Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti QX56 vs FORD F 150
How the Infiniti QX56 and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Infiniti QX56 vs FORD F 150: The QX56 has 461 complaints over 10 years (46.1/yr) with brake issues prominent, while the F-150 has 11,311 complaints (1131.1/yr) with transmission problems. The QX56 has 30 recalls, the F-150 145. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti QX56 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti QX56
The Infiniti QX56 is a large luxury SUV that, in ownership terms, demands attention to its braking system and electrical gremlins. Owners report serious brake issues, including delayed response and warning lights, which can affect stopping distance. Electrical problems often leave owners stranded with a vehicle that won't start, and engine issues like timing belt failures add to the maintenance burden. Overall, it's a vehicle that requires proactive inspection and may have higher ownership costs.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a popular full-size pickup with a high volume of complaints, reflecting its widespread use. The most common issues revolve around the powertrain, particularly the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners report for hard shifts, jerking, and even sudden power loss. Electrical system problems, including camera and sensor malfunctions, are also frequent. While many F-150s are reliable, these patterns suggest that transmission and electronic issues are significant concerns for buyers.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti QX56 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 461 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 30 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 18 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 46.1 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 14 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Infiniti QX56
- 01SERVICE BRAKES200
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM59
- 03HYDRAULIC59
- 04ENGINE59
- 05AIR BAGS34
Owners report brake failure or delayed response, with the vehicle dynamic control and slip warning lights illuminating. This can lead to increased stopping distances and potential loss of control, making it a critical safety concern.
The SUV frequently fails to start, requiring jumps, even after battery replacement. Instrument panel lights may illuminate and the vehicle can stall, leaving owners stranded.
Engine issues include timing belt/chain failure, which can cause catastrophic damage. Owners also report catalytic converter problems after repairs, leading to check engine lights.
Recalls for frontal driver side inflator module indicate potential airbag deployment issues, which could fail to protect occupants in a crash.
“DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 421 IN WILKESBORO, NC ON A 45 MPH SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY, MERGED OVER INTO THE TURNING LANE TO TURN LEFT ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC. WAITED FOR A BREAK IN TRAFFIC, UPON A BREAK IN TRAFFIC TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO CROSS TRAFFIC, AS VEHICLE…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE DYNAMIC CONTROL OFF SