Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 Infiniti EX35, and it carries 4 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 11 | 25% |
| Air bags | 9 | 20% |
| Engine | 3 | 7% |
| Structure | 2 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 5% |
| Suspension | 1 | 2% |
| Engine | 1 | 2% |
| Suspension | 1 | 2% |
| Power train | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO INFINITI OF SARASOTA 495
NHTSA complaint: Structure
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR I NOTICED THAT EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP OR DIP IN THE ROAD, IT FEELS LIKE I AM GOING TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR IS EXTREMELY HARD TO CONTROL WHEN HITTING A BUMP ON THE STREET OR HIGHWAY
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING SOMETIMES AT 3/4 FULL AND SOMETIMES AT 1/2 TANK FULL OF GAS AND SOMETIMES IN BETWEEN THE TWO MAKING IT UNPREDICTABLE AND UNSAFE.
NHTSA complaint: Engine
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!! IRONICALLY, O
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 INFINITI EX35. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL ELECTRONIC TILT MALFUNCTIONED AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY RE-POSITION THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, WHILE TURNING TH
NHTSA complaint: Steering
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 RAMP
NHTSA complaint: Engine
FRONT CROSS MEMBER ROTTED OUT IN 77000 MILES. POSSIBLE SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THE FRONT A-ARM BOLTS TO THIS MEMBER. CALLED INFINITI DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL.
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
TOOK THE CAR TO DEALER FOR FIXING THE BELOW RECALL NOTICE. MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBERR1501 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER15V-054 HOWEVER, THE DEALERSHIP IS SAYING SOMETHING ELSE IN THE STEERING NEED TO BE FIXED BEFORE APPLYING
NHTSA complaint: Steering
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2008 Infiniti EX35. 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 model year 2008 Infiniti EX35 vehicles equipped with the power tilt/telescope option included in the premium package, manufactured June 29, 2007, to April 25, 2008, 2009 Infiniti FX35 and FX45 vehicles manufactured October 31, 2007, to April 1
Risk: Extra play in the steering wheel or a loss of steering may increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering shaft on the Infiniti EX35, FX35, and FX45 vehicles, and will replace the steering column assembly on the Nissan GT-R vehicles, free of
NISSAN IS RECALLING 16,365 MY 2008 INFINITI EX35 AND MY 2009 NISSAN MURANO VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING, THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU) MAY CAUSE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG NOT TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED IF THE VEHICLE BATTERY BECOMES SIGNIFICANTLY DISCHARGED.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG NOT INFLATING IN A CRASH IN WHICH IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO SO, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ACU IN AFFECTED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 19, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200 OR NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONT
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACE
CURT IS RECALLING CERTAIN CLASS 1 RECEIVER HITCHES, P/N 11500, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 26, 2008 AND MARCH 12, 2009, SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 NISSAN INFINITI EX35 VEHICLES. WHEN THE HITCH IS LOADED TO THE MAXIMUM RATING, THE BUMPER STRUCTURE OF THE VEH
Risk: A VEHICLE CRASH CAN OCCUR SHOULD THE TOWED VEHICLE SEPARATE FROM THE TOWING VEHICLE WHILE IN OPERATION.
Fix: CURT MFG WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HITCHES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 14, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CURT MFG TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-738-7213.
| Reliability raw | 85 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 79 | good |
| Maintenance | 78 | good |
| Depreciation | 52 | average |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 34 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other wagons in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and steering is the most reported area with 11 of them (25%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 85/100 (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 79/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2008 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. 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.