2008 Infiniti G37: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2008 Infiniti G37
On the 2008 Infiniti G37, the failure owners report most often is airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault, with 15 reports on file. The earliest to appear is other electrical problem, reported by a median of 55,000 miles. Overall it scores 64 out of 100, high risk for a 2008.
High risk for a 2008 — 296th riskiest of the 356 2008 vehicles we can rate. 96 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
What breaks on the 2008 Infiniti G37
Owners have reported 18 named failure modes on the 2008 Infiniti G37, and the three most-reported carry 38% of everything filed.
Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault leads with 15 reports and about 1.0 per 1,000 vehicles.
Other electrical problem follows with 11 reports, usually reported between 50k to 95,000 miles. 3 of those reports mention a fire.
Other body or interior problem follows with 10 reports, median 70,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into airbag (15), electrical (13) and transmission (13).
When these failures get reported
70 of the reports on the 2008 Infiniti G37 came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 55,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 41% by 50,000 miles, 89% by 100,000 miles and 99% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed.
The busiest stretch is between 70,000 and 80,000 miles, which alone holds 17% of the dated reports.
26% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 18. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
What happens when these parts fail
Across the named modes, 4 mention a crash and 4 a fire. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 3.73, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault at $300–$1,600, other electrical problem at $250–$2,000, other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000 and other visibility problem at $150–$1,400. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
20% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 15 | 6 | — | 67k | — | 1.0 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 11 | 9 | 50k | 54k | 96k | 0.8 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 10 | 6 | — | 68k | — | 0.7 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 8 | 6 | — | 84k | — | 0.5 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 7 | 7 | — | 32k | — | 0.5 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 7 | 7 | — | 37k | — | 0.5 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Other engine problem | engine | 6 | 6 | — | 49k | — | 0.4 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Manual clutch or hydraulics failure | transmission | 5 | 5 | — | 73k | — | 0.3 | $900–$2,800 | Moderate |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 4 | 3 | — | 29k | — | 0.3 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 2 | 2 | — | 45k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 2 | 2 | — | 17k | — | 0.1 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Transmission will not engage a gear | transmission | 1 | 1 | — | 35k | — | 0.1 | $1,500–$6,000 | Critical |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin | emissions | 1 | 1 | — | 46k | — | 0.1 | $250–$2,000 | High |
| Other steering problem | steering | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 1 | 1 | — | 18k | — | 0.1 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 1 | 1 | — | 1k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 11 | 7 | — | 93k | — | 0.8 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 2008 Infiniti G37 draws about 6.6 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 85th percentile of complaint rates among 2008 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 14,597 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 2008 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault
On the approx. Date of incident, I started the vehicle in the morning and noticed the air bag light would blink and not turn off. After referencing the manual, I brought the vehicle into an infiniti dealership to be diagnosed. The diagnosis was that the passenger side airbag sensor had failed and would cost more than $2,700 to replace. I left without replacing the part. I notice this exact item has already been recalled for this exact make/model/year vehicle, but the manufacturer has told me that the recall was not for my specific VIN. This recall should be expanded to include all 2008 infiniti g37 vehicles.....updated 10/01/15*bf
On the approx. Date of incident, I started the vehicle in the morning and noticed the air bag light would blink and not turn off. After referencing the manual, I brought the vehicle into an infiniti dealership to be diagnosed. The diagnosis was that the passenger side airbag sensor had failed and would cost more than $2,700 to replace. I left without replacing the part. I notice this exact item has already been recalled for this exact make/model/year vehicle, but the manufacturer has told me that the recall was not for my specific VIN. This recall should be expanded to include all 2008 infiniti g37 vehicles.....updated 10/01/15*bf
Other electrical problem
I have a 2008 infiniti g37s / 6 speed, I have gone through 3 batteries since I purchased it used / certified in 2010. My battery kept dying so I brought it to infiniti and they said I has a parasitic electrical draw but could not tell me where is was coming from. One day I walked up to the car while it was shutoff and I heard the six disc cd changer, moving around the discs. The stock cd changer was operating while the car was off and killing my $150.00 battery. I ultimately pulled the fuse for the radio and upon doing that, I had no radio, heat, rear defrost and the AC comes on & you can't turn it off. I drove around for a month in the winter with the AC on which decreased my mileage. I called up infiniti and brought it in and they charged me $138.00 to tell me I need a new, same defective cd changer at a cost of $550, which was not covered. I advised them this is a serious safety issue and how could a cd changer affect the whole instrument panel? In addition, you can't even put an aftermarket radio / cd changer in the car because the heat, defrost, navi is all one unit. This bose radio unit is still being used till this day in…
