Infiniti G35: common faults & what to check

Which Infiniti G35 are you looking at?

6 generation variants documented. Pick the shape you recognise: the faults, the servicing and the timeline below all narrow to it. Free, no account needed.

Engine not documented

6 variants documented

1989–1995R321989–1995R32Engine not documented for this generationEngine not documentedDocumented issues0 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Thefultonhow at English Wikipedia via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.5.

1993–1999R331993–1999R33Engine not documented for this generationEngine not documentedDocumented issues0 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima via Wikimedia Commons, CC0.

1998–2003R341998–2003R34Engine not documented for this generationEngine not documentedDocumented issues0 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: Mr.choppers via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

2001–2008V352001–2008V35Engine not documented for this generationEngine not documentedDocumented issues3 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: IFCAR via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.

2006–2015V362006–2015V36Engine not documented for this generationEngine not documentedDocumented issues8 knownSee faults & what to checkPhoto: IFCAR via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain.

2013–nowV372013–nowV37Engine not documented for this generationEngine not documentedDocumented issues0 knownSee faults & what to checkKickTyres illustration, not a photograph.

Now narrow it to the engine

A 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way, so the faults below narrow to the engine as well as the year. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this Infiniti G35

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a Infiniti G35 before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Serious issue

  Inspect the ball joint boot for splitting, cracking, or absence of the protective rubber.

  See why

  V35/V36 Front Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Failure

  The front lower control arms on V35 and V36 Skylines use pressed-in ball joints that are integral to the arm on many variants, requiring full arm replacement when the ball joint wears rather than allowing a simple joint swap. The ball joint boot seal degrades with age and road contamination, allowing grease to escape and moisture and grit to enter the joint. Once the lubricant is contaminated the ball stud wears rapidly, developing excessive axial and radial play. A worn ball joint changes front wheel camber and castor dynamically under cornering and braking loads, producing vague steering and tyre scrub. In advanced wear the joint can separate, causing sudden and catastrophic loss of front wheel geometry control. The V35 used in New Zealand's climate accelerates boot degradation due to gravel road dust and seasonal temperature swings.

  What you would notice

  • Clunking or knocking from front suspension over bumps or during turning
  • Vague or wandering steering feel, particularly under braking
  • Uneven or rapid inner tyre wear on front axle
  • Visible split or missing ball joint boot with grease spray on inner wheel
  • Front end pulling to one side under heavy braking

  Typically $650–$1,900 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Inspect the toe-control link bush first as it controls rear toe and is most critical to handling stability.

  See why

  Rear Multi-Link Suspension Bush Collapse

  The V36 Skyline rear suspension uses a five-link multi-link arrangement with rubber-bonded bushes at each link mounting point. The inner and outer bushes in the rear lower lateral links and the toe-control link are particularly susceptible to hydrolytic degradation and cracking, especially in vehicles subjected to NZ road salt, temperature cycling, or sustained high loads. As the rubber deteriorates, the bush inner sleeve becomes decoupled from the outer shell, allowing the link geometry to shift under cornering and braking forces. This produces progressive rear steer behaviour, unpredictable oversteer on mid-corner bumps, and rapid rear tyre wear on the inner shoulder.

  What you would notice

  • Progressive looseness or instability in the rear end on cornering or under mid-corner braking
  • Inner-edge rear tyre wear inconsistent with alignment settings or worn unevenly side-to-side
  • Thumping or knocking from the rear suspension over sharp transverse bumps or rutted road surfaces

  Typically $700–$2,100 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Inspect rear subframe area for hydraulic fluid staining.

  See why

  HICAS Rear-Wheel Steering Hydraulic Fluid Leak

  V35/V36 Skylines equipped with HICAS (High Capacity Active Steering) rear-wheel steering develop weeping leaks at the hydraulic actuator seals and high-pressure hose connections. Hydraulic fluid loss leads to loss of rear steering function and elimination error codes. Many NZ buyers elect to fit a HICAS eliminator bar rather than repair the system, making this a widely accepted failure in the market. Vehicles retaining active HICAS require thorough inspection of the hydraulic circuit.

  What you would notice

  • Power steering fluid loss without visible front steering rack leak
  • Rear end feels vague or unpredictable at speed
  • HICAS warning light illuminated
  • Wet staining under rear subframe area

  Typically $500–$2,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Cold-start the engine from ambient temperature and listen at the front of the engine for chain rattle duration.

  See why

  VQ35DE Timing Chain Tensioner Cold Rattle

  The hydraulic timing chain tensioner on the VQ35DE loses oil pressure after extended shutdown, allowing the chain to slap against the guide at cold start. At high mileage the tensioner ratchet pawl and primary chain guide wear significantly, causing persistent rattle that takes longer than 5 seconds to clear. Left unaddressed, chain stretch can advance to jump-tooth risk on the intake cam sprockets, leading to valve-to-piston contact. Most prevalent above 120,000 km on cars that have seen extended oil change intervals.

  What you would notice

  • Metallic rattling or ticking from front of engine for 3-10 seconds on cold start
  • Rattle clears once oil pressure builds but returns after overnight soak
  • Occasional CEL for cam timing deviation (P0011, P0021) at high mileage
  • Visible chain slack visible through cam cover inspection port if present

  Typically $950–$2,400 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Cold-start the engine and listen for a metallic rattling or ticking from the front of the engine that clears within 10–20 seconds.

  See why

  VQ35HR/VQ25HR Timing Chain Tensioner Rattle on Cold Start

  The hydraulic timing chain tensioners on the VQ35HR and VQ25HR engines rely on oil pressure to maintain chain tension. On cold start, the delay in oil pressure build-up allows the primary and secondary chain tensioners to momentarily lose hydraulic load, permitting the chain to slap against the guide rails. Prolonged neglect accelerates guide rail wear and risks chain jump, which causes catastrophic valve-to-piston contact on these interference engines.

  What you would notice

  • Metallic rattling from the front of the engine on cold start that typically quiets after oil pressure builds
  • Persistent rattle that does not clear even when warm, indicating advanced guide rail or tensioner ratchet wear
  • Check engine light with variable valve timing codes (P0011, P0021) if chain stretch causes cam timing deviation

  Typically $900–$2,200 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Scan for EPS fault codes.

  See why

  Electric Power Steering Failure

  EPS system can develop a fault causing loss of power assistance.

  What you would notice

  • Sudden loss of power steering with EPS warning light
  • Heavy steering requiring effort especially during low-speed manoeuvring

  Typically $700–$2,500 to put right.

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Infiniti G35’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

• Timing Chain Replacement Cost

Other Infiniti models