2007 INFINITI FX35

3.5L V6RWDAUTOMATICgas
5-Year Cost of Ownership
$14,837 maintenance + known platform issues
~$2,967/yr · 250¢/mile equivalent · $5,159 maintenance + $8,978 expected platform issues
Common Problems & Known Issues

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.
Estimated cost: $4,500-8,000

Transmission Oil Cooler / Radiator Failure (SMOD - Strawberry Milkshake of Death)

Common · high severity
Typical onset: 60,000-120,000 mi
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.
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