2011 INFINITI EX35

Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi

Symptoms: Transmission slipping or erratic shifting, Milky or strawberry-colored fluid in radiator or transmission pan, Check engine light with transmission codes, Transmission overheating warnings

Fix: The internal cooler in the radiator fails, allowing coolant into the ATF and vice-versa. This destroys the RE5R05A transmission within days if not caught early. Full fix requires radiator replacement, external cooler installation, transmission flush or full rebuild if contaminated, plus all cooling system service. 12-20 hours labor depending on transmission damage.

Estimated cost: $2,500-7,500

Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi

Symptoms: Burning one quart of oil per 1,000-2,000 miles, Timing chain rattle on cold start, Low oil pressure warning or light flicker at idle, Rough idle or misfires from carbon buildup on valves

Fix: VQ35HR is less prone than VQ37 but still sees piston ring wear and oil gallery gasket leaks starving cam phasers. Proper fix is engine-out teardown, new rings, gallery gaskets, timing components, valve cleaning. 30-40 hours labor. Many owners band-aid it with high-mileage oil and frequent top-offs until catastrophic failure.

Estimated cost: $6,000-9,500

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: Clunk or thud when shifting from park to drive/reverse, Excessive vibration at idle in gear, Visible sag or torn rubber on mount inspection, Transmission feels like it 'drops' during hard acceleration

Fix: The rear transmission mount is fluid-filled and fails predictably. Requires lift access and subframe drop on AWD models. 2.5-3.5 hours labor. Replace all three motor/trans mounts if one has failed—the others are close behind.

Estimated cost: $450-750

Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Harsh or delayed 2-3 or 3-4 shifts, Limp mode with P0868 or P1702 codes, Slipping between gears under moderate throttle, Transmission refusing to downshift or staying in high gear

Fix: The RE5R05A valve body wears and solenoids stick, especially if ATF wasn't changed every 30k. Pan drop, valve body removal, solenoid replacement or full reman valve body. 6-8 hours labor. Often discovered after cooler failure has been addressed but damage was done.

Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200

Typical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Fuel gauge reading erratically or stuck at full/empty, Hard starting after sitting or in hot weather, Sputtering or loss of power under load, Check engine light with P0460 or P0463 codes

Fix: In-tank fuel pump assembly includes the level sender; both fail together or separately. Requires dropping the tank or removing rear seat and access panel depending on AWD vs RWD. 3-4 hours labor. OEM Nissan part recommended—aftermarket pumps fail quickly on these.

Estimated cost: $650-1,100

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: Rough idle especially when cold, Hesitation or stumble on light throttle, Misfires on multiple cylinders (P0300-P0306), Loss of low-end power and throttle response

Fix: VQ35HR uses port and direct injection but still builds carbon on intake valves over time. Walnut blasting or manual cleaning required—no intake manifold spray fix works. 4-6 hours labor depending on access. Not catastrophic but degrades driveability significantly.

Estimated cost: $500-900