2002 INFINITI I35 Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2002 Infiniti I35. The contact stated while driving 70–75 MPH on the freeway, the vehicle shut off and failed to restart. Additionally, while driving on another occasion, the vehicle shut off but restarted. The check engine, traction control, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V455000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The local dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN for the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 279,000.

Mileage: 279,000

THE TCS OFF AND SLIP LIGHTS AFTER A NOTICEABLE MISS WHILE ACCELERATING, THE VEHICLE FAILS TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLS, REGARDLESS OF TRAVELING SPEED, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING. AFTER STALLING, THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES WILL RESTART ON FIRST ATTEMPT, OTHER TIMES IT TAKES A FEW TRIES OR TURNING THE KEY TO ON POSITION FOR 5 SECONDS AND THEN TURNING IT BACK TO OFF, REPEATING 2-3 TIMES THEN STARTS.THE PROBLEM IS PERSISTENT, THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO FAIL AT RANDOM ALMOST EVERY TIME IT'S DRIVEN AS SHORT AS 1 MILE DISTANCE, BUT HAS ALSO BEEN DRIVEN 20 MILES WITHOUT FAILING. WHILE DRIVING A DAILY ROUTE, THE PROBLEM OFTEN OCCURS AT A COMMON LOCATION, WHETHER RELATED TO DISTANCE, TERRAIN, OR COINCIDENCE IS UNKNOWN.

Mileage: 94,000

I HAD RECENTLY HAD SOME WORK DONE ON MY CAR TO REPLACE THE RIGHT BEARING WHEEL AND THE POWER STEERING LINE, AS THERE WAS A LEAK AND LOUD ROARING NOISE WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AS CONFIRMED BY THE MECHANIC. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (AT ABOUT 65 MPH) WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I FELT A JERKING IN THE CAR, SUDDENLY THE ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON, AND THE THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SHOT ALL THE WAY UP. I PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AS SOON AS I COULD BECAUSE I SAW WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD BOUGHT THIS CAR ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO FROM MY UNCLE AND I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR THE TAKATA RECALL. THEY NEVER MENTIONED ANYTHING ELSE. THEN ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE THIS ALL HAPPEN MY UNCLE SENT ME A LETTER (AS HE HAD MOVED AWAY, REGARDING ANOTHER RECALL ON THE I35. I WAS PLANNING ON TAKING THE CAR TO THE INFINITI DEALER FOR THE RECALL AFTER REPLACING THE POWER STEERING LINE AND FRONT RIGHT WHEEL BEARING. HOWEVER I DID NOT EVEN GET A CHANCE TO DO SO. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO KNOW IF MY SITUATION HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH A RECALL.

Mileage: 85,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 INFINITI I35. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK AND CAM SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 INFINITI I35. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE WHEN ABNORMAL PRESSURE WAS PLACED ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE STARTER KEY. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT HAD A CERTIFIED MECHANIC DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSORS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STALLED AS WELL. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S FAILURES WERE SIMILAR TO THE CONSEQUENCE MENTIONED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

Mileage: 165,000

PISTON RINGS ARE FAILING IN THIS VEHICLE. MANY OTHER VEHICLES THAT USE THIS SAME ENGINE MAY HAVE THE SAME PISTON RINGS, SUCH AS THE INFINITI G35, OR NISSAN MAXIMA WHICH USE THE 3.5L VQ35DE ENGINE OF SIMILAR YEARS. THE PISTON RINGS WERE ORIGINALLY DESIGNED FOR THE VQ30 BLOCK, AND WERE FITTED TO VQ35DE PISTONS. THESE RINGS ARE NOT CAPABLE OF CONSISTENTLY HANDLING THE HIGHER COMPRESSION RATIO OF THE VQ35DE ENGINE FOUND IN THIS CAR. SYMPTOMS INCLUDE RANDOM MISFIRING OF CYLINDERS, WHETHER THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY, INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION (UP TO 2 QTS/1000MI), LOSS OF ENGINE POWER THAT CAN RESULT IN A CRASH, DAMAGE TO INTERNAL ENGINE COMPONENTS,

