Nissan / Infiniti – VQ35DE & VQ35HR Engine Issues (2002–Present)

The VQ35DE and VQ35HR 3.5L V6 engines are widely regarded as some of Nissan’s best powerplants, used across sedans, SUVs, and Infiniti luxury models. Despite their strong reputation, both engines exhibit recurring issues including oil consumption, timing chain guide wear (mid‑2000s), overheating in certain models due to radiator failures, and camshaft position sensor faults.

Year(s)	Make	Model	Should Purchase?	Notes
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008	Nissan	Maxima	Caution	Engine: 3.5L V6 – VQ35DE Issues: oil consumption, timing chain guide wear (mid‑2000s), overheating due to radiator failures, camshaft position sensor failures Notes: 2004–2006 especially prone to chain guide wear and sensor faults
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006	Nissan	Altima 3.5 SE	Caution	Engine: 3.5L V6 – VQ35DE Issues: overheating from radiator failures, oil consumption, camshaft sensor failures Notes: radiator tank separation common; overheating can accelerate head gasket wear
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006	Nissan	Altima 3.5 SL	Caution	Engine: 3.5L V6 – VQ35DE Issues: overheating from radiator failures, oil consumption, camshaft sensor failures Notes: radiator tank separation common; overheating can accelerate head gasket wear
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008	Nissan	Murano	Awareness	Engine: 3.5L V6 – VQ35DE Issues: oil consumption, camshaft sensor failures Notes: generally reliable; most issues are sensor‑related rather than mechanical
2003 2004 2005 2006	Nissan	350Z (VQ35DE)	Awareness	Engine: 3.5L V6 – VQ35DE Issues: oil consumption on high‑rev use, camshaft sensor failures Notes: early DE engines can consume oil when driven aggressively
2007 2008	Nissan	350Z (VQ35HR)	Awareness	Engine: 3.5L V6 – VQ35HR Issues: minor oil consumption, occasional sensor failures Notes: HR is more robust; fewer timing chain issues than DE
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007	Infiniti	G35	Awareness	Engine: 3.5L V6 – VQ35DE Issues: oil consumption (especially coupes), camshaft sensor failures Notes: timing chain guide wear less common than in Nissan sedans
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012	Infiniti	G37 / M35 / FX35	Awareness	Engine: 3.5L V6 – VQ35HR Issues: occasional oil consumption, camshaft sensor failures Notes: HR engines are generally very durable; far fewer chain issues than DE

Summary of VQ35DE / VQ35HR Defect Patterns

Oil consumption: more common in early VQ35DE and high‑rev applications (350Z, G35).
Timing chain guide wear: mid‑2000s VQ35DE sedans most affected (Altima/Maxima).
Overheating: radiator tank separation in Altima/Maxima can cause overheating and head gasket stress.
Camshaft position sensor failures: widespread across both DE and HR engines; often causes stalling or no‑start.

Legal context

While the VQ35DE/HR engines did not generate major class actions like Nissan’s CVT or VC‑Turbo issues, Nissan issued multiple TSBs for camshaft sensor failures, overheating conditions, and timing chain guide wear. Many owners sought reimbursement for engine repairs tied to overheating or chain guide deterioration.

References

Nissan TSB NTB06‑042 – Camshaft position sensor failure diagnosis
Nissan TSB NTB07‑042 – Radiator tank separation / overheating (Altima/Maxima)
Nissan TSB NTB04‑070 – Timing chain noise and guide wear (VQ35DE)
CarComplaints – VQ35DE engine issues (Maxima)
NHTSA – Engine complaints for VQ35‑equipped Nissan/Infiniti models
NicoClub Technical Forums – VQ35DE/HR common problems and diagnostics