Most common 2002 Infiniti I35 problems
Share of the 70 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Infiniti I35 complaints by model year
Best I35 years: 2001, 2004. Years to avoid: 2002, 2003. Compare all years →
2002 Infiniti I35 recalls (5)
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
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.
Air bags
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2001-2003 Nissan Maxima, 2002-2004 Pathfinder, 2002-2006 Sentra, 2002-2003 Infiniti QX4 and I35, 2003 FX35 and FX45, and 2001 I30 vehicles. Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on June 15, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Engine and engine cooling
On certain passenger vehicles, the circuit board for the crank position sensor or cam position sensor May have an improper solder joint due to solder deformation caused by heat stress accelerated by the existence of flux residue during the soldering process.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the crank position sensors. Camshaft position sensor(s), and in some cases, the variable timing control sensor(s).
Suspension › Front › Control arm › Lower arm
On certain passenger vehicles, the pin at the end of the front suspension transverse link (lower control arm) could break where it is mounted to the frame.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the transverse links on the left and right sides with new ones. Owner notification began July 29, 2002.
Vehicle speed control
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with an electronic throttle control system, the stopper for the accelerator pedal will prevent excessive movement of the accelerator position sensor.
Remedy: Dealers will install a new accelerator pedal stopper. Owner notification began March 11, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2002 Infiniti I35:
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
What 2002 Infiniti I35 owners say
Engine & cooling all 23 →
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.
The contact owns a 2002 Infiniti I35. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 03V455000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Air bags
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. …
I drive a 2002 Infiniti I35 I was involved in a classic t-bone collision the front end of my vehicle totally destroyed and both vehicles were totaled. The passenger airbag deployed in my vehicle but the driver airbag did not deploy. I was wearing my safety belt. When I reported the incident to Nissan/Infiniti their response was to send the 2009 airbag safety manual and stated that their were no differences between the 2002/2009 model vehicles. The investigator claimed that the sensors detected the safety belt was in proper use therefore my airbag did not need to be deployed and since my passenger seat belt was not engaged that it deployed as a cautionary measure. My response was to insist on the 2002 I35 airbag safety document. …
Suspension
The contact owns a 2002 Infiniti I35. The contact stated that after taking his vehicle to an independent mechanic, he was informed that the lower control arm needed to be replaced. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 02V146000 (suspension) however, the VIN was not included. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle inadvertently downshift with the service engine soon message displayed on the instrument panel. The contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 02V043000 (vehicle speed control) however, the VIN was not included. The contact also linked the service engine soon to NHTSA campaign number: 03V455000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was taken to cerritos Nissan (18707 studebaker rd, cerritos, ca 90703) where he was informed the VIN was not included in the recalls. …
Front end pulls dangerously & powerful to one side or another, front end play freely and uncontrollable. Door locks automatically with my keys in car, front dash electrical jumps around, when I press the gas pedal nothing happens. ***dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis****760753
2002 Infiniti I35 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Infiniti I35 a good car?
Based on 70 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 I35 rates avoid: 2.7× as many complaints as a typical year of the I35 at the same age. It is one of the I35 years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Infiniti I35?
The engine & cooling — 23 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › gasoline. Next are the air bags (12) and suspension (11).
How many recalls does the 2002 Infiniti I35 have?
There are 5 recalls for the 2002 Infiniti I35, the most recent from January 9, 2020 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Infiniti I35?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2001 and 2004. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2002 and 2003. See the full Infiniti I35 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2002 Infiniti I35 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 125,000 miles; 11% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 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.