2013 INFINITI FX37

Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi

Symptoms: Metallic ticking or knocking from bottom end, especially cold start, Low oil pressure warning light, oil pressure drops at idle when warm, Catastrophic engine seizure or rod knock if not caught early, Metal shavings in oil during changes

Fix: The oil gallery gasket on the VQ37VHR fails internally, starving bearings. Once bearings are damaged, you need a complete engine rebuild or replacement short block. Rebuild takes 24-30 hours labor including removal, machine work, and reinstall with new bearings, rings, gaskets, timing components.

Estimated cost: $6,500-12,000

Typical onset: 70,000-120,000 mi

Symptoms: Strawberry milkshake appearance in radiator overflow tank or transmission fluid, Transmission slipping, delayed shifts, or erratic behavior, Check engine light with transmission temp codes, Overheating transmission or engine coolant system

Fix: The cooler inside the radiator develops internal leak, mixing ATF and coolant. Requires new radiator, complete transmission fluid flush (sometimes multiple flushes), and often full transmission rebuild if coolant contamination sat for any time. Preventive replacement at 80k saves transmissions. 4-6 hours labor for cooler/radiator only, 16-22 hours if transmission needs rebuild.

Estimated cost: $800-1,200 preventive; $4,500-7,000 if transmission damaged

Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi

Symptoms: Heavy clunk or thud when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Vibration through chassis at idle in gear, Visible sagging or cracked rubber on mount during inspection, Driveline shudder during acceleration

Fix: The rear transmission mount fatigues and tears, allowing excessive drivetrain movement. Replacement is straightforward but requires supporting transmission. 2-3 hours labor for mount replacement.

Estimated cost: $350-600

Symptoms: Hesitation or stumble during acceleration, especially under load, Check engine light with lean codes or fuel trim codes, Hard starting after sitting, long crank times, Loss of power at highway speeds

Fix: In-tank fuel filter can clog from contaminated fuel or internal tank corrosion. Requires dropping fuel tank to access pump/filter assembly. Some techs find debris from deteriorating tank baffles. 3-4 hours labor, sometimes requires fuel pump assembly replacement if filter is integrated.

Estimated cost: $450-900

Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi

Symptoms: Startup rattle for 2-3 seconds on cold start from front of engine, Metallic whirring or rattling at idle that goes away with RPM increase, Check engine light with cam/crank correlation codes in advanced cases, Rough idle or misfire codes if timing has slipped

Fix: VQ37 uses three chains with plastic guides that wear. Primary chain tensioners can also weaken. Full timing service requires front cover removal, all three chains, guides, tensioners, and VVT components. 12-16 hours labor. Critical to catch before chain jumps timing.

Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800

Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi

Symptoms: Random no-start condition, cranks but won't fire, Stalling while driving, typically restarts after sitting, Check engine light with P0335 or P0340 codes, Tachometer drops to zero while driving before stall

Fix: Sensor mounted in bellhousing area runs hot and fails. Requires removing starter and working in tight space. 1.5-2 hours labor. Common enough that many techs recommend carrying a spare sensor for these vehicles.

Estimated cost: $250-450