YearToAvoid

2008 Infiniti M35 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2008 Infiniti M35 has a complaint index of 50 with 60 NHTSA complaints and 5 recalls, ranking 3rd worst of 5 model years and earning a Caution verdict. Steering (35% of complaints) and airbags (33%) are the top problem areas.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
50/100
#3 of 5 M35 years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
60
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
5
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
3
reported in complaints
Fires
1
Injuries
3
Top issue
Steering
Best nearby year
2010
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
19
16 city / 23 hwy
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0

Top 2008 Infiniti M35 problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Steering21 (35%)
  2. Airbags20 (33%)
  3. Other7 (12%)
  4. Suspension, Wheels & Tires7 (12%)
  5. Engine6 (10%)
  6. Structure & Body4 (7%)
  7. Brakes3 (5%)
  8. Visibility & Wipers3 (5%)
  9. Electrical System2 (3%)
  10. Fuel System1 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Steering wheel tramlines or wanders at low and highway speeds, sometimes resting at an angle before the car fully stops.
  • Some owners report the tramlining nearly makes the steering uncontrollable during lane changes.
  • Airbags reportedly failed to deploy during a front-end collision.
  • Owners describe unintended forward surges, including one case ending in a collision with a tree after repeated incidents.
  • The vehicle reportedly accelerated suddenly after being shifted into drive from park, requiring the driver to shift to neutral to stop it.
  • Braking reportedly causes the car to pull toward the next lane when the road surface has slight imperfections.
2008 Infiniti M35 complaints: complaints filed per month5Feb 2008Oct 2009Dec 2011Jan 2014Nov 2015Feb 2017Aug 2020
60 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2008 to Apr 2026; peak Feb 2010 (5).

2008 Infiniti M35 recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 20V008000Jan 9, 2020Airbags307,962 vehicles

    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. 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. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    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. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 888-737-9511 or Infiniti customer service at 888-810-3715.

  2. NHTSA 17V028000Jan 10, 2017Airbags152,554 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012 Nissan Versa hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A". Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Nissan is recalling certain 2009-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45 and 2009 Nissan Versa sedans and hatchbacks originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B". Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Nissan is recalling certain 2005-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2008 Nissan Versa vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began on June 8, 2017. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

  3. NHTSA 16V349000May 24, 2016Airbags413,852 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2010 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2011 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Nissan is recalling certain model year 2005-2008 Infiniti FX35 and FX45, 2003-2004 Infiniti I35, 2006-2008 Infiniti M35 and M45, and 2007-2008 Nissan Versa vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Lastly, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Nissan is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Infiniti I35 vehicles originally sold, or registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. These inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

    Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2017. All owners should receive a second notice by May 15, 2017. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

See all 5 recalls for the 2008 Infiniti M35 →

2008 Infiniti M35 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
16 MPG
Highway
23 MPG
Combined
19 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,200
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2008 compared with other M35 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020062007200820092010
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Avoid100210518
2007Avoid75155419
2008Caution5060519
2009Good2516519
2010Best020519

All Infiniti M35 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Infiniti M35 a bad year?
It carries a Caution verdict with a complaint index of 50, ranking 3rd worst among the 5 model years with data. It is not the worst M35 year, but it trails the 2009 and 2010 model years.
What is the biggest problem with the 2008 Infiniti M35?
Steering complaints make up 35% of all reports for this year, mostly describing tramlining or wandering, often at low mileage.
Does the 2008 Infiniti M35 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recalls affecting this year, covering airbags (twice), engine accelerator pedal sensors, and TPMS nuts in the suspension/wheels/tires system.
How does the 2008 M35 compare to other years?
The 2008 model (complaint index 50) is better than 2006 (100, Avoid) and 2007 (75, Avoid), but worse than 2009 (25, Good) and 2010 (0, Best).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.