TRANSMISSION & ENGINE AUTOMATED DATA COLLECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC REPORTING SERVICE INFORMATION To support proper diagnosis and to promote Fixed-Right-First-Time ? Infiniti may review CONSULT-III plus (CIII plus) data relating to vehicle operation and function to help with vehicle diagnosis and diagnostic validation. IMPORTANT: For transmission/engine repair or replacement, retailers are required to connect C-III plus and perform ?Diagnosis (All Systems)?. Performing C-III plus ?Diagnosis (All Systems)? is also required prior to contacting any Infiniti call center (i.e. TECH-LINE, PCC, or WCC) for diagnostic support or claim preauthorization. NOTE: For additional information regarding Automated
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 INFINITI G37 powertrain problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
When does it fail?
Of the 10 powertrain complaints filed for the 2008 INFINITI G37, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
Among the 5 model years of INFINITI G37 in our records for powertrain problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 13 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
SERVICE INFORMATION Replacement 5-speed rear wheel drive Automatic Transmission (A/T) assemblies and replacement control valves (valve bodies) now come with blank Transmission Control Modules (TCMs). Blank TCMs come without software and must be programmed (not reprogrammed) and then configured after they are installed. When ordering a replacement A/T or control valve, use the Infiniti electronic parts information systems to obtain the correct software program part number See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION If a customer describes lack of power or poor acceleration, perform the following checks before attempting any repair: * Check for stored DTCs. * Check if the driver is resting their left foot on the brake pedal while accelerating. Advise the customer not to rest their foot on the brake while accelerating. * Use CONSULT-III plus in Engine Data Monitor to check operation of the brake lamp circuit signal. Monitor the brake switch during the incident; it should be "OFF". Please see this bulletn for further details.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION When diagnosing an applied vehicle for possible power steering gear (rack and pinion steering rack, or steering rack) leak issues, in some cases it may appear the steering rack is leaking when actually, it?s not. Use this service bulletin to help make a more accurate diagnosis of the steering rack. - Go to Power Steering Gear Inspection starting on page 2. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2008 Infiniti G37 has a pattern of serious powertrain failures across both manual and automatic variants. Clutch slave cylinder collapse is the most consistent complaint—the pedal sticks to the floor and won't return, leaving owners unable to shift or move the car. This happens as early as 35,000 miles and can strand you mid-drive. Several owners had to stall their vehicles intentionally or get towed after CSC failure.
Automatic transmission models suffer a different but equally dangerous problem: 3-5 second lag when accelerating, often feeling like neutral engagement. One owner nearly got sideswiped merging on the freeway when the transmission didn't respond. Once it does engage, it slams hard into gear unexpectedly.
Engine surge and hesitation issues also appear—the engine revs while stopped, forcing hard brake pressure to prevent rolling forward, or the car hesitates then accelerates rapidly without warning. One complaint references Infiniti Technical Bulletin ITB07048 for sudden acceleration; the fix is supposedly free under warranty in the US but dealers charged for it elsewhere.
Reverse gear failures occur around 60,000 miles, with the car refusing to roll backward even when shifted into reverse. Dealers frequently quote $8,000+ for full transmission replacement rather than addressing the specific component failure. Service departments acknowledge these problems but haven't triggered a recall.
Same INFINITI G37 powertrain reports on nearby years: 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Clutch Slave Cylinder (CSC) Failure
The clutch slave cylinder fails, causing the clutch pedal to stick to the floor and not return. Owners report this makes the car undriveable and dangerous—the pedal either won't release or bottoms out completely.
