Why are all the dash lights flashing on my Infiniti M35 or M45?

Short answer: On the 2006–2010 Infiniti M, a sudden mix of electrical problems (warning lights flashing, turn signals or AC dead, hard shifting) has a known cause owners found: the battery compartment drain clogs, water collects, and it soaks the IPDM/ER (the under-hood power distribution computer that runs many relays). Drying it and clearing the drain fixed two owners' cars. Random stalling with no codes is a different, harder problem.

Symptom: Several unrelated things go wrong at once: dash lights blink, signals or radio quit, the AC stops, the transmission shifts hard. It may come and go with wet weather.

What to check first

1. Open the battery compartment and look for standing water.
2. Clear the compartment drain with a wire or air. Owners say check it every fall.
3. Inspect the IPDM/ER (near the battery) for water or corrosion.
4. For random stalling, note whether it restarts right away and ask a shop to check the crank sensor, fuel pump relay and fuel pressure.

Likely causes

1. Water in the battery box soaking the IPDM/ER. Found by two 2006 M35x owners.
2. Clogged battery compartment drain. The root cause; easy to clear.
3. Crank sensor, fuel pump relay or ignition parts. Suggestions for random stalling with no codes on an M45; the owner's case was unresolved.

What it usually costs

One owner's dealer dried out the IPDM/ER overnight for about $230; a replacement IPDM was quoted at about $800. Prices are from owner posts.

Is it safe to keep driving?

Not reliably. Losing turn signals, lights or smooth shifting is a safety problem, and stalling on a freeway is dangerous. Verify with a mechanic.

DIY or shop?

DIY for checking and clearing the battery compartment drain. Testing or replacing the IPDM/ER is usually shop work.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Recalls: NHTSA lists no recall for the electrical system or stalling on the Infiniti M35/M45 for these model years (checked 2026-10-23). Other recalls may exist for your car, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your car is part of a recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• NHTSA complaints: 128 keyword-matched complaints for Infiniti M35, M45 and M35X 2006–2010 (of 574 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-23; keywords: IPDM, electrical, water, battery, stall, warning light, relay). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In Crazy Electrical Problem on NICOclub, a 2006 M35x owner had dash lights flashing, turn signals and AC dead and hard shifts, and went to the dealer three times. The battery compartment drain was plugged and the box was half full of water. Another 2006 M35x owner in Oregon had the same problem; the dealer dried the IPDM/ER overnight for about $230 versus about $800 for a new one. Members recommended checking the drain every fall.
• In HELP Car randomly cuts off, no codes on Car Talk, a 2006 M45 owner said the car began stalling now and then (including at 70 mph) a couple of months after the accelerator pedal recall work. It always restarted. New EGR and purge solenoids didn't fix it. Members suggested an intermittent crank sensor (which can fail without setting a code), the fuel pump or its relay, grounds, or an ignition coil failing when hot, and suggested a fuel pressure gauge to test while driving. The thread ended without a fix.

Quick tip

If your M starts acting possessed, open the battery compartment first. A clogged drain is free to fix, and catching it early may save the IPDM.

Vehicle focus: 2006–2010 Infiniti M35 and M45 (Y50). Later M37/M56 cars are a different design.

Safety / mechanic note

Losing lights and signals or stalling is a safety hazard. Verify with a mechanic.