The 2009 Infiniti M35 uses Nissan's VQ35HR engine and RE5R05A transmission—generally solid powertrains, but this generation suffers from catastrophic engine failures due to the gallery gasket defect and transmission cooler contamination that can destroy both units simultaneously.
Oil Gallery Gasket Failure Leading to Engine Destruction
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Sudden loss of oil pressure with oil level still showing full, Metallic knocking or ticking that rapidly worsens, Check engine light with low oil pressure codes, Catastrophic bearing failure and seized engine in severe cases
Fix: The front timing cover oil gallery gasket fails and blocks oil passages to mains and rods. Requires complete engine disassembly—most shops quote short block or reman engine replacement rather than rebuild due to bearing damage already present. 18-24 labor hours for engine R&R plus machine work.
Estimated cost: $6,500-9,500
Transmission Oil Cooler Internal Failure with Cross-Contamination
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Milky or strawberry-colored transmission fluid, Transmission slipping or delayed engagement after cooler fails, Coolant loss with no external leaks, Engine overheating combined with transmission issues
Fix: The internal transmission cooler in the radiator deteriorates and allows coolant into ATF and vice versa. Must replace radiator, flush transmission multiple times, often replace transmission if driven after contamination. If caught early (just radiator): 4-5 hours. If transmission damaged: add 12-16 hours for transmission R&R and rebuild/replace.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 (radiator only) or $4,500-7,000 (with transmission)
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Vibration at idle that smooths out at speed, Visible sag or torn rubber on inspection, Excessive drivetrain movement during acceleration
Fix: The rear transmission mount deteriorates and allows excessive powertrain movement. Requires lift access and supporting transmission while swapping mount. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $350-550
Fuel System and EVAP Purge Issues
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: P0440 or P0455 EVAP leak codes, Fuel smell in cabin or near tank area, Hard starting after refueling, Check engine light with rough idle when cold
Fix: Fuel filter (in-tank assembly), purge valve, and vent valves fail. Filter replacement requires dropping tank (4-5 hours). Purge valve is easier at 1-1.5 hours. Diagnosis time critical because multiple components can cause similar codes.
Estimated cost: $450-800 (purge valve) or $900-1,400 (in-tank filter assembly)
Radiator Support and Condenser Corrosion
Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: not mileage-driven (salt-belt/age issue)
Symptoms: AC performance loss, Coolant leaks from radiator edges, Visible corrosion on aluminum radiator support, Refrigerant leaks detected at condenser
Fix: Salt and age corrode the aluminum radiator support and condenser. Often discovered during other radiator work. Condenser replacement requires AC evacuation and recharge. 5-7 hours including AC service.
Estimated cost: $1,200-1,800
Takata Airbag Inflator Recall Compliance
Common · high severity
Symptoms: Recall notice from Infiniti, Airbag light may or may not be present, No symptoms until deployment where inflator ruptures and sends shrapnel
Fix: Multiple recalls for driver and passenger airbag inflators. MUST be addressed—confirmed fatalities with these inflators. Dealer-only repair, no cost to owner. 1-2 hours per side, parts often backordered historically.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall repair)
Owner tips
Check transmission fluid color religiously every oil change—catch cooler failure before it kills the transmission
Monitor oil pressure gauge closely above 80k miles; any drop from normal is immediate investigation
Verify all Takata airbag recalls completed before purchase—check NHTSA by VIN
Budget for the gallery gasket as a when-not-if on higher mileage examples; some owners do preventive gasket replacement at timing cover service around 100k
Use OEM Nissan Matic-S ATF only—aftermarket fluids accelerate RE5R05A failure
Avoid unless under 80k miles with impeccable maintenance records and confirmed airbag recalls completed—the gallery gasket and transmission cooler issues are expensive grenades with unpredictable timers.
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.
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS · 09V393000
2009-10-05
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MARYLAND, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. THE MATERIAL IN THE NUT USED TO SECURE THE SENSOR-TRANSMITTER OF THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) MAY CORRODE AND POTENTIALLY CRACK IN AREAS WITH HEAVY CONCENTRATIONS OF ROAD SALT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE NUT MAY COME OUT OF THE SENSOR-TRANSMITTER AND THE TPMS LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE.
Consequence: IF THE TPMS LAMP IS DISREGARDED AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE DRIVEN IN THIS CONDITION, THE TIRE WILL QUICKLY LOSE AIR PRESSURE AT A CONSISTENT RATE RESULTING IN A FLAT TIRE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TPMS NUT WITH A NEW, MORE ROBUST NUT. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE NOVEMBER 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 AND INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
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