Problems · NHTSA complaints
2002 Infiniti I35 problems
Owners filed 72 complaints about the 2002 Infiniti I35 with NHTSA between Mar 2002 and Aug 2024. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (15).
Complaints
72
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
15
People reported injured
Deaths
11
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling15
- Air bags12
- Engine11
- Suspension10
- Vehicle speed control9
- Exterior lighting8
- Service brakes, hydraulic7
- Power train6
- Steering6
- Electrical system4
- Equipment4
- Structure3
- Seats3
- Fuel system, gasoline3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
15
5
4
2
1
2
2
2
4
3
3
7
7
4
5
2
0
1
0
1
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 15 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
15 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2002 Infiniti I35. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V455000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Air bags
12 reports4 crashes2 related recalls
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 INFINITI I35. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V287000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.”
Engine
11 reports1 crash
“The contact owns a 2002 Infiniti I35. The contact stated while driving 70–75 MPH on the freeway, the vehicle shut off and failed to restart. Additionally, while driving on another occasion, the vehicle shut off but restarted. The check engine, traction control, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V455000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN for the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 279,000.”
Suspension
10 reports2 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 INFINITI I35. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER TAKING HIS VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V146000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY DOWNSHIFT WITH THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V043000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT ALSO LINKED THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CERRITOS NISSAN (18707 STUDEBAKER RD, CERRITOS, CA 90703) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE SAME INFORMATION AS THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 223,000.”
Vehicle speed control
9 reports3 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“THE TCS OFF AND SLIP LIGHTS AFTER A NOTICEABLE MISS WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE FAILS TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLS, REGARDLESS OF TRAVELING SPEED, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING. AFTER STALLING, THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES WILL RESTART ON FIRST ATTEMPT, OTHER TIMES IT TAKES A FEW TRIES OR TURNING THE KEY TO ON POSITION FOR 5 SECONDS AND THEN TURNING IT BACK TO OFF, REPEATING 2-3 TIMES THEN STARTS.THE PROBLEM IS PERSISTENT, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO FAIL AT RANDOM ALMOST EVERY TIME IT'S DRIVEN AS SHORT AS 1 MILE DISTANCE, BUT HAS ALSO BEEN DRIVEN 20 MILES WITHOUT FAILING. WHILE DRIVING A DAILY ROUTE, THE PROBLEM OFTEN OCCURS AT A COMMON LOCATION, WHETHER RELATED TO DISTANCE, TERRAIN, OR COINCIDENCE IS UNKNOWN.”
Exterior lighting
8 reports
“GOVERNMENT REPORTS INDICATE THAT 85% OF ALL ACCIDENTS OCCUR DURING LOW LIGHT SITUATIONS. THE NEW PLASTIC LIGHTS, THAT COME ON EVERY AUTOMOBILE, ARE ECONOMICALLY UNREASONABLE TO REPLACE WHEN THEY GET SAND BLASTED OR FOGGED OVER FROM EXPOSURE TO THE SUN AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF NATURE. THE LIGHTS FOR MY 2002 VEHICLE ARE $1,000.00 EACH. THE LIGHTS ARE ALL SANDBLASTED AND FOGGY AND DO NOT EMIT LIGHT WELL. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS WHEN THE LIGHTS COST ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE CAR. THE MANUFACTURERS SHOULD MAKE THE COMPONENTS ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE TO REPLACE OR MAKE THEM OUT OF GLASS WHICH WILL NOT FOG OVER. IF NOT THAT THEN THE MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE LIGHTS FREE AS LONG AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVABLE AND ON THE ROAD LEGALLY REGISTERED FOR THAT FUNCTION. ONCE THE LIGHTS HAVE BECOME FOGGED,OR BLASTED, POLISHING THEM ONLY LASTS FOR AROUND 30 DAYS. REPETITIVE POLISHING WILL CHANGE THE OPTICS OF THE LIGHT AND EVENTUALLY YOU WILL POLISH CLEAR THROUGH THE PLASTIC. THESE LIGHTS ARE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY EITHER THE MANUFACTURERS OR THE GOVERNMENT. *TR”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.