I've been having a continuing problem in regards the stock panasonic cd changer. The cd changer is moving discs around when the power to the car if off, won't eject discs or receive them. This malfunction is draining my battery. I brought the car into a infiniti service shop and they advised me that the cd changer was malfunctioning and would repair if for $500.00, by inputting a remanufactured cd changer into the car. Upon them doing this, I was advised the radio they ordered, was also defective and they had to order another one. They replaced the cd changed and a month later, this cd changer also stopped working correctly. I had to go and have infiniti replace the radio for the third time, which was out of warranty. The currently cd changer is working, but for how long? I asked infiniti usa for a full refund and was advised that they could not assist me with any refund and weren't helpful or concerned at all about this problem. I filed a bbb claim in order to try and have my repair fee refunded, do to this defective part which should be recalled. Infiniti still uses panasonic cd changers in their new models are refuses to…
Other body or interior problem
My dashboard is melted. Obvious defect of the manufacturer... It's sticky and shiny which makes it hard to see and pay attention while I'm driving. I saw that other people have the problem from my local news station and decided to fill this out. *js
Vehicle dashboard is cracked in various areas. About a month ago I started noticing cracks close to the edge of the dash where the door and the dash meets. Cracks can be found around the A/C vents, above the lcd display, and on the lower right side next to the lcd display. The vehicle is garaged kept and driven only a couple of times during the week so, I'm even more disappointed how poorly the dashboard is holding up. I've owned a range rover, couple lexus and a mercedes and have never experience such an issue. Today I submitted several pictures to infiniti and awaits there response. I will update this complaint with the end results. *tr
Recalls on the 2008 model year
NHTSA has issued 1 recall campaign covering the 2008 Infiniti G37, affecting an estimated 14,597 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover air bags. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
One caution about reading these together: a recall usually raises the complaint count for the same part, because owners who read about it go and file. The mileages stay informative; the counts get noisy.
AIR BAGS
204,361 vehicles 2008-10-07- Defect
- Nissan is recalling 204,361 my 2007-2008 altima, altima hybrid, 350z, 350z roadster, my 2008 altima coupe, rogue, my 2009 murano, and infiniti my 2007-2008 g35 sedan, my 2008 g37 coupe and ex35 passenger vehicles equipped with continental automotive systems' occupant classification system (ocs) control units. A varistor in the ocs control unit located in the passenger seat cushion may have been manufactured out of specification. Under certain conditions, this could cause an interruption of signal between the ocs and the air bag control unit (acu).
- Consequence
- This could result in the passenger air bag being suppressed which could fail to provide adequate protection in the event of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will test the signal between the ocs and acu systems using a special tool to check that it is functioning as designed. If necessary, the seat cushion (containing ocs hardware) will be replaced with a new one manufactured to specification. The recall began on november 4, 2008. Owners may contact nissan at 1-800-647-7261 or infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 2008 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
Better and worse years of the same car
High risk for a 2008 — 296th riskiest of the 356 2008 vehicles we can rate. Because the ranking is against the same model year only, age cancels out of it.
Across the 6 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2008 comes out best at 64 and 2012 worst at 76, with 2008 itself at 64.
No other year of this model scores meaningfully better than 2008, so if this generation is what you want, the year is not the lever.
Within the 2007–2013 generation specifically, 2008 is the strongest year at 64 and 2012 the weakest at 76.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 2007-2013 generation, 2008 Infiniti G37 scores best at 64 and 2012 Infiniti G37 worst at 76.
What to look at before buying one
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other electrical problem from about 50k.
On a 2008 Infiniti G37 with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other electrical problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
Treat it as where to point the inspection, not as a prediction. A well-maintained example can sail past every mileage on this page, and a neglected one can fail well before the first of them.
What this page cannot tell you
96 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 96 reports, 70 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 73% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
The failure modes are assigned by software reading the owner's own words, which is accurate in bulk and wrong in individual cases. A mode with a handful of reports may contain a misfiled one.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Infiniti G37?
The most-reported failures are airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault (15 reports, median 65,000 miles), other electrical problem (11 reports, median 55,000 miles) and other body or interior problem (10 reports, median 70,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 2008 Infiniti G37 problems start?
Other electrical problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 55,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 50,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 55,000 miles.
Is the 2008 Infiniti G37 reliable?
It scores 64 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 296th riskiest of the 356 2008 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 2008 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Infiniti G37 is best?
Within the 2007–2013 generation, 2008 scores best at 64 out of 100 and 2012 worst at 76. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed