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Infiniti M35Model year report

2006 Infiniti M35 Problems

Complaints
210filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
90,000miles, 146 complaints with mileage
Recalls
5campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
18 mpgcombined, 3.5L 6-cyl RWD · 16 city / 23 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2006 Infiniti M35 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe erratic steering that follows road ruts and crowns, driver's seat frames or tracks that give way and drop the seat, and air bag recall work that in some cases went unfixed for months. Steering complaints tend to arrive at relatively low mileage, while seat and air bag reports mostly come in from about 75,000 miles upward.

  1. Seats

    Driver's seat frame or track failure

    • 40 complaints (19%)
    • median 104,000 mi at 8.6 yrs old (35 state mileage)
    • owner-quoted repair $1,325 (median of 11 quotes)
    • filed 2011–2020

    Owners describe the seat suddenly dropping, tilting or collapsing, or sliding forward under braking and back under acceleration, sometimes with the frame or a mounting bolt breaking. Several report the dealer quoting around $900 to $1,400 for a new seat assembly or track and declining to cover it. Some also note the seat becoming hard to raise or move after air bag recall work. Mostly reported between roughly 56,000 and 155,000 miles, sometimes while driving or during braking.

    What to check: Sit in the driver's seat and work it through its full height and slide range, listening for pops or rocking. Check the frame and floor bolts underneath for cracks or looseness.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “While driving the vehicle, the driver seat suddenly and without warning, fell to the floor. I bought the vehicle to a mechanic and he said the railing gave way and broke. I checked online and this problem seems typical. I purchase this vehicle new. The vehicle currently only has about 86000 miles. Why is there not a recall.”

    NHTSA complaint #11323843, filed 2020-05, 70,000 miles

    “When driving and coming to a stop/ braking my driver seat slides to the front and then slides back. My foot slipped off the pedal and good thing nobody was in front of me at the time. This is a real hazard when driving and coming to a stop. The seat feels like its going to slide off track. Please somebody look into this there are too many complaints for this not to be addressed. Infiniti owner”

    NHTSA complaint #10575008, filed 2014-03, 109,000 miles
  2. Steering

    Erratic steering / tramlining (pulls left and right)

    • 42 complaints (20%)
    • median 57,000 mi at 5.0 yrs old (39 state mileage)
    • filed 2008–2017

    Complaints describe the car wandering or darting left and right on ruts, crowns and uneven pavement, with some owners saying heavy braking makes it worse. Many report that new tires and repeated alignments helped briefly before the condition returned. Several say the dealer found nothing wrong or described it as normal for the car, and a few mention a leaking steering rack. Reported from roughly 27,000 to 95,000 miles, often noticed at highway speeds and on rutted or uneven roads.

    What to check: Drive the car at highway speed on a rutted or crowned road and see whether it tracks straight without constant correction. Ask whether the tires, alignment and steering rack have been inspected recently.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Steering problem with 2006 Infiniti m35x. Car has severe tramiling or tracking problem. Car swerves to left and right dramatically when crossing crown in highway or traveling over rutted or uneven road surfaces. This condition has caused many near accidents for myself and my wife. Dealer claims that it is the way the car is supposed to handle. We have tried other tires and alianments to no avail.”

    NHTSA complaint #10380820, filed 2011-02, 60,000 miles

    “I have a 2006 Infiniti M35 all wheel drive with 109,000 miles. The vehicle will randomly wander and pull from left to right. During casual driving, the vehicle will sometimes pull so abruptly that it causes me to leave the lane. I fear that one day this could cause an accident. The pulling occurs on a daily basis. I have new tires, new brakes, and the vehicle is in proper order.this has been happening ever since I got the car 50,000 miles ago.”

