The 2008 FX35 rides on Nissan's FM platform with the VQ35HR V6—a sporty luxury crossover that's generally reliable but plagued by catastrophic engine failures from oil gallery gasket defects and transmission cooler failures that can grenade the 5-speed automatic. When they're good, they're great; when they fail, it's expensive.
Symptoms: Sudden catastrophic engine noise (rod knock, ticking), Metal shavings in oil, oil pressure warning light, Engine seizure or complete failure with little warning, May start as slight tick that rapidly worsens
Fix: The oil gallery gasket (between block halves) fails and starves critical components of oil. Once bearings spin, you're looking at short block replacement or full engine rebuild. 18-24 labor hours for used engine swap, 30+ for proper rebuild with updated gaskets.
Symptoms: Transmission fluid appears milky or pink (strawberry milkshake), Harsh shifts, slipping, or delayed engagement, Overheating transmission, erratic behavior, Coolant level drops, transmission runs hot
Fix: The internal cooler in the radiator ruptures, mixing coolant and ATF—destroying the transmission if not caught immediately. Requires radiator replacement, full transmission flush or rebuild, and all cooler lines. If transmission is contaminated, budget for rebuild. 8-12 hours for radiator/flush, add 15-20 for transmission rebuild.
Symptoms: Cold-start rattle for 2-5 seconds (chain slack), Check engine light with timing correlation codes (P0011, P0021), Rough idle, poor fuel economy, Rattling from front of engine under acceleration
Fix: VQ timing chains stretch and guides wear with age/neglect. Requires front-engine disassembly: chains, tensioners, guides, VVT actuators, and front cover gaskets. 10-14 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $2,000-3,200
Transfer Case Chain Stretch (AWD Models)
Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking or grinding from center of vehicle during acceleration, Vibration at highway speeds, AWD warning light, reduced power mode, Metal shavings in transfer case fluid
Fix: The transfer case chain stretches and eats the housing if fluid changes are neglected. Requires transfer case removal, teardown, and replacement of chain/sprockets/bearings. Some cases need full replacement if housing is damaged. 6-9 labor hours.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,500
Front Lower Control Arm Bushings
Common · low severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking over bumps from front suspension, Wandering or unstable steering feel, Uneven tire wear (inner edge), Visible cracking or separation of rubber bushings
Fix: The front lower control arm bushings deteriorate and cause alignment issues. Nissan doesn't sell bushings separately—you replace the entire control arms. 3-4 hours for both sides with alignment.
Estimated cost: $800-1,200
HVAC Blower Motor / Resistor Failure
Common · low severity
Symptoms: Blower only works on high speed setting, No air flow from vents at any setting, Squealing or grinding noise from dash, Intermittent operation, burning smell
Fix: Blower motor resistor or motor itself fails. Resistor is behind glove box (1 hour), motor requires more disassembly (2-3 hours).
Symptoms: Recall notice received by mail, No symptoms until deployment—then risk of shrapnel injury, Affects humid-climate vehicles more severely
Fix: Three NHTSA recalls for passenger airbag inflators that can explode violently. Dealership replaces inflator at no cost. Check VIN at NHTSA.gov—do NOT skip this. 1-2 hours dealer time.
Estimated cost: $0 (recall repair)
Owner tips
Change transmission fluid every 30,000 miles and inspect radiator for internal cooler leaks—this is the #1 killer of FX35 transmissions
Monitor oil consumption religiously; VQ35HR burns oil by design but sudden increases mean gallery gasket failure is imminent
Replace transfer case fluid every 50,000 miles (AWD models) to prevent chain stretch and catastrophic failure
Service records are everything: walk away from any FX35 without documented transmission and engine oil changes
Buy only with bulletproof service records and a pre-purchase inspection focused on transmission fluid condition and engine oil consumption—skip any with deferred maintenance or unknown history, as repair costs exceed vehicle value quickly.
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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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.
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