2004 Infiniti G35 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2004 G35 most often describe the engine stalling or cutting power at speed, frequently accompanied by the VDC, SLIP and check engine lights, with camshaft and crankshaft position sensors named by dealers as the usual cause. Other recurring reports include the third LED brake light failing, the fuel gauge reading empty on a full tank or refusing to fill, and unexpected engine revving while braking. Stalling and sensor complaints appear across a wide mileage range, from under 40,000 miles to beyond 150,000.

1. 1
   Engine

   Engine stalls or loses power; cam/crank sensor faults

   • 63 complaints (26%)
   • median 81,580 mi at 9.3 yrs old (54 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2021

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off or dropping power without warning at anything from parking-lot speeds to highway speed, often with the VDC, SLIP and service engine lights coming on together afterward. Some owners say the car restarts after a few tries, others say it had to be towed, and several mention losing power steering and brake assist when it happened. Where the vehicle was diagnosed, dealers and independent shops most often pointed to the camshaft position sensor or crankshaft position sensor, sometimes both; others say the throttle-related warning code P2138 was stored. Reported from roughly 40,000 to 195,000 miles, with several reports in the 60,000-115,000 range and no clear weather pattern.

   What to check: Ask for any history of camshaft or crankshaft position sensor replacement and scan stored codes during a test drive. Watch the VDC, SLIP and check engine lights on a cold start and after a short drive, and see whether the idle is steady.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Driving at approximately 30 MPH and my engine stalled with all the warning lights on. I had to pull over to the side with no power steering and brakes. Turn the ignition key off and wait a couple of minutes to start the engine. The service engine soon light stayed on. The dealer ran diagnostics and detected a bad cam shaft sensor.”

   NHTSA complaint #10568530, filed 2014-03, 65,578 miles

   “Was driving down the road about to turn and then my engine shut off and lagged then started again almost got into a crash, when that happen three lights in my dashboard turned on. The lights where the check engine, vhdc and slip light. This happen to me last year too and it was the cam shaft sensor”

   NHTSA complaint #10949617, filed 2017-02, 2 miles
2. 2
   Exterior lighting

   Third brake light (center LED) stops working

   • 38 complaints (16%)
   • median 87,699 mi at 8.0 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2017

   Owners describe the center high-mount brake light on sedans failing, sometimes intermittently and sometimes completely, with some saying a replacement worked briefly and then quit again. Several reports say a shop traced the trouble to the board or wiring rather than the LEDs themselves. Dealers reportedly told owners there was no related recall and quoted replacement of the assembly. Mostly reported between about 70,000 and 140,000 miles on older cars.

   What to check: With the key on and a helper watching, press the brake pedal and confirm the center high-mount light lights evenly, then jiggle the harness near the light to check for an intermittent connection.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I'm the second owner this particular vehicle, and although I did not notice the problem sooner, the 3rd light on my 2004 G35 does not work (my car does not have the spoiler). What I did was purchase a used 3rd light from a salvage yard....and it did work (briefly), now it's not working.....so I'm back to square one. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10553845, filed 2013-11, 89,000 miles

   “The third LED brake light is not working properly. Got pulled over on august 28th because the officer said my third brake light wasn't working. I got the light tested and the car shop said they would test the light to see if it was the light itself or there is a short due to wiring. The car shop said the light worked so there must be a wiring malfunction some where in the car that makes the light work properly.”

   NHTSA complaint #10482818, filed 2012-11, 136,000 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Unexpected revving or acceleration while braking

   • 40 complaints (16%)
   • median 37,000 mi at 7.4 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2024

   Owners describe the engine revving up sharply on its own while the car is stopped at a light with the brake pedal held, or while braking from speed, with the car moving forward against the brakes in some accounts. Some reports say turning the ignition off and restarting restored normal operation, and one mentions a puff of smoke from under the hood afterward. Dealers generally did not diagnose or repair it according to the complaints. Reported at widely varying mileages, from near-new vehicles to over 120,000 miles.

   What to check: On a test drive, sit at a stop with the brake held in drive and watch the tachometer for uncommanded revving. Ask whether the throttle body or pedal position sensor has been serviced, and have any stored throttle codes read.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On october 5th, 201o I was driving in los angeles on beverly glen and stopped for a red light. My 2004 G35 infinity's engine raced while my foot was on the brake and took off at a high RPM and could not be stopped. My car hit a van right in front of my G35 infinity at the red light. My car was totaled by the insurance company. Consumer stated RPM valve was replaced.”

   NHTSA complaint #11300951, filed 2020-01, 37,000 miles

   “I experienced 'sudden' or 'unintended' acceleration with my 2004 Infiniti G35 coupe twice in the last 3 months. The first time, in february or early march, my wife and I were at an intersection waiting for the left turn light. The car was stopped. All of a sudden the car's motor began to rev up. I pressed firmly on the brake so the car wouldn't move and shifted into neutral (it's an automatic). The car revved up alarmingly. I shut off the ignition. When the light changed, I restarted the car; all was normal. We continued on home. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10189841, filed 2007-05, 1,900 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Fuel gauge misreads and hard refueling

   • 13 complaints (5%)
   • median 59,800 mi at 6.5 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2024

   Complaints describe the fuel gauge dropping toward empty after only a short distance on a full tank, bouncing up and down, or reading incorrectly for months, leaving owners to track mileage manually. Some also say the car is slow or difficult to fill at the pump. One owner reported gasoline pouring out underneath shortly after refueling and said the manufacturer declined the vehicle under recall 05V555000; another noticed a strong fuel smell after starting. Reported from around 30,000 to 115,000 miles, at varied ages.

   Recall 05V5550003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Fill the tank and compare the gauge reading with the trip meter over the next few hundred miles. Ask whether the fuel filler hose recall 05V555000 applies to the VIN, and check for a fuel smell under the car after refueling.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The fuel gauge on my car has been incorrect for the past 3 months. It would suddenly dip down to empty even after traveling only 20 miles on a full tank of gas. The gage would bounce up and down and has caused me to panic many times while diving on the freeway. The only way to truly know how much is left in the tank is by resetting my trip monitor after each fueling and not to exceed 220 miles before my next refill. I have a cousin who has the same exact car with the same problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10318721, filed 2010-03, 42,000 miles

   “Hello I purchased a 2004 Infiniti G35 sedan from star max in orlando fl east colonial drive I've only had it 3 days tops , first of all I left and the gas gauge isn't working or the speedometer , also my radio keeps going in and out my left window seems to go up and down when it wants too, my tire pressure lights on and my cars making a very funny roaring noise in the back. Also when I go to make turns ,my wheel just keeps turning on its own and hard to turn back straight it locks up . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10641022, filed 2014-10, 139,000 miles

Buying note. On a 2004 G35, prioritize a pre-purchase scan for stored cam and crank sensor codes and any driveline warning lights, since stalling reports are the most common theme. Also verify the center brake light works, confirm the fuel gauge reads accurately after a fill, and check oil level and service history before agreeing on a price.

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.