2013 Infiniti JX35 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe two very different problems: a passenger air bag warning light that stays on even with an adult in the seat, usually reported at low mileage, and shuddering, hesitation or outright transmission failure with the continuously variable transmission, usually reported well past 60,000 miles. Brake pedal feel and headlight failures also come up, though less often.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Shuddering, slipping or failed CVT transmission

   • 99 complaints (35%)
   • median 88,200 mi at 6.1 yrs old (70 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,249 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2012–2026

   Complaints describe shuddering or juddering under acceleration, hesitation, slipping, erratic shifting up and down, and in some cases a loss of power where the vehicle would not move. Several owners say a dealer or independent shop diagnosed the transmission as needing replacement, and some mention the CVT judder service bulletin (ITB15-012) by number. Some vehicles had already had a transmission replaced once before the symptoms returned. Mostly reported between roughly 66,000 and 160,000 miles, with a few at very low mileage.

   8 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have the CVT fluid serviced and ask for any records of transmission replacement or reprogramming; a test drive should include steady acceleration from a stop and light-throttle cruising to look for shudder or hesitation.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Erratic (bouncing) idle, and unpredictable power surging. Nonstop upshift and downshift even when cruise control applied at constant speed. Was driving with my 3 kids in the car when all of the sudden the car felt like it went into a high gear and little power so I hit the gas and the car felt like the gears were shifting all over the place. . I almost had a bad accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #11396183, filed 2021-02, 122,390 miles

   “While accelerating to go through a traffic light turning left the transmission shuttered several times causing me to almost not make it through the light before a car was coming through the intersection. I was nearly hit by that vehicle while my 3 year old daughter was in the car as well. This shutter issue keeps happening and now our mechanic says the transmission is going.”

   NHTSA complaint #11404957, filed 2021-03, 88,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Passenger air bag light on with an adult seated

   • 84 complaints (30%)
   • median 7,403 mi at 0.7 yrs old (67 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2026

   Owners describe the passenger air bag indicator staying lit, or blinking, while an adult occupies the front passenger seat, which they understand to mean the air bag is suppressed. Many say the vehicle had already been through one or more occupant detection recalls or repairs and the light still returned; some dealers reported no fault found or that the system was working as designed. Reported across a wide range, from a few hundred miles up to about 140,000 miles, often soon after purchase.

   Recall 16V244000Recall 15V681000Recall 13V0690003 related service bulletins

   What to check: With an adult seated in the front passenger seat, confirm the passenger air bag status shows enabled; ask for proof that the occupant classification recalls and any related service bulletin work were completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We bought this car, used, on january 18, 2020 and an ibs light turned on a couple weeks after I bought it but later turned off. Now february 22 the airbag light started to blink as I was driving on a city street. A week later, today february 29 it is still continuing to blink. I have seen many recalls about this issue on other 2013 Infiniti jx35s. Also, before I bought it the car dealership took it for a check up at the Infiniti dealership and the air bag issue was also a problem then.”

   NHTSA complaint #11312229, filed 2020-02, 130,000 miles

   “Within the initial 12k miles of owning this JX35, we've experienced a serious problem with the JX35 passenger air bag indicator light. My wife is approx. 130 lbs. And the light comes on numerous times indicating that the airbag will not function during an accident. This is a serious and significant safety issue which nissan has been unable to fix. It's been recalled twice and has been to the dealership over five (5) times for this specific problem. It is currently at the dealership and we've told them to buy back the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10633714, filed 2014-09, 6,000 miles
3. 3
   Brakes

   Soft or sinking brake pedal with seat belt tightening

   • 17 complaints (6%)
   • median 30,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (17 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2023

   Complaints describe the brake pedal losing pressure at low-speed stops and sinking toward the floor, sometimes with an air-sucking or creaking noise on release, and the pedal returning after being pumped. In several cases the front seat belts tightened at the same moment, and some owners say the brakes briefly did not respond over bumps. Dealers reportedly found nothing wrong in some cases; others had the ABS module or actuator identified as the cause. Generally reported between about 12,000 and 156,000 miles, typically during light braking at low speed or over rough pavement.

