2003 Infiniti G35 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2003 G35 most often describe a failing climate-control and audio control panel: the radio, A/C and defroster buttons stop responding, the system reverts to full blast or a fixed temperature, and dash illumination can drop out — reported across a wide mileage range, from around 40,000 to over 140,000 miles. A second frequent theme is the engine shutting off while driving, which owners link to cam and crank position sensors and which is described as sudden rather than gradual. Brake pad and rotor wear at low mileage, headlight lens clouding, and a seat that shifts while driving also appear repeatedly in the sample.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Radio, A/C and defroster controls stop working

   • 259 complaints (49%)
   • median 84,375 mi at 8.0 yrs old (216 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 38 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2023

   Owners describe the center-console radio and climate controls going dead, sometimes intermittently and sometimes for good. The A/C may stick on at a fixed cool setting and blow at full speed, the radio may cut out or power itself back on, and the buttons stop responding. Because the defroster is on the same panel, owners say windows fog up in rain or cold weather. Several report the dealer replaced or declined to replace an audio/circuit board, and some say a past service campaign covered only certain build dates. Reported from roughly 40,000 to over 140,000 miles, in all weather, often starting intermittently before becoming constant.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: With the car running, press every button on the climate and radio panel and confirm temperature, fan speed and defrost actually change. Ask whether the audio finisher circuit board or body control module was ever replaced, and keep in mind a replacement board can fail again.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A/c came on randomly at high speed,,could now turn of,,fog my windows will my niece was in back in her baby seat,,I tried turning the fan's off,,could not turn of,,and heater and cd malfunction together. Went to dealer they would not replace,will cost 1300,,it was electric problem. I always keep my car up to service.”

   NHTSA complaint #10339729, filed 2010-06, 88,343 miles

   “I presently own a 2003 infinit G35. The entire climate control functions and dash lights do not function because of a problem with the radio. A recall was initiated for the audio finisher circuit board by Infiniti but the problem still exists. These items will suddenly stop working while driving the vehicle. This happened to me while driving. These items do not function at present. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10244699, filed 2008-10, 107,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Engine stalls or cuts out while driving (cam/crank sensor)

   • 144 complaints (27%)
   • median 99,091 mi at 9.2 yrs old (122 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $921 (median of 16 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2025

   Complaints describe the engine quitting without warning at low speed, at intersections or on the highway, sometimes restarting immediately and sometimes needing a long crank or a tow. The check engine, VDC and SLIP lights typically come on, and diagnostics commonly point to a camshaft or crankshaft position sensor. Owners report paying several hundred dollars for sensor replacement, and several say their vehicle was outside the build range covered by the related campaign. Mostly reported between about 44,000 and 140,000 miles, usually at low speed or idle but also at highway speed.

   Recall 03V455000

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the cam and crank position sensors were replaced, and whether the crank/cam sensor circuit board campaign 03V455000 applied to this car. A scan tool can show stored or pending codes before you buy.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Crankshaft angle sensor and camshaft position sensor both failed causing vehicle to stall at low RPM's (engine dies loosing brakes and steering). Infinity recall #r3021 has this problem yet my vehicle not included in this recall for some reason. Called infinity and they will not help me. What are my options? My cost is $621.86 repairs and diagnosis.”

   NHTSA complaint #11296694, filed 2020-01, 135,500 miles

   “The car simply died after pulling on to a busy highway. It would not start for several minutes. After taking the car to the infinity dealership I was informed that it was a cam shift sensor failure. Not just one, but two sensors. I understand that there was a recall for this model but I cannot get the infinity to comply with this recall and the subsequently charged me $500+ to replace the two fouled parts. Very disappointing.”

   NHTSA complaint #10545556, filed 2013-09, 92,400 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Premature brake pad and rotor wear

   • 53 complaints (10%)
   • median 17,500 mi at 1.2 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2015

   Owners report pulsation through the pedal and short pad life at unusually low mileage, with dealers confirming warped rotors and resurfacing or replacing them. Some describe replacing pads and rotors more than once within the first 40,000 miles and being told the wear was not covered. Complaints also mention the brake, SLIP and VDC lights coming on together. Often reported under 20,000 miles, with some cases up to about 40,000 miles.

