The Lemon Index
200320051st generation
About average · most complaints: lights
Better years to buy
25 owner complaints, first 3 years 17 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2004 Lincoln Aviator2004 Lincoln Navigator 812004 Volvo XC90 138
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
Only 16 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 20V008000 (airbags), 16V349000 (airbags) and 15V287000 (airbags) done? It has 7 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- NHTSA has an open investigation into desiccated air bag inflator rupture. Has this car had that problem?
- Do all the headlights, taillights and turn signals work?
- Any fuel smell, stalling or hard starts? On a hybrid or EV, any reduced-power warning or battery work?
- Do the brakes feel even, with no ABS or brake warning light? When were the pads and brake fluid last done?
- Infiniti sent dealers 73 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Tire pressure monitor system (tpms) warning light flashes or stays”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Infiniti's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 25 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 6K to 36K miles (10K to 58K km) on the car (16 of all 25 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
Consumer complained about exterior lighting problem.
2004 Infiniti FX35 owner · NHTSA complaint 10051697
More owner reports
Dt: the contact owns a 04 Infiniti FX35. The contact smelled some type of odor coming through the vents. The odor smelled like mold. The technician at nissan stated that it was mold.
NHTSA complaint 10125944
Fuel gauge does not read full when filled with gas at the fueling station. My understanding is the fuel sending units need replacing.
NHTSA complaint 10149865
Fixes owners look up most.
From 200 YouTube videos · 5.3M views · 2003–2008 Infiniti FX35
- Infotainment, battery & electrical186K views
2004 Infiniti FX35 Custom Radio InstallAvenueSound Li · 107K views · 5 videos - Intake, EGR & engine sensors163K views
Infiniti FX35 camshaft position sensor replace 2003 to 2008 p0340Fix it Felix · 152K views · 2 videos - Oil changes & service109K views
2004 Infiniti FX35 FX45 oil service reset tire pressure warning resetarmand salloum · 104K views · 2 videos - Timing chain & engine66K views
Diagnosing engine noise and replacing the belts on a 2008 Infiniti FX35Jimthecarguy · 51K views · 3 videos
Show 4 more
- No-start: theft light, key & ignition63K views
2008 INFINITI FX35 NO CRANK NO START VIDEO DIY...CLICKS...FIXED...Peter L · 33K views · 2 videos - Windows, doors & mirrors54K views
Infiniti 2008+ EX35 FX35 FX50 QX50 QX56 QX60 QX70 QX80 How to Install Door HandleJasmineFatherGarage4k · 33K views · 2 videos - Heat, A/C & blend door47K views
How to Replace Cabin Air Filter 2008 Infiniti FX35 | AQ1087Filterheads · 38K views · 2 videos - Steering & suspension40K views
How to Replace Front Wheel Bearing & Hub Assemblies 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35TRQ · 17K views · 5 videos
Before you buy, watch
2005 fx35 problemsNick · 4K views
2003 FX45 (Part 2). Back to normal like nothing happened. Is anyone else having problems like this.Terry Lee Horne Jr · 327 views
2006 Infinity FX35 AWD Review. How is it holding up over the yearsPaul's Take · 105K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them. The 2004 is the same generation.
Problems Infiniti told dealers about
Infiniti sent dealers 73 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Tire pressure monitor system (tpms) warning light flashes or stays
- During braking, an applied vehicle has a loud squeak, squeal or groan noise coming from the…
- Pop, click or creak noise from front fender area while driving at low speeds
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 7
- Airbags · recall issued 2020
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.
- Airbags · recall issued 2016
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Airbags · recall issued 2015
Upon deployment of the passenger side frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Show all 7 recalls
- Airbags · recall issued 2015
Specifically, vehicles sold, or ever registered, in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S.
- Lights · recall issued 2006
DURING A CANADIAN COMPLIANCE TEST, CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, 'LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.' THE HEADLAMP…
- Lights · recall issued 2006
DURING A CANADIAN COMPLIANCE TEST, CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAILED TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, 'LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.' A REAR COM…
- Fuel system, gasoline · recall issued 2005
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FUEL FILLER HOSE MAY CRACK AND RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE HOSE WHILE REFUELING.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Every Infiniti FX35 recall, all years · All Infiniti recalls
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
- OpenAir bag inflator rupture2015
- ClosedAir bag inflator rupture2014–2015
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front ★★★★★ · side ★★★★★ · rollover —
Fuel cost and engines
About $3,550 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 3.5L 6-cyl.
Every Infiniti FX35 year. 2004 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Show 1 older years (2006–2006, YouTube reviews only, no complaint data)
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 7 Infiniti FX35 years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
Embed this chart
Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2004 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/infiniti-fx35/?y=2004" title="Infiniti FX35 reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="261" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/infiniti-fx35/2004/">Lemon Index</a> (2004 Infiniti FX35 reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2004 Infiniti FX35 reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew about the average number of complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 95; 100 is average, lower is better). The Infiniti FX35 year with the fewest complaints per car sold is 2003.
What are the most common 2004 Infiniti FX35 problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are lights (24%), fuel system, gasoline (16%) and brakes (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2004 Infiniti FX35 have?
7 safety recalls (latest: airbags). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2004 Infiniti FX35 get?
17 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2004 Infiniti FX35 have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2004 Infiniti FX35 cost in fuel a year?
About $3,550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2004 Infiniti FX35 have?
3.5L 6-cyl.
What Infiniti FX35 year is better than the 2004?
Nearby, the 2003 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about average).
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works