   Recall 13V4450001 related service bulletin

   What to check: During the test drive, brake lightly at a stop sign on a rough patch and feel for a sinking pedal or an unexpected seat belt tug; ask whether the ABS/VDC software recall and any ABS-related service work were done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “At very light stop such as red light or stop sign, my JX35 has tightened the seat belts in the front so hard that it pulled me and my passenger back into our seats. When this happens, the brakes go very soft at or before the set belts tighten. The dealer could not find anything wrong, this has happened numerous times in the past 3 months.”

   NHTSA complaint #11351552, filed 2020-08, 150,000 miles

   “1. Pedal intermittently loses pressure when slow speed stops. 2. Pedal goes close to floor at complete stop with light pressure. 3. On several occasions, it triggered the seat belt restraints which was scary. 4. Noted air sucking sound from brake pedal. 5. Brakes would pump back to normal if I took my foot off brake and repressed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11110868, filed 2018-07, 110,000 miles
4. 4
   Exterior lighting

   Headlights going out while driving

   • 15 complaints (5%)
   • median 74,000 mi at 6.8 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2023

   Owners report low and high beams failing together or one side going dark unexpectedly at night, sometimes with the interior instrument lighting also going out. Some were told the headlight assembly or ballast needed replacement at significant cost, and in some cases the problem returned after replacement. Mostly reported between about 69,000 and 142,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check both headlights and the dash illumination at night, and ask whether either headlight assembly or ballast has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On march 3, 2021, I was driving home at night when my headlights stopped working unexpectedly and suddenly. Some roads have no or inadequate street lights as well as no shoulder for pulling over which makes it at once impossible to stop driving and dangerous to continue driving. The local Infiniti dealership could provide no explanation for why the headlights stopped working.”

   NHTSA complaint #11399167, filed 2021-03, 136,000 miles

   “Both headlights stopped working at the same time which is a safety issue! I did not have any low beam lights or highbeam lights on both headlights. Once the headlights went out I had no way to navigate the vehicle. The vehicle was in motion at night on a city street.”

   NHTSA complaint #11402722, filed 2021-03, 69,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Battery drain and instrument cluster or power control

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe repeated battery replacements, exterior bulbs burning out, and the instrument cluster going dark while driving, with power controls and speed control stopping at the same time. Owners also mention warning lights for blind spot and backup intervention appearing without an obvious cause, and dealers being unable to reproduce the faults. Reported from roughly 12,000 to 101,000 miles.

   Recall 14V1380004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask how often the battery has been replaced and whether there are stored CAN or communication codes; verify all dash warning lights go out normally after startup.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have replaced the battery in my 2013 Infiniti JX35 3-4 times. Dealership continues to say this is normal. Recently, multiple exterior light bulbs have gone out and the 'instrument cluster' suddenly went dark while I was driving. I cannot see meters like gas, speed, etc. I cannot hear or see my blinker or headlight indicators. Additionally, all the power controls including speed control no longer work. I am concerned there is a significant electrical safety hazard. I no longer feel safe driving this car with my children. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11389507, filed 2021-01, 101,000 miles

   “The warning light for back up collision intervention system and the blind spot warning (bsw) comes on suddenly while driving. It comes on at different speeds and happens on the highway driving as well as city driving. The infinti dealer in tampa fl cannot fix the problem and hence comes up with reasons and false diagnosis. They also blame that the vehicle has had some body work done in the bumper which is not the case as the vehicle has never been for any body work since purchased from the same dealer.”

   NHTSA complaint #10559761, filed 2014-01, 29,000 miles

Buying note. This model year draws complaints about two expensive areas, the CVT transmission and the passenger occupant detection system, so service records for both matter more than mileage alone. A pre-purchase inspection that drives the car at low and highway speed and checks the air bag status light and brake pedal feel is worthwhile.

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.