   What to check: Check rotor condition and pad thickness on a test drive and feel for pedal pulsation when braking from highway speed; ask for receipts showing when brakes were last serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I own a 2003 Infiniti G35. The car is 7 months old with less than 10,000 miles on it. I was told by my dealership that I had no front brakes. I brought the car in because 3 lights were lighting up on my dash for a couple of days: the brake light, the slip light, and the vdc off light. I was shocked to learn that I didn't have any front brakes. To me, this is definitely a safety issue.”

   NHTSA complaint #10013958, filed 2003-04, 9,700 miles

   “My 2003 G35 coupe have brake problem where the brake pads and rotor will wear out so quick. I have gone through 2 sets of pads and rotor within 40km. Richmond nissan refuse to fix it for me under warranty. I finally had to replace them myself at my own cost.”

   NHTSA complaint #10283974, filed 2009-09, 40,000 miles
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Headlight lenses cloud and dim

   • 102 complaints (19%)
   • median 90,100 mi at 8.2 yrs old (72 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $700 (median of 13 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2024

   Owners describe the outer plastic headlight covers turning white and opaque, cutting light output and making night driving harder. Some also mention the high-mount brake light working only intermittently, appearing dim or flickering while driving or stopped. Dealer responses in the complaints were limited, and a bulletin notes that moisture in lamp assemblies is generally a venting characteristic rather than a fault. Clouding reported from as early as roughly 15,000 miles; brake light complaints appear from around 70,000 miles and up.

   Recall 03V200000Recall 02V3310002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect both headlight lenses for yellowing or haze and check light output at night. Have someone watch the high-mount brake light while you press the pedal, and confirm the brake lamp switch campaign 03V200000 was completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “From the second year after purchase of auto, the headlight outer plastic cover has become whitish and opaque, limiting the light output of headlight and reducing road illumination, thus providing limited road illumination al night.”

   NHTSA complaint #10200430, filed 2007-08, 15,000 miles

   “The heating/defrost/AC unit stops working while driving causing window to fog up during cold weather - back seats are ripping, like brittle. Brake light in back window goes off and on, works when it wants to.”

   NHTSA complaint #10225767, filed 2008-04, 71,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Driver seat shifts or loses adjustment

   • 16 complaints (3%)
   • median 46,852 mi at 5.8 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2003–2018

   Owners report the driver seat moving or lifting while accelerating or braking, or the adjustment mechanism failing so the seat cannot be positioned. In one case the seat was described as pushing the occupant rearward under acceleration. Dealers either declined coverage on mileage grounds or performed repairs that did not last. Reported from about 22,000 to 90,000 miles, during acceleration, braking or normal adjustment.

   What to check: Run the power seat through its full range of adjustment and, on a test drive, check whether the seat base or backrest moves under hard acceleration and braking.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2003 Infiniti G35. The contact stated the drivers seat was moving while the vehicle was in motion. The dealer performed repairs in august 2010; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified. The current mileage was 87,000. The approximate failure mileage was 45,000. Updated 09/21/11 updated 10/03/11”

   NHTSA complaint #10420763, filed 2011-08, 45,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2003 Infiniti G35 sedan. The contact stated that the driver seat mechanism is faulty and prevents her from adjusting the seat. The vehicle has not been driven in 6-7 months due to the faulty seat. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for repairs, but the warranty was expired. The current mileage is 85,000 and failure mileage was 22566 updated 4/14/09 updated 04/17/09.”

   NHTSA complaint #10262056, filed 2009-03, 22,566 miles

Buying note. Check the climate and radio panel thoroughly and confirm sensor and brake service history, since these are the items owners raise most. On a car this age, condition and documentation matter more than any single fault, so budget for possible sensor and control-panel repairs.

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.