2004 Infiniti G35 Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2004 Infiniti G35 has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Third brake light failure.” Infiniti manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe — short trips, city traffic, extreme temperatures) and Schedule 2 (easy highway use). Most US drivers honestly belong on Schedule 1: oil every 5,000 miles. The VQ V6s that power most of the lineup are chain-driven and durable when the oil stays fresh. The two things owners skip at their peril: CVT fluid on QX50/QX60 (extended intervals are how these transmissions die) and oil discipline on the twin-turbo VR30 in Q50/Q60 Red Sport.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2004 Infiniti G35.

Reported to NHTSA

Third brake light failure

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

35 NHTSA complaints · 2010-10 → 2015-06

“THIRD LIGHT FAILED AT APPROX 62800 MILES 5/24/2013 .THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE, CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION DUE TO IMPROPER WARNING TO FOLLOWING VEHICLES. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10943997
“THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT IN SPOILER-LESS G35 SEDANS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE TO FAULT AFTER JUST A FEW YEARS. OVER 50 OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WILL EITHER STOP WORKING ENTIRELY OR ONLY WORK AT TIMES WITH NO KNOWN CAUSE. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10475768
“3RD BRAKE LIGHT DOES NOT WORK IN WARM WEATHER, THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THERE ARE MANY OTHER VEHICLES AFFECTED AND THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10502227

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Driver seat bracket failure and seat rocking

SEATS

10 NHTSA complaints · 2009-04 → 2012-04

“DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BRACKET BECOMES DETACHED, CAUSING THE DRIVERS SEAT TO DANGEROUSLY MOVE AROUND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10356722
“I OWN A 2004 INFINITI G35 SEDAN W/ 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE DRIVER SEAT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH SEVERELY DURING ACCELERATION OR BRAKING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS. THE ROCKING CAUSES DIFFICULTIES WHEN ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10344544
“THE DRIVERS SEAT ON 2004 INFINITI G35 ROCKS. LOCAL DEALER GIVES ME THE RUN AROUND AND WANTS ME TO PAY $1200 FOR A NEW SEAT EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A WELL KNOWN/DOCUMENTED DEFECT AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY WARRANTY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10407535

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Inaccurate fuel gauge and incomplete fuel fill

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

9 NHTSA complaints · 2010-03 → 2024-01

“THE FUEL GAUGE ON MY INFINITI G35 WAS GIVING POOR READINGS ON THE CAR AND WOULD NOT FILL UP ALL THE WAY. IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL HOW MUCH FUEL I HAD LEFT AND I ENDED UP RUNNING OUT OF GAS ON THE HIGHWAY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10448473
“FUEL GAUGE ON INFINITY G35 COUPE (04) ALWAYS INCORRECT. PUMPING FUEL INTO THE CAR ALSO DIFFICULT AS IT USUALLY DOESN'T ALLOW A FULL FILL UP. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10352820
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10318721

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Climate and audio controls failing intermittently

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

7 NHTSA complaints · 2010-08 → 2021-02

“AUDIO FINISHER CIRCUIT BOARD HAS FAILED CAUSING FAILURE OF AUTO HEAT AND AC CONTROL TO FUNCTION CAUSING WINDOWS TO FOG CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10944001
“MY PROBLEM IS WITH THE DASH, WHERE THE HEATING CONTROLS AND THE RADIO CONTROLS ARE. WHEN I AM DRIVING, THE HEATER AND RADIO CONTROLS JUST CUT OUT. IT GETS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN IT IS RAINING, BECAUSE THE WINDOWS WILL FOG UP, AND IN THE WINTER IT GETS VERY COLD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10703659
“THE HEATING CONTROLS AND THE RADIO CONTROLS WORK INTEMITELY. THE TURN OFF AND ON BUY IT'S SELF. IT IS VERY SCARY WE THEY CUT OUT AND THE WINDOW FOG UP AND THE HEATING CONTROLS ARE OFF. IT GETS VERY SCARY. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10680813

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stalling and loss of power while driving

ENGINE

39 NHTSA complaints · 2007-05 → 2018-04

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI G35. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10899618
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI G35. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER AWAITING FIFTEEN MINUTES, THE VEHICLE RESTARTED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10823841
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI G35. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED AND RESUMED IN OPERATION NORMALLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10595578

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Excessive engine oil consumption