Mileage: 141,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 INFINITI I35. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER ONE ATTEMPT. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Mileage: 140,000

I OWN A 2002 INFINITI I35. WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES PER HOUR, MAKING A LEFT TURN, I WAS HIT ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE (T-BONED). NON OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND I WAS SEVERELY INJURED. I SUSTAINED INJURIES TO MY NECK, BOTH SHOULDERS AND MY BACK. THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE ILLEGALLY RAN A STOP SIGN. MY VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MY RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. AS A DIRECT AND PROXIMATE RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT I HAVE BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND CONSTANTLY DEALING WITH THE PAIN. I'M SURE I WOULD BE IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE IF THE AIRBAG WOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I CALLED THE POLICE AND REPORTED THE ACCIDENT WHEN IT HAPPENED. I HAVE NOT INFORMED MY MANUFACTURER OF THE ISSUES THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED AS OF YET. MY VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 166,000 MILES. ANOTHER ISSUE MY 2002 INFINITI I35 WAS HAVING, NOT RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT REFERENCED ABOVE, WAS STALLING WITHOUT WARNING ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THIS HAPPENS SOMETIMES WHEN I AM DRIVING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE LIGHTS ON MY DASH PANEL BLINK ON AND OFF RAPIDLY FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN TURNS OFF COMPLETELY. MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKS UP AT THAT TIME AS WELL. *TR

Mileage: 160,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 INFINITI I35. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR, ENGINE SPEED SIGNAL, CATALYST SYSTEM, AND IGNITION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 INFINITI I35. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIGOROUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE CAM SHAFT INTAKE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE RECALL WAS REMEDIED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TR

I WAS TRAVELING APPROX. 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE VEHICLE "JERKED", LOST POWER AND RE-ACCELERATED WITHOUT LOSING POWER. THE TCS OFF/SLIP AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHTS ALL CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. I STOPPED BY THE STORE AND HAD DIFFICULTY STARTING THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO ADVANCE AUTO PARTS TO HAVE IT "DIAGNOSED" BECAUSE IT WAS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET. IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A "CAM SHAFT POSITION SENSOR". OUR MECHANIC RECOMMENDED WE CONTACT INFINITI BECAUSE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS SAME ISSUE (03V455000). I CONTACTED TAYLOR INFINITI IN AUGUSTA, GA AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER, CHANDRA, THAT THE RECALL CAMPAIGN HAD ENDED. SHE ALSO KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE AIRBAG RECALL CAMPAIGN (13V136000), AND THERE WAS NOTHING MORE SHE COULD DO TO HELP ME. WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS, THE CAR BEGAN SHUTTING OFF WHILE IN OPERATION (WHILE SLOWING DOWN, STOPPED AT RED LIGHTS, IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS, ETC.). I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE IN 3 WEEKS, AS IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE CHECKED SEVERAL ONLINE INFINITI OWNER FORUMS, AND THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WASN'T AWARE THAT SAFETY RECALLS HAD AN "END" DATE. I CALLED TAYLOR INFINITI BACK AND WAS TOLD MY VIN WASN'T INCLUDED IN ANY OF THE CAMPAIGNS. I FEEL STRONGLY THAT THE RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE RE-OPENED AND INCLUDE A WIDER RANGE OF VIN NUMBERS, IF NOT TO INCLUDE ALL '02 I35S. I AM TERRIBLY FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I DON'T FEEL AS IF I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR REPAIRS THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. COINCIDENTALLY, WE ALSO REPLACED THE LOWER CONTROL ARM ON MY CAR IN DECEMBER OF 2012 AT AN OUT-OF-POCKET COST OF OVER $800, WHEN THIS ISSUE WAS ALSO THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL CAMPAIGN (02V146000), WHICH THEY ALSO SAID MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN. I WAS TOLD THE CAR "IS AN '02, AND THESE ISSUES ARE SURE TO ARISE". *JS

Mileage: 156,000