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 35 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Infiniti I35, and it carries 3 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 | 12 | 34% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 9% |
| Engine | 3 | 9% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 6% |
| Structure | 2 | 6% |
| Equipment | 2 | 6% |
| Steering | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The red airbag light on the instrument panel IS on. I have taken the car to the infinity dealer and they say a sensor is out and would be $800 to $1000 to repair. It seems the airbag system should be warranted as long as
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
The steering wheel is hard to turn and it makes a weird noise when turning it. And I have gotten things sent to me about the airbags being recalled
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING. LOST ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT SOON CAME ON ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER WARNING LIGHTS, ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART READILY AND THEN STALLED AGAIN WITHOUT
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TWO MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE LOOSE FROM RUSTED FRAME. VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 100,000 MILES ON IT. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AT A NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THE DEFECT WAS FOUND. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN CONNECTICUT IN JUNE OF 2017 AND
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI I35. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V349000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT HAD BEEN WAITING OVER A YEAR TO HEAR FROM THE MANUFACTURER IN REG
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI I35. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V349000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXC
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI I35. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V349000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE M
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
"TAKATA RECALL" WHEN WILL THE PARTS BE AVAILABLE? I DO NOT WANT TO BE A STATISTIC. MY HUSBAND AND I DO A LOT OF HIGHWAY TRAVELING IN HUMID AREAS.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2004 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 2003-2008 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
| Reliability raw | 80 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | 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 35 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 12 of them (34%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (excellent) 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 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2004 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.