Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 60 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Infiniti FX35, and it carries 10 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 8 | 13% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 7 | 12% |
| Structure | 5 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 7% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 7% |
| Engine | 3 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 5% |
| Seats | 3 | 5% |
| Air bags | 2 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
My airbag light came on again recently, without any incident and I am concerned that this means my car is now unsafe. This happened in 2017 and it was a repair that was made without charge. I have now been informed tha
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
Ever since I bought my infiniti the air bag light flashed rapidly on the dash. I received notice a couple years ago about the air bags being recalled.I took my vehicle to Roseville Infiniti and supposedly the airbags we
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
Good day! According to the VIN code of my car, there are revocable companies, the dealer refuses to replace it.
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI FX35. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V008000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVE
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THEIR BCM AND DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS. THEY CONSTANTLY GO OUT, OR DO NOT FUNCTION ALL THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TAKARA RECALL L. PLEASE REPLACE THIS ITEM BY REVOCABLE COMPANY. I ASK YOU TO CLARIFY WHAT REVOCABLE CAMPAIGNS ARE CONDUCTED FOR MY CAR?
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI FX35. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE, VDC, AND SLIP WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 INFINITI FX35. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSAXL
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the 2003 Infiniti FX35. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2007-2011 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback, 2001-2004 Infiniti I30 and I35, 2002-2003 Inifiniti QX4, 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 and 2006-2010 M35 and M45 vehicles. The vehicles are
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators with alternate desiccated inflators, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2020. Owners may contact
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2011 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississ
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2017. All owners should receive a second notice by May 15, 2
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2003-2005 FX35 and FX45, and 2006 M35 and M45 vehicles originally sold, or currently registered, in geographic locations associated with high absolute humidity. Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registere
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passengers frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious inj
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. Not
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may caus
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious inj
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261. N
| Reliability raw | 75 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 74 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 33 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 60 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 8 of them (13%). There are 10 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 75/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2003 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 68/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.