    NHTSA complaint #10376991, filed 2011-01, 49,000 miles
  3. Engine

    Engine stalling or shutting off while driving

    • 23 complaints (11%)
    • median 104,000 mi at 8.5 yrs old (18 state mileage)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2005–2024

    Complaints describe the engine cutting out without warning at highway speed or when accelerating, with the car either restarting after a wait or needing a tow. Some owners link the stalling or limp-home behavior to the accelerator pedal sensor campaign, and others mention overheating or a hot warning appearing at the same time. In several cases the cause was not found or the vehicle was not repaired. Reported from roughly 55,000 to 216,000 miles, often at 55-75 mph under acceleration or steady cruising.

    Recall 13V4300003 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether the accelerator pedal assembly recall was performed and whether the engine control module was reprogrammed afterward. Have a scan tool read stored codes and check for any history of stalling.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “About a month ago, I was driving my car home from the store and the engine stalled as I was about to pull into the parking space. I thought the battery was dead, so I called a family member to give me a jump. The car started back up and drove fine for about two days. Then it happened again, I was on my way home from picking the kids up from school and the engine stalled again, right in the middle of the highway. The car would still be on but it would not move at all. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11104630, filed 2018-06, 172,869 miles

    “Driving on my city road at 45 MPH my Infiniti M35 instantly went from normal rpms to 0, brakes locking and steering as well. I was able to pull off into a company parking lot to turn my Infiniti off after getting it immediately in park. I tried to restart my car and almost five days of trying and having it towed home, I am still unable to get my car to restart. All of the interior lights from slip, brake, service enginne, the battery, etc continue to stay on. The car will try to crank but won't turn over. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11413668, filed 2021-04, 214,000 miles
  4. Air bags

    Takata passenger air bag recall not completed

    • 48 complaints (23%)
    • median 99,000 mi at 10.9 yrs old (13 state mileage)
    • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2012–2022

    Many complaints center on the front passenger inflator recall: owners say they were notified but parts were unavailable for months, or that their VIN was not included in the campaign. Some report a passenger air bag warning light and a dealer diagnosis of a failed air bag module that would be repaired at their cost. Reported mostly between roughly 60,000 and 133,000 miles, largely in 2016 and 2017 after recall notifications were mailed.

    Recall 20V008000Recall 17V028000Recall 16V349000Recall 15V2260004 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for the recall repair history and have a dealer confirm by VIN that no open air bag campaign remains; also check that the passenger air bag warning light does not stay on.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The contact owns a 2006 Infiniti M35. The contact stated that the passenger side air bag warning message displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the passenger side air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 99,000. ..updated 05/02/16”

    NHTSA complaint #10853721, filed 2016-04, 99,000 miles

    “The contact owns a 2006 Infiniti M35. The stated that upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact was able to drive the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in an active recall. The dealer also informed the contact that the vehicle could be repaired at his expense. The contact stated that the manufacturer intentionally excluded his VIN from NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V008000 (Air Bags). …”

    NHTSA complaint #11447112, filed 2022-01, 120,000 miles
  5. Electrical system

    Air bag and electronic warning lights, no-start faults

    • 33 complaints (16%)
    • median 99,000 mi at 9.5 yrs old (21 state mileage)
    • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2005–2024

    Owners describe multiple dashboard warning lights staying on, the car cranking but not starting, or the engine cutting out followed by a no-start condition. Some mention the intelligent key not being detected, and one notes the push-button start allows the car to be left running when exiting. Reported from about 8,500 to 214,000 miles, appearing both early in the car's life and at high mileage.

    4 related service bulletins

    What to check: Start the car several times, including from cold, and watch that all warning lights clear after the bulb check. Ask whether the intelligent key modules and battery have been serviced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The contact stated the ignition was designed with a keyless push button starter and upon exiting the vehicle there was no alarm to remind the occupants to depress the button to turn off the engine. The dealer and manufacturer were alerted. Updated 10/25/2006 - the consumer has inadvertently lock the vehicle and left it running twice.”

