The 2007 FX35 is built on Nissan's FM platform with the VQ35DE/HR V6. While the chassis is solid, this generation suffers from catastrophic engine oil consumption issues and transmission cooling failures that can total the vehicle if ignored.
VQ35 Excessive Oil Consumption / Engine Failure
Common · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Burning 1+ quart per 1,000 miles, Blue smoke on cold start or acceleration, Check engine light for lean codes or misfires, Catalytic converter damage from oil fouling
Fix: Piston ring land failure on cylinders 5 and 6 most common. Requires engine teardown, new pistons/rings, honing, and gasket set. 18-24 hours labor for in-chassis rebuild. Many shops recommend short-block replacement or used engine swap instead due to labor economics.
Symptoms: Pink or milky transmission fluid, Transmission slipping or delayed engagement, Coolant level dropping without external leaks, White smoke from exhaust if coolant enters trans
Fix: Internal radiator failure allows coolant and ATF to mix, destroying transmission. Requires radiator replacement with external trans cooler bypass, full transmission flush or rebuild, and coolant system flush. 8-12 hours labor if caught early; 16-24 hours if trans is damaged. Preventive external cooler install is 2-3 hours.
Estimated cost: $1,200-6,500
Timing Chain Tensioner / Guide Wear
Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Cold-start rattle for 2-5 seconds, Metallic whining or grinding from timing cover, Check engine light for cam/crank correlation codes, Metal shavings in oil filter
Fix: VQ35 primary tensioner and upper guides wear. Requires timing cover removal, new tensioners, guides, chains if stretched, and cam/crank seals. 10-14 hours labor. Must be addressed before catastrophic failure causes valve/piston contact.
Estimated cost: $2,200-3,800
Valve Body / Transmission Solenoid Issues
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Hard or delayed 2-3 or 3-4 shifts, Transmission slipping in 5th gear under load, Check engine light with solenoid performance codes, Limp mode activation
Fix: RE5R05A transmission valve body or individual solenoids fail. Requires pan drop, valve body removal, and solenoid replacement. 4-6 hours labor. Often combined with full fluid/filter service. May need valve body rebuild if passages are worn.
Estimated cost: $800-2,200
Front Lower Control Arm Bushings
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front suspension, Steering wander or vague on-center feel, Uneven inner tire wear, Steering wheel off-center after alignment
Fix: Rubber bushings deteriorate; arms are not serviceable so full arms required. 3-4 hours labor for both sides including alignment. OE Nissan arms recommended over aftermarket for longevity.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Crankshaft Position Sensor Failure
Occasional · medium severity
Symptoms: No-start condition with cranks but won't fire, Intermittent stalling when hot, Check engine light for crank sensor circuit, Extended cranking before start
Fix: Sensor behind starter or on bell housing fails from heat. 1.5-2.5 hours labor depending on location. Starter removal often required for access. Always replace with OE Nissan part.
Estimated cost: $250-450
Owner tips
Check oil level every 500 miles after 80k — early detection of consumption can save the engine
Install external transmission cooler and bypass internal radiator cooler immediately if not done — $300-500 preventive vs $6k+ repair
Use Nissan Matic-S ATF only, never universal fluids — wrong fluid accelerates valve body wear
Inspect timing chain condition with borescope at 100k if cold-start rattle present
Keep detailed service records — oil consumption warranty extensions required proof of 3k mile oil changes
Buy only with documented timing chain service, external trans cooler, and zero oil consumption — budget $3-5k for deferred maintenance on any other example.
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.
Nissan North America, Inc. (INFINITI) is recalling certain 2003 INFINITI FX35, 2006-2008 FX35 and FX45 vehicles that previously received a replacement front passenger air bag assembly under recall number 20V-008. The air bag cushion was folded incorrectly, which could increase internal pressure and tear the air bag cushion during deployment.
Consequence: A tear in the air bag may decrease air bag performance, and increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: INFINITI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on April 19, 2021. Owners may contact INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200. INFINITI's number for this recall is R20C2.
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.
Size-standard part numbers — verify your connector type before buying. Rear blades are model-specific; check the package's vehicle list.
Fuel economy figures are EPA data via fueleconomy.gov (median across matching trims). Performance figures are compiled estimates for the 2007 Infiniti FX35 3.5L V6 and can vary by trim.
🔧 Built by master technician Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years.