ENGINE

9 NHTSA complaints · 2007-07 → 2017-01

“EXCESSIVE OIL BURNING. WHEN SPARK PLUG'S WERE REMOVED FOR TUNE UP REPLACEMENT, FOUND ONE COATED WITH OIL. LOSS OF APPROXIMATELY 1/2 QUART OF OIL PER 2 WEEK PERIOD. LOOKED UP FORUMS FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD A PISTON RING PROBLEM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10823848
“THE VQ35DE INFINITI G35 ENGINE CONSUMES OIL QUICKLY. ROUGHLY ABOUT 1QT/1000 MILES. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT USED IN 2009 WITH 35,000 MILES. OIL CHANGES WITH FILTER AND PLUG HAVE BEEN MADE HABITUALLY EVERY 3,000 MILES WITH MOBIL 1 SYNTHETIC 5W-30 OR 10W-30 DEPENDING ON THE SEASON”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10520985
“THIS CAR HAS EXCESSIVE BURNING OF OIL AND IT IS WELL KNOWN IN THE FORUMS FOR G35 DRIVERS. THIS IS FOLLOW UP ON A COMPLAINT I JUST MADE. I HAD THE CAR'S OIL CHANGED WITH SYNTHETIC AND ALWAYS MAKE SURE IT IS CHANGED EVERY 3-5000 MILES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10946247

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Unintended acceleration

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

9 NHTSA complaints · 2007-05 → 2024-08

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINTI G35. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WITHOUT WARNING. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK AND THE ENGINE REVVED RAPIDLY. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10870744
“THIS CAR HAS A BAD CASE OF AUTOMATIC ACCELERATION. SINCE IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR THE PAST 9 YEARS, I'VE GOTTEN FAMILIAR WITH THE SYMPTONS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10508863
“UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE STOPPED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10826102

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag warning light and air bag module repairs

AIR BAGS

12 NHTSA complaints · 2008-02 → 2018-05

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI G35. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 65 MPH WHEN THE AIR BAG WARNING SENSOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY CONFIRMED THAT THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10436747
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITY G35. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS AT A COST OF $700. ONE WEEK LATER, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AGAIN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10392336
“IN JUNE OF 2009, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. IT WAS SERVED AT THE DEALER (REPLACED DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG MODULE COSTING $735.50). IN OCTOBER 2010, I WAS NOTIFIED OF A RECALL CONCERNING THE AIR BAGS ON MY CAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10396428

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1 (most US driving); 7,500 on the easy-use Schedule 2. VQ engines tolerate a lot but reward fresh oil with quiet chains and clean variable-timing operation. VR30 twin-turbo: treat 5,000 as the ceiling.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate with every oil change. Staggered-fitment sport models (G37S, Q60) can't rotate front-to-rear — budget rear tires accordingly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

CVT Fluid (QX50 / QX60)

Every 60,000 mi

CVT-equipped models: replace fluid around 60,000 miles — sooner with towing or hot-climate city driving. Use only Nissan NS-spec CVT fluid. This is the single most skipped, most expensive-to-skip item on modern Infiniti SUVs.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and lines at every service. Akebono-caliper sport packages wear pads unevenly if the slide hardware isn't serviced — have it cleaned and lubricated with pad changes.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace around 30,000 miles. Twin-intake VQ and VR engines use two filters — replace both, not just the easy one.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace roughly every 30,000 miles or 2 years — Infiniti pairs it with major services. Sport models driven hard should err toward the 2-year mark.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Automatic Transmission Fluid (7/9-speed)

Every 60,000 mi

Conventional automatics (G35/G37/Q50 RWD 7-speed, QX80 9-speed): fluid service around 60,000 miles under severe use keeps shifts clean. Matic-S/Matic-D spec fluid only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium plugs rated to 105,000 miles. On transverse VQ models (older QX60, JX35) the rear bank hides under the intake plenum — pay the labor once, at the full interval.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace about every 15,000 miles; behind the glovebox on most models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 75,000 mi

First replacement at 75,000 miles / 5 years (Nissan blue long-life), then about every 4 years after. Genuine or NS-spec coolant only — mixing types gels.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Drive Belt Inspection

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles; replace on cracking, glazing, or tensioner noise. VQ accessory belts announce their age with a cold-start chirp.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Intelligent-Key and always-on telematics draw at rest — weak batteries show up first as slow push-button starts.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

156 crashes 1990–2024

How the 156 occupant deaths break down

112

driver deaths

43

passenger deaths

1

not recorded by seat

156

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2004 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

17

complaints mentioning a crash

5

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2004 Infiniti G35 reflects INFINITI's published service intervals and the Schedule 1 / Schedule 2 Maintenance system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.