    NHTSA complaint #10168122, filed 2006-09, 8,500 miles

    “The contact owns a 2006 Infiniti M35. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle shut off without warning. The vehicle quickly decelerated, and the contact was able to pull the vehicle off to the shoulder of the highway. The contact made several attempts to restart the vehicle with several unknown warning lights flashing on the instrument panel. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed back to the residence. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11594859, filed 2024-06, 190,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the steering feel at highway speed, the driver's seat frame and tracks, and any open air bag recall is well worth the cost on this model year. Confirming the accelerator pedal and air bag campaigns were completed, and asking for service records on the seat assembly, will tell you a lot about how the car has been maintained.

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.

NHTSA recorded 210 consumer complaints for the 2006 Infiniti M35. 146 of the complaints include a mileage, and 21% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 90,000 miles. Of all complaints, 8 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 4 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns and 71 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Engine cooling (4), Exterior lighting (4), Fuel system (4), Equipment (3), Transmission and drivetrain (3), Latches, locks and linkages (2), Tires (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Wheels (2), Electronic stability control (1), Seat belts (1).

Example complaints

Steering: “Vehicle started shifting to right of the road. Paid for wheel alignment. Purchased set of new tires at around 115000 miles. Now at 130,000 miles dealer tells me that my rack and pinion is leaking and could result in sudden inoperable vehicle. The part can only be purchased from Infiniti and approximate cost is around $1450.00 plus $500-$700 to install!!”

NHTSA complaint #10567994, filed 2014-03, 115,000 miles

Air bags: “Takata recall. Received notification in july 2016. Now 8 months later, we have no further communication from Infiniti when this will be repaired and the dealers do not know, either. Infiniti's solution is to do an interim repair that disables the passenger side airbag- not really a fix . Can we get an update from Infiniti when they expect to be able to repair this problem?”

NHTSA complaint #10960120, filed 2017-03, 209,000 miles

Seats: “I just bought this car and when I took it out to drive the driver seat was sitting all the way to the floor so I tried raising the seat and noticed it wading moving so I got out to look while trying to raise it and noticed metal trying to come through the leather I don't know what's going on and I hope this doesn't cost me a lot of money to fix.”

NHTSA complaint #11325240, filed 2020-05, 216,000 miles

Electrical system: “While driving on a freeway at low rate of speed (rush hour) I have experienced engine stall condition. All warning lights went on,including brake indicator. I was able to shift gear into park position and shut the vehicle down. After a couple minutes, I restarted the engine and drived home. That was one scary moment.”

NHTSA complaint #10499498, filed 2013-02, 75,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

21% of the 146 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 54,000 and 120,000 miles.

5%0–102%10–2514%25–5016%50–7521%75–10029%100–15013%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (146 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 90,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

’06’09’12’1535’18’21’24
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2006 Infiniti M35 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
M35 RWD3.5L 6-cyl5-speed automatic162318$3,700
M35 4WD/AWD3.5L 6-cyl5-speed automatic162218$3,700

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2006 Infiniti M35 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 71 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 71 bulletins →

Other model years of the Infiniti M35

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20102036,0005—19—Falling
20091632,5005—19—Falling
20086062,0005—19Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
200715574,2004—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200621090,0005—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Infiniti M35 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2006 Infiniti M35?

Owners of this model year most often describe erratic steering that follows road ruts and crowns, driver's seat frames or tracks that give way and drop the seat, and air bag recall work that in some cases went unfixed for months. The issues reported most often: Driver's seat frame or track failure; Erratic steering / tramlining (pulls left and right); Engine stalling or shutting off while driving.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2006 Infiniti M35 have?

NHTSA recorded 210 consumer complaints for the 2006 Infiniti M35 as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2006 Infiniti M35 is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 53 complaints (25% of the total), followed by air bags with 49.

Has the 2006 Infiniti M35 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Infiniti M35 get?

The EPA rates the 2006 Infiniti M35 (M35, 3.5L 6-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 16 city and 23 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2006 Infiniti M35 reported?

Among the 146 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 90,000 miles and the middle half falls between 54,000 and 120,000 miles; 21% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.