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2008 Infiniti EX35 Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2008 Infiniti EX35 has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Steering wheel separation from steering column.” 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 2008 Infiniti EX35.

Reported to NHTSA

Steering wheel separation from steering column

STEERING

11 NHTSA complaints · 2010-08 → 2019-03

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 INFINITI EX35. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RE-ATTACH THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE STEERING COLUMN TEMPORARILY AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11030398
“I WAS PULLING INTO MY GARAGE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED OUT NEARLY SEPARATING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. BALL BEARINGS FELL FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE CLOCK SPRING CABLE UNRAVELED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10702272
“AFTER HAVING THE OIL CHANGED, AT THE INFINITI DEALER, ON THE WAY HOME MY SON NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY LOOSE. AFTER ARRIVING AT HOME THE STEERING WHEEL AND PART OF THE COLUMN ACTUALLY SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10605536

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stalling or shutting off while driving

ENGINE

8 NHTSA complaints · 2013-11 → 2019-10

“THE ENGINE REPEATEDLY STALLS DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHILE BRAKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED DOZENS OF TIMES, INCLUDING WHILE DRIVING THROUGH PARKING LOTS, BRAKING DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON CITY STREETS AND FREEWAY OFF RAMPS AS WELL AS BRAKING ON A LEFT TURN THROUGH A TRAFFIC”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11164798
“AUTO STALLS AT LOW SPEED MOTION EITHER WHILE SLOWING DOWN OR STARTING TO MOVE. STALLS OUT IN TRAFFIC AND ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL WRECKS ON A CITY STREET WHEN STALLED TRYING TO GET THROUGH TRAFFIC”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10939686
“WHILE DRIVING IN A PARKING GARAGE LOOKING FOR A PARKING SPACE, MY CAR JUST STOPPED. I WAS HIT IN THE REAR AND THERE WAS NO REASON FOR MY CAR TO STOP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10681293

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Passenger airbag sensor light and VIN excluded from recall

AIR BAGS

7 NHTSA complaints · 2012-12 → 2019-09

“THE PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY. WE HAD THE DEALERSHIP DO A DIAGNOSTIC ON IT AND CAME BACK THAT THE OCCUPANT CONTROL SENSOR UNIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT IS BAD AND THEY WANT 6400.00 TO FIX IT!!”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11255298
“AIRBAG SENSOR IN PASSENGER SIDE SEAT IS NOT WORKING , OTHER 2008 EX35 RECALLED FOR THIS, BUT NOT MINE!!!??? DEALER WANTS 4600 DOLLARS TO REPAIR IT!!”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10780074
“THE DASH BOARD AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. IT STAYED FLASHING FOR A FEW WEEKS, SO I TOOK IT TO AN INFINITI DEALERSHIP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10487482

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Airbags failed to deploy during crash

AIR BAGS

2 NHTSA complaints · 2012-09 → 2015-09

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 INFINITI EX35. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND TURNING LEFT, ANOTHER VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AT A RED TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10775398
“THE INFINITI THEN HIT A BRICK COLUMN SUPPORTING A BUILDING WITH FULL FRONTAL IMPACT BETWEEN THE HEADLIGHTS. THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10473851

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Dashboard melting, cracking, or sticky glare

STRUCTURE

3 NHTSA complaints · 2016-03 → 2021-04

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 INFINITI EX35. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS MELTING AND WAS CAUSING A GLARE THAT WAS IMPAIRING HIS VISION WHILE DRIVING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11413045
“VARIOUS CRACKS HAVE FORMED IN THE LEATHER DASHBOARD. ONE NEAR THE ODOMETER READINGS EXTENDING TOWARDS THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. A SECOND TO THE LEFT OF THE CENTER DASH EXTENDING FROM TOP TO BOTTOM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10882090
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 INFINITI EX35. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD BECAME STICKY WHICH CAUSED A GLARE TO THE WINDSHIELD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10845965

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Vehicle fire from wiring harness or tire area

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

3 NHTSA complaints · 2013-02 → 2016-11

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 INFINITI EX35. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, AFTER BEING DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES EARLIER THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING ODOR IN THE CABIN. A CLOUD OF SMOKE ALSO APPEARED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10926459
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 INFINITI EX35. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 5 HOURS WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE FIRE INITIATED FROM THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AREA”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10672939
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 INFINITI EX35. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER REAR SEAT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER REAR TIRE EXPLODED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10498111

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Radiator cracking at plastic-to-aluminum junction

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2 NHTSA complaints · 2014-06 → 2014-06

“RADIATOR CRACKED AT THE JUNCTION OF THE ALUMINUM AND PLASTIC CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERHEAT AND STALL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10606017
“THE BRAKES SQUEAK CONSTANTLY WITH DEALER PARTS. MY RADIATOR CRACKED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10597578

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

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)

11 crashes 1990–2024

How the 11 occupant deaths break down

10

driver deaths

1

passenger deaths

11

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2015 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.

5

complaints mentioning a crash

2

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 2008 Infiniti EX35 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.

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