Rear galley gasket failure, vehicle is out of warranty, but only has 56k miles on the engine. Is daily driven and not used for any driving outside of the day to day routine. Contacted the dealership and while they see these gasket failures often they were unable to do any type of work on the vehicle due to it being outside of the warranty. The fix will be to replace the gasket which will be a…
2009 INFINITI G37 engine problems
moderate 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
When does it fail?
Of the 10 engine complaints filed for the 2009 INFINITI G37, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
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.
What stands out
Of the 4 model years of INFINITI G37 we track for engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 10.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2009 G37 shows recurring problems with oil gallery gaskets, sudden power loss in limp mode, abnormal cold-start idle, and stalling—issues that Infiniti has not recalled despite owner complaints and at least one TSB. Repair costs can exceed $4,000, and some owners report denial of warranty coverage even at lower mileage.
The 2009 G37 engine complaints cluster around five main failure patterns, all alleged to be known issues that Infiniti has not addressed with recalls.
Oil gallery gasket failure is the most cited problem. Owners report paper-material gaskets failing at any mileage—one case at 56K miles—triggering limp mode due to oil pressure loss. Repair cost reaches $4,000. Owners allege Infiniti quietly swapped to reinforced metal gaskets in pre-2012 models without issuing a recall, and one owner saw diagnostic code P0524 (oil pressure). The dealership acknowledged seeing "these gasket failures often" but refused warranty work on out-of-warranty vehicles.
Several owners describe sudden power loss while driving: RPMs drop below 1500, speed falls from 50 to 30 MPH in seconds, and the car enters limp mode. One owner says a TSB exists but believes a recall is warranted. A dealer performed ECU reflash and mentioned the same problem occurs on Infiniti M models.
Other engine failures include random stalling (at least one confirmed at 27K miles, blamed on poor maintenance by the dealer), abnormal cold-start revving (4000–5000 RPM holding for 5–7 seconds instead of normal 2000 RPM), engine overheating and lock-up during highway driving, and internal engine damage diagnosed at under 60K miles with no warning signs except a rattle sound. Infiniti Consumer Affairs refused assistance to multiple owners, stating no recourse was available.
Failure modes owners describe
Elevated idle RPM on cold start
Engine revs to 4000–5000 RPM upon startup and holds that speed for 5–7 seconds before dropping to normal idle. Occurrences are becoming more frequent. Normal startup should be around 2000 RPM dropping to idle in 1–2 seconds. Owner reports this created a safety hazard when shifting into gear, nearly causing a collision.
When: On engine start, becoming increasingly frequent
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs to 4000–5000 RPM on startup; High RPM persists for 5–7 seconds; Delayed return to normal idle speed; Risk of unintended acceleration if shifted into gear
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer stated no service bulletins available; suggested checking engine control settings if brought in for service
Oil gallery gasket failure
Paper-material oil gallery gaskets fail prematurely, causing oil pressure loss and limp mode activation. Occurs regardless of mileage or age. Infiniti/Nissan allegedly silently changed to reinforced metal gaskets (part numbers 13533-JK21B and 13533-JK21A) in pre-2012 vehicles, indicating known issue. Affects VQ37VHR engine. One owner reported failure at 56K miles with repair cost quoted at $4,000. Another reported P0524 (oil pressure) code.
When: Can occur at any mileage; reported at 56K miles
Symptoms owners cite: Oil pressure warning or low oil pressure reading; Vehicle enters limp mode; Loss of power and ability to maintain highway speed; Engine rattle sound (reported in one case); Check engine light (implied by P0524 code reference)
Codes mentioned: P0524
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of oil gallery gasket quoted at $4,000; requires engine removal labor
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan/Infiniti have not issued recalls; out-of-warranty vehicles denied warranty coverage; customer alleges manufacturer silently revised part design without issuing recall
Sudden loss of power and limp mode (ECU/sensor issue)
Engine loses power unexpectedly while driving, RPMs drop below 1500, and vehicle cannot exceed 30 MPH. Vehicle enters limp mode. Can be reset by restarting engine for 30 seconds, but issue recurs randomly. One owner reports dealer performed ECU reflash/update; similar issue noted on Infiniti M model. Owner states TSB exists but believes this warrants recall instead.
When: Random occurrence while driving; first reported July 2009 in one vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of engine power; RPM drops and will not exceed 1500; Speed drops from 50 MPH to 30 MPH in seconds; Vehicle enters limp mode; Acceleration fails; Power steering and braking remain functional; Issue resolves temporarily after engine restart; Recurs randomly regardless of driving conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer performed ECU reflash/update; owner uncertain if resolved
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB exists for this issue; ECU reflash/update attempted by dealer; similar problem noted on Infiniti M model
Engine stalling without warning
Engine stalls unexpectedly while driving, occurring multiple times. One owner reported stalling at 27K miles; dealer attributed it to poor maintenance and refused repair. Manufacturer denied assistance. Another owner reported overheating and eventual engine lock-up while highway driving.
When: Occurred at 27K miles in reported case; overheating/lock-up incident on highway
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden stalling without warning; Engine overheating; Engine lock-up while driving; Multiple stall incidents
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnostic performed; one case resulted in need for complete engine replacement (less than 60K miles)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: In one case, dealer blamed poor maintenance; manufacturer denied assistance. Infiniti Consumer Affairs declined to help and stated customer had no recourse.
Internal engine damage (rattle sound, low mileage)
Vehicle developed a rattle sound from the undercarriage; dealership diagnosed as internal engine damage despite no check engine light or other symptoms. Owner reports third-party ownership, full maintenance history, and under 60K miles. Infiniti denied any recourse; complete engine replacement required.
When: Less than 60K miles, third owner, regularly maintained
Symptoms owners cite: Rattle sound from undercarriage; Internal engine damage (dealership diagnosis); No check engine light; No other apparent symptoms during driving
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement required
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Infiniti Consumer Affairs refused assistance and stated customer has no recourse
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had engine trouble with your 2009 INFINITI G37?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2009 INFINITI G37?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 10 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 10 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 61,257 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/INFINITI/G37.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.