The 2005 G35 is a solid sport sedan built on Nissan's FM platform with the legendary VQ35DE engine, but it suffers from window regulator failures, camshaft sensor issues, and serious oil consumption problems on higher-mileage examples that can lead to catastrophic engine damage if ignored.
Excessive Oil Consumption / Piston Ring Failure
Common · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Burning 1+ quart every 500-1,000 miles, Blue smoke from exhaust on cold start or deceleration, Fouled spark plugs causing misfires, Check engine light for lean/rich codes or misfires
Fix: VQ35DE engines develop piston ring land failures and excessive bore wear. Requires complete engine rebuild with new pistons, rings, honing, and head work. 25-35 labor hours for proper rebuild. Many owners opt for low-mileage used engine swap (15-20 hours) as cheaper alternative.
Estimated cost: $4,500-7,500
Window Regulator Failure
Common · low severityTypical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Window drops into door or falls slowly, Grinding or clicking noise when operating window, Window won't go up or down, Window sits crooked in frame
Fix: Plastic regulator clips and motor gears fail. Requires door panel removal and regulator assembly replacement. 2-3 hours per door. All four windows are prone, fronts fail first.
Estimated cost: $350-550
Camshaft Position Sensor Failure
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 70,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: No-start or extended cranking when hot, Intermittent stalling at idle, Check engine light with P0340 or P0345 codes, Rough idle and hesitation
Fix: Both bank 1 and bank 2 cam sensors fail due to heat exposure. Sensors are accessible on valve covers but intake plenum removal required for proper access to bank 2. 2-3 hours for both sensors.
Estimated cost: $400-650
Transmission Oil Cooler / Radiator Failure (SMOD)
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Strawberry milkshake appearance in coolant overflow, Transmission slipping or erratic shifting, Coolant loss with no external leaks, Sweet smell from exhaust
Fix: Internal transmission cooler in radiator fails, mixing coolant and ATF (Strawberry Milkshake of Death). Requires radiator replacement, transmission flush/rebuild, all cooling system hoses. If caught early, flush may save transmission. If driven after mixing, full transmission rebuild needed. 8-12 hours for radiator and trans service, 20-25 for rebuild.
Estimated cost: $1,200-5,000
Front Lower Control Arm Bushing Failure
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 70,000-110,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front end, Steering wheel off-center after hitting bumps, Excessive tire wear on inside edge, Wandering or loose steering feel
Fix: Front lower control arm bushings tear and separate. Infiniti requires full control arm replacement (no separate bushing available from dealer). Aftermarket bushing kits available but require pressing. 3-4 hours for both sides plus alignment.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200
Fuel Sending Unit / Fuel Gauge Failure
Occasional · low severityTypical onset: 80,000-130,000 mi
Symptoms: Fuel gauge reads empty when tank is full, Erratic gauge movement, Low fuel warning with full tank, Gauge stuck at one position
Fix: Fuel level sender contacts wear out. Requires fuel tank drop and sender unit replacement. 4-5 hours labor. Often discovered when tank is near empty, making job easier.
Estimated cost: $600-900
Rear Differential Bushing Wear
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking on acceleration or deceleration, Vibration at highway speeds, Banging sensation when shifting into gear, Visible differential movement during launch
Fix: Differential mount bushings (front and side) tear from performance driving or age. Requires subframe support and diff repositioning. 4-6 hours for all mounts. Polyurethane upgrades available and recommended.
Estimated cost: $700-1,100
Buy one under 80k miles with documented frequent oil changes and replaced radiator, or plan for $5k+ in deferred maintenance and oil consumption repairs — great driving dynamics, but higher-mileage examples are rolling time bombs.
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.