Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Infiniti G35 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I have a 2005 Infiniti G35 sedan with a rear window third brake started to not work correctly. The issue started sometime around 75,000 miles where the brake light would only be dim with two of the leds not working at all and sometimes the brake light would entirely not turn on. Now at 98,000 miles, the issue is getting worse with the light not turning on 90% of the time. I have not tried to fix the problem myself due to the results others have been talking about on the www.g35driver.com forum. I was quoted a high price to replace the third brake light and it was with a part not identical to the original. There should be a recall on this issue due to the safety addition the light is made for. There are strict laws in california regarding the operation of the third brake light working and now hoping that I do not get pulled over due to this issue.
I have a 2005 Infiniti g35x. I have owned it since approximately 50K miles. Friday night, on my way driving from dc to ny, the ac got stuck at 90 degrees, and in auto mode, the backlight for the instrument cluster went completely dead, and the stereo went out completely. I have no control over any of these 3 devices. Since I live on the east coast and all the dealerships in the area are closed, I called one in riverside, ca - riverside Infiniti. They said the stereo is dead and they've seen the problem "countless times" (quote). I made a posting on several Infiniti forums on the internet requesting advice. The consensus is the same - stereo is bad. I feel that the instrument cluster and my HVAC should never be connected to the stereo as this is a major safety concern. Also, since this is a common problem, Infiniti should issue a recall/TSB.
The third (high mount) brake light is inoperative on my 2005 Infiniti G35 sedan. No individual event lead to this occurrence. Without reading other owner's complaints online, I would not have checked mine. When checked, mine too was inoperative. After monitoring, this is not a sporadic issue, it is inoperative at all times. To date, I have not suffered any direct consequences, but I am now concerned I run a higher risk of being rear ended by another driver. Even though this appears to effect a large majority of G35 owners, Infiniti will not repair this issue because my car is out of warranty. Repair cost is nearly $500.00, but Infiniti has not updated the part, so I fear another failure would be imminent. However, for personal safety I have no choice.
I drive a 2005 Infiniti G35 sedan. My 3rd brake light has now been off and on for about 3 weeks now. I have read that many other people who drive the same car as me are having the same problem and have addresses the issue to you. I am very shocked that something has not been done yet. I drive in rush hour traffic most of the day and fear that since my brake light does not come on I will get hit. It seems that this is a technical issue. It is very frustrating to know I could be in a fatal accident just because of a light not working. I have notified Nissan and Infiniti but have not heard back.
Just brought vehicle into dealer and was informed I need third brake light. Cost of replacement was over $500 which included parts and labor. After further research I found that this is a common issue with these vehicles and Infiniti will do nothing about it. I could understand if this were just an issue of a bulb burning out and a $10 replacement part, but this unit is basically installed as a permanent LED component without the thought of easy replacement. For such a simple safety item I feel that the price and labor is extreme and there is obviously a manufacturing defect.
Center brake light in the rear window fails to work at different times since 2009. This light is very expensive to replace/repair and is a very common problem on the 2003-2006 Infiniti G35 sedan, I have replaced it two times in my 4 years of ownership! I have almost been rear ended on numerous occasions that I cannot seem to count on 2 hands. This part is a safety risk as it is out a majority of the time! I replace it once due to failure of passing a massachusetts inspection sticker test, and yet again it is out/working intermittently.
Hmsl (third brake light) is completely inoperative. One LED had been out for two years, then the entire unit failed. Infiniti dealers sell the replacement unit for over $200, plus that sum in labor for the dealer. This is a common unit failure in the G35 models, according to internet searches and observation of numerous vehicles on the road. It is a safety issue that has remained unaddressed for years.
Rear window brake light malfunction, this is a known and repeatable issue with many G35 sedans years 2003-2006. The rear window brake light stops working intermittently, or works in varying degrees of brightness, with no consistency, rhyme or reason. Unable to get the light to remain on consistently, and given the feedback in online forums, etc - this is an apparent problem with the light installation, etc.
I have had my 2005 Infiniti G35 sedan for 2 years now and about 3 months ago my third brake light would no longer turn on. I was pulled over by a new jersey state trooper informing me of this and he went on to give me a ticket for it. I have not had it replaced yet because I believe it should be a recall by Infiniti since the life of the third brake light should be longer than 5 years on a $40K car.
Recently I have been noticing my 3rd brake light works when it wants to. If I had to say it probably works 4 out of 10 times you hit the brake pedal. This is an extremely very important issue. State of pennsylvania it is mandatory to have 3 brake lights. Right now, I have 2 working ones and 1 that is undecided when it wants to work. I do not have the VIN handy right now, as I am at work.
Headlight complaints in other G35 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2005 Infiniti G35?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the lights of the 2005 Infiniti G35, 14% of the model year's 215 complaints. The component named most often is brake lights (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Infiniti G35 headlight problems?
No. NHTSA lists no lights recall for the 2005 Infiniti G35, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Infiniti G35 headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.