When: 35,000 to 60,000 miles reported in narratives; timing variable
Symptoms owners cite: Clutch pedal stuck to floor and won't spring back; Clutch pedal bottoms out to floorboard and remains there; Inability to shift gears due to stuck clutch; Car stalls when clutch is released in reverse
Repairs/costs cited: Slave cylinder replacement required; owners cite $8K+ for full transmission replacement in some cases, though CSC replacement alone is the stated fix
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers have blamed driver error; service departments reportedly acknowledge this is a known issue but no recall issued
Automatic Transmission Delayed Response / Neutral Lag
The automatic transmission exhibits a 3–5 second lag when accelerating from a stop or after downshifting, often slipping into neutral. When it finally engages, it slams hard into gear unpredictably. Reported primarily on 2008 models with 5-speed automatic.
When: 41,000 miles; described as occurring numerous times over owner's tenure
Symptoms owners cite: No engine response for 3–5 seconds after pressing gas pedal; Transmission behaves as if in neutral when driver attempts to accelerate; Transmission slams unexpectedly into gear; Difficult to control vehicle when transmission suddenly engages
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite this as recurring issue; no repair data provided in narratives
Engine Surge / Sudden Acceleration (Idle Control)
Engine revs continuously while stopped or surges forward when the driver is not accelerating, forcing harder brake pressure to prevent collision. One complaint references Infiniti Technical Bulletin ITB07048 (sudden acceleration).
When: No specific mileage; occurs while stopped in traffic or during normal driving
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs continuously while vehicle is stopped; Surging while coming to a stop; Requires abnormally hard brake pedal pressure to prevent vehicle from moving forward
Repairs/costs cited: One owner states the fix is listed as free under warranty in the US (per ITB07048); Infiniti Puerto Rico attempted to charge for it
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Infiniti Technical Bulletin ITB07048 addresses sudden acceleration; warranty coverage confirmed in US, but charged in Puerto Rico
Transmission Reverse Gear Failure
The transmission fails to engage reverse properly. Once shifted into reverse, the car does not roll backward and behaves as if left in Park. Reported after 60,000 miles.
When: After 60,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Difficulty shifting into reverse; Car does not roll backward when in reverse; Vehicle remains idle as if left in Park
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission repair shop owner stated this is not user error; some dealers quote $8,000+ for full transmission replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan/Infiniti reportedly refuses to claim responsibility and pushes customers toward full transmission replacement at owner expense
Hesitation / Stall on Acceleration
The engine hesitates or stalls momentarily when the driver accelerates from a stop or at speed, then accelerates rapidly. This creates unpredictable power delivery.
When: Occurred 7 times over several months in one complaint; no mileage specified
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation when accelerating from a stop; Stalling followed by rapid acceleration; Unpredictable power delivery
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer was unable to duplicate the issue and claimed no problem exists
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Infiniti dealer unable to reproduce issue; claimed no fault found
Clutch Pedal Mechanical Failure (Flopping/Loose)
The clutch pedal becomes loose and flops around, rendering it ineffective. This is described as a recurring problem that affects both traffic and highway driving.
When: Described as recurring; no specific mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: Clutch pedal flops around loosely; Clutch becomes ineffective; Problem occurs in traffic and at highway speeds
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
2008 Infiniti g37s with a 5 speed automatic transmission with 41,000 miles - I was entering the freeway going about 55 MPH and there was an 18 wheeler in front of me having a hard time picking up speed. Before passing, I tapped my brake, downshifted from 4th to 3rd gear with my left paddle shifter near the steering wheel and proceeded to get in the lane to the left of the merging lane onto the…
I was driving down the road and noticed the clutch wasn't "feeling normal." as I shifted into 3rd gear, the clutch pedal stuck to the floor and wouldn't spring back. I tried pumping on it, then managed to get my foot underneath it to pull it up and then down shift. When I depressed the clutch again and attempted to shift into 2nd gear, the clutch stuck again and I was stuck in 3rd. I finally…
G37s. Clutch flops around, rendering it ineffective - in traffic and at highway speeds. This has been a recurring problem. *tr
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2008 INFINITI G37?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 10 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 26,000 and 65,000 miles, with the median around 37,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 26,000; a quarter make it past 65,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.