The 2004 G35 shares the FM platform with the 350Z and features Nissan's VQ35DE V6. Known for solid performance but plagued by well-documented oil consumption issues, window regulator failures, and transmission cooler leaks that can destroy the automatic if ignored.
VQ35DE Oil Consumption / Engine Wear
Common · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Blue smoke on startup or acceleration, Burning a quart every 500-1,500 miles, Low oil pressure warning or ticking at idle, Failed emissions test due to catalytic converter damage from oil
Fix: Oil gallery gaskets fail, piston rings wear prematurely, and valve stem seals harden. Minor cases: valve stem seals replacement (6-8 hours). Severe cases require full engine rebuild or short block replacement (18-24 hours labor plus machine work). Many owners try oil additives or heavier weight oil as Band-Aids.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200 for seals; $4,500-7,500 for rebuild with machining
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure (Automatic)
Common · high severityTypical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Pink milkshake appearance in radiator or coolant reservoir, Transmission slipping or delayed engagement, Overheating transmission after cooler cross-contamination, Coolant loss with no external leaks
Fix: Internal cooler in radiator fails, mixing ATF and coolant. Once mixed, transmission is usually toast. Proper fix: replace radiator, flush entire cooling system, replace transmission or full rebuild (12-16 hours). Preventive replacement of radiator at 80k is cheap insurance.
Estimated cost: $2,800-5,500 if transmission damaged; $400-700 radiator replacement preventively
Window Regulator Failure
Common · low severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Window drops into door or won't roll up, Grinding or clicking noise when operating window, Window off-track or tilted in channel, Intermittent operation then total failure
Fix: Plastic clips and cable guides break inside regulator assembly. Aftermarket regulators often fail quickly; OEM or quality remanufactured units recommended. 2-3 hours per door labor.
Estimated cost: $300-500 per window with quality parts
Slave Cylinder Failure (Manual Transmission)
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Clutch pedal stays on floor or feels spongy, Difficulty shifting into gear, especially first or reverse, Fluid leak visible near bellhousing or firewall, Grinding when shifting under normal operation
Fix: Internal slave cylinder (concentric design) fails, requires transmission removal. Always replace clutch assembly while trans is out. 6-8 hours labor total with clutch service.
Estimated cost: $1,200-1,800 including clutch kit
Front Lower Control Arm Bushings
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front suspension, Steering wander or vague on-center feel, Tire wear on inside or outside edges, Vibration under braking
Fix: Bushings tear and separate, especially on cars driven hard or in cold climates. Aftermarket bushings available but OEM lasts longer. Replace whole control arm assemblies for ease. 3-4 hours both sides with alignment.
Estimated cost: $600-900 including alignment
Camshaft Position Sensors
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Intermittent no-start or extended cranking, Check engine light with P0340 or P0345 codes, Rough idle or hesitation during acceleration, Stalling at operating temperature
Fix: Sensors fail from heat cycling. Both banks should be replaced together as they tend to fail within months of each other. 1.5-2 hours labor for both.
Estimated cost: $300-450 for both sensors
Fuel Level Sender / Fuel Gauge Erratic
Occasional · low severitySymptoms: Fuel gauge reading full then empty randomly, Gauge stuck at half or quarter tank, Low fuel warning light on with full tank, Gauge drops to empty when cornering
Fix: Fuel level sender unit develops poor solder joints or worn resistor tracks. Requires fuel tank drop and sender replacement. 3-4 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $400-650
Fun, capable platform but the oil consumption and transmission cooler grenade make post-100k ownership expensive — buy only with full service records and budget for preventive radiator replacement immediately.
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.