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 95 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Infiniti I35, and it carries 5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 22 | 23% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 22 | 23% |
| Air bags | 7 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 6% |
| Power train | 4 | 4% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 2% |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 2 | 2% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
Camshaft sensor according to the Infiniti dealership (Ray Brandt on Causeway in Metairie La.) Is malfunctioning at makes the car engine die while driving. Then when you restart the car the engine revs fine in neutral but
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
2003 INFINITY I35 STALLS/DIES WITHOUT WARNING, SPITS/JERKS FORWARD, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TCS AND SLIP. HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING BUT USUALLY STARTS RIGHT BACK UP AFTERWARDS. HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES HAVE REPLACED ONE
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWN A 2003 INFINITI I35. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHCILE DECELERATED, LOSS MOTIVE POWER, AND STALLED WITH AN UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF
NHTSA complaint: Power train
REPLACED COMPLETE EXHAUST SYSTEM, ALL O2 SENSORS, BOTH CAM SENSORS, FUEL PUMP WITH STRAINER, FUEL PUMP RELAY, SPARK PLUGS AND COILS, FUEL REGULATOR, HAD KEY PROGRAMMED, KEY ANTENNA REPLACED, VEHICLE FAILS TO START
NHTSA complaint: Power train
MY 2003 INFINITY I35 STALSL WHILE DRIVING ON LOCAL ROADS AND BUSY STATE HIGHWAYS LOCATED IN THE GREATER HILTON HEAD SC AREA. IT REQUIRES COASTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF. THE SERVICE ENGINE LI
NHTSA complaint: Engine
CAR SHUTS DOWN. OVER THREE YEARS AGO IT DIED WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT TO THE INFINITY DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS CAM SENSOR. HAD IT & CRANK SENSOR REPLACED. PROBLEM PERSISTED. TOOK BACK TO INFINITY & WAS TOLD IT W
NHTSA complaint: Engine
DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG NOT RECALLED YET CONFIRMED FROM DEALER- AIRBAG IS TAKATA AIRBAG AND PRONE TO RELEASING SHRAPNEL
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TAKATA RECALL 2003 INFINITI I35 PASSENGER AIR BAGS WERE RECALLED AND REPLACED BY DEALER BUT DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE DRIVER'S SIDE TAKATA AIRBAG UNLESS RECALL IS ANNOUNCED.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2003 Infiniti I35. 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 2003-2004 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
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
| Reliability raw | 75 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 52 | average |
| Performance | 57 | average |
| Efficiency | 38 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 95 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 22 of them (23%). There are 5 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 66/100. 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.