bag warning light came on during may 2016 after I stopped for gas. The dealer replaced the passenger air bag inflator during 2014 (no charge under a manufacturer recall) but indicated I have to pay 715.00 to repair the air bag sensor. I have read about the takata air bag problems and am very concerned about my family and my safety but this is not a movable part and I think this should be a mfg recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10872597, filed 2016-06, 126,000 miles

   “I have not experienced any problems with the airbag and my VIN has not been specifically identified for the takata recall. That though is the issue. In view of the inifinti recall of similar model cars in high humidity states, and NHTSA's call for a full recall of the takata airbags, as well as toyota, GM & honda's recent expansion of the recall, I do not understand why Infiniti has not taken similar additional action. I live in virginia - an area of high humidity for at least 3 months per year. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10725931, filed 2015-06, 159,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission and fuel gauge faults

   • 13 complaints (14%)
   • median 95,000 mi at 8.8 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2006–2020

   Owners describe the transmission refusing to go into or stay in reverse, hesitating when pulling away, or refusing to accelerate past a certain speed, with dealers recommending replacement and independent shops reporting valve body or clutch wear. Others report the fuel gauge reading empty when the tank is full or drifting between readings, and one complaint describes coolant from a leaking radiator entering the transmission. Transmission reports cluster from about 89,500 to 161,000 miles; fuel gauge complaints appear from around 95,000 miles and up.

   Recall 05V5550001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test reverse engagement and smooth acceleration on a test drive, check for a delayed or harsh shift, and confirm the fuel gauge agrees with the actual fuel level after a fill-up. Check transmission fluid condition and whether the radiator has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2005 awd Infiniti FX35. I was driving on the highway to work and I heard a loud noise indicating that the car was kicking up something underneath it. I did not see anything in the road but it became apparent later that I must have driven over some small debris in the road. I was close to the exit I take for work and I proceeded to drive off the highway. As I exited the highway I noticed that my car was leaking some liquid. The smell of the liquid appeared to be gasoline. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10168271, filed 2006-09, 41,000 miles

   “Inoperative fuel sensor , indicates half a tank when it is full, it then slowly rises to full and then back down to empty, causing the low fuel light to come on. At times it indicates a full tank when it is not .I have contacted Infiniti about this issue because I have ran out of fuel, this is a safety issue. I was told that the recalls are set according to the VIN. At the moment there aren't any recalls for this vehicles fuel sensor, but there is a recall for the exact problem on the Infiniti qx model.”

   NHTSA complaint #10652587, filed 2014-11, 95,000 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Melting or bubbling dashboard

   • 15 complaints (16%)
   • median 67,500 mi at 11.2 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2014–2020

   Owners describe the dashboard becoming sticky, shiny and bubbled, especially around the radio, the windshield edge and the passenger air bag area, after hot weather. Some say the glare from the surface makes it hard to see out when driving toward the sun. Complaints mention that dealers called it common and that a related service program had expired, leaving owners to pay for replacement. Mostly reported after several summers of use, from about 60,000 to 143,000 miles, and worse in hot climates.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect the top of the dashboard in daylight for shine, stickiness, bubbling or cracks, and check for glare looking through the windshield toward the sun.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The dashboard has become very shiny. The glare has on multiple occasions made it very difficult to see out the windshield. I have noticed the dash has also become very soft and almost gummy when the temperature warms up. I was driving facing the sun and I could not see the road for a number of seconds. This has happened multiple times.”

   NHTSA complaint #10967481, filed 2017-03, 140,000 miles

   “My dashboard started to bubble 2 summers ago and I immediately contacted infinity. They told me that the company sent me a notice that this was an issue in specific models and would replace the dashboard. I did not receive any notice and when I called in 2014 the time allowed had expired. Infinity would not replace my dashboard. Now the dashboard is completely covered with bumps from faulty materials (glue, leather, etc.). The value of my vehicle is at least $1000-1500 less due to this flaw. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10915601, filed 2016-10, 60,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake squeal, repeated rotor work and stopping concerns

   • 7 complaints (7%)
   • median 40,000 mi at 4.1 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2006–2016

   Owners report squealing or squeaking from the brakes at low speed, in some cases shortly after purchase, and repeated rotor resurfacing or replacement of pads, rotors and calipers every few thousand miles. Some say the dealer described the noise as normal for the model or attributed it to driving habits. A few complaints describe the pedal feeling ineffective when braking in traffic. Reported from very low mileage up to about 126,000 miles, with several owners describing recurring noise within the first few years.

   What to check: Listen for squeal when braking at low speed and when reversing, and ask for brake service records showing how often rotors or pads were replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2005 fx 35- I was t-boned, proceeding to stop and had no brakes at all. Car has been checked and found no damage to brakes/lines everything checked out fine. I could not stop the vehicle and went through an intersection. I finally stopped the vehicle by hitting the side of a tree. Prior to that I turned key off and placed into park, I couldn't take my eyes off road I was approaching another major intersection. I did not want to hit anyone or be hit again. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10239094, filed 2008-08, 65,000 miles

   “On monday, june 20 as I was driving up the ramp to go to the gw bridge, there was a lot of traffic and we were in a slow motion. I was pressing the brakes to avoid hitting the other car but my car kept on rolling and therefore it hit the bumper of the acura car in front of me. What I do not understand was the brakes were serviced 3 months before, but still it did not work and I was very sure that I was pressing the brakes and not the gas pedal but still it did not stop!”

   NHTSA complaint #10876765, filed 2016-06, 125,899 miles

Buying note. This model year is old enough that condition and service history matter more than mileage, so verify that the Takata air bag recalls were completed for the VIN and test every door lock and the hatch. Have a pre-purchase inspection cover the brakes, transmission behavior and the dashboard surface before you buy.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 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.