The 2007 Infiniti M35 with the VQ35DE/HR 3.5L V6 is a comfortable luxury sedan that suffers from catastrophic engine failures due to factory-defective piston ring land design, plus transmission cooler leaks that can destroy the transmission if ignored. These are not wear-and-tear issues—they're design flaws that strike without warning.
Catastrophic Engine Failure - Piston Ring Land Collapse
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1 qt per 500-1000 miles), White/blue smoke from exhaust on startup or acceleration, Loss of compression in one or multiple cylinders, Check engine light with misfire codes (P0300 series), Sudden catastrophic failure with metal debris in oil pan
Fix: Factory piston ring lands crack and collapse, allowing oil past rings. Only real fix is engine rebuild with aftermarket upgraded pistons or short-block replacement. 25-35 labor hours for removal, rebuild, and reinstallation. Many shops won't attempt rebuild—go straight to used/reman engine.
Estimated cost: $5,500-9,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Failure and Cross-Contamination
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Pink milky substance in coolant reservoir (coolant in trans fluid), Transmission slipping, delayed engagement, or erratic shifting, Overheating transmission temperature warnings, Coolant loss with no external leaks, Strawberry milkshake appearance in transmission dipstick
Fix: Factory cooler inside radiator fails, allowing coolant and ATF to mix. Requires new radiator, complete transmission flush (often multiple flushes), and if contamination severe, full transmission rebuild or replacement. External cooler install recommended. 8-12 hours labor for radiator and flush; add 18-25 hours if transmission needs rebuild.
Symptoms: Clunking or thudding when shifting from Park to Drive/Reverse, Excessive vibration at idle in Drive, Visible sagging or torn rubber on mount during inspection, Jerky acceleration from stop
Fix: Hydraulic transmission mount degrades and fails, allowing excessive powertrain movement. Replacement is straightforward but requires supporting transmission. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $450-750
Fuel Filter/Fuel Pump Assembly Clogging
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Hard starting, especially when hot, Loss of power under acceleration or at highway speeds, Engine stumbling or surging, Check engine light with lean codes (P0171/P0174), Stalling after refueling
Fix: In-tank fuel filter clogs from debris and varnish, starving engine of fuel. Requires fuel pump module replacement (filter not serviceable separately). Tank drop required. 3-4 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $800-1,300
Crankshaft Position Sensor Failure
Occasional · high severity
Symptoms: No-start condition with cranking but no fire, Stalling while driving with no restart, Intermittent stalling when hot, Check engine light with P0335 or P0340 codes, Tachometer drops to zero while driving
Fix: Sensor fails due to heat exposure, typically without warning. Located on back of engine block near bellhousing—requires removing intake manifold and accessories for access on some VQ variants. 3-5 hours labor depending on accessibility.
Estimated cost: $450-850
Front Lower Control Arm Bushing Deterioration
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front suspension, Wandering or vague steering feel, Uneven tire wear on inner edges, Failed state inspection due to excessive play
Fix: Factory bushings deteriorate and tear. Infiniti doesn't sell bushings separately—requires entire control arm replacement both sides. Alignment mandatory after. 3-4 hours labor for both sides plus alignment.
Estimated cost: $900-1,400
Owner tips
Check oil level every fuel fill—consumption is early warning of piston failure. Budget for engine rebuild/replacement if buying high-mileage.
Inspect coolant reservoir religiously for pink/milky contamination. Catch cooler failure early to save the transmission.
Install external transmission cooler proactively if radiator is original—cheap insurance against $6k disaster.
Service transmission fluid every 30k miles with Nissan Matic-S only—helps prolong life of aging transmission.
Pre-purchase inspection MUST include compression test and oil consumption check. Walk away if consumption exceeds 1 qt per 1500 miles.
Only buy if engine has been rebuilt with upgraded pistons or replaced entirely, and transmission cooler has been addressed—otherwise you're buying someone else's ticking time bomb at 100k+ miles.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
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AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 22E066000
2022-08-09
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain air bag inflator replacement service parts that may have been installed as part of a theft or collision repair. The parts include certain passenger-side air bag inflators designed to fit Infiniti 2002-2003 QX4, 2006-2010 M35 and M45; Nissan 2001-2003 Maxima, 2002-2006 Sentra, and both driver and passenger-side inflators designed to fit 2007-2012 Versa Sedan and Versa Hatchback vehicles. Please see Nissan's recall report for the specific part numbers. These replacement inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the inflators as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 14, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 1-800-867-7669.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 20V008000
2020-01-09 · EA15001
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 equipped with non-desiccated, frontal passenger air bag inflators containing phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant that were used as interim remedy parts for previous Takata recalls. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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 customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 17V028000
2017-01-10 · EA15001
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012 Nissan Versa hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A".
Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Nissan is recalling certain 2009-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45 and 2009 Nissan Versa sedans and hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B".
Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Nissan is recalling certain 2005-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2008 Nissan Versa vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on June 8, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · 16V349000
2016-05-24 · EA15001
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, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A."
Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Nissan is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2008 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2008 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B."
Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Nissan is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Infiniti I35 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: 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, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45 vehicles manufactured April 4, 2004, through October 5, 2010. Over time, the accelerator pedal sensor signal may deteriorate resulting in the output of an incorrect signal causing the engine to go into fail-safe (limp home) mode.
Consequence: In this fail-safe mode, throttle valve deposits may cause the engine to stall when the vehicle is coming to a stop or at idle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the accelerator pedal assembly and reprogram the engine control module, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during November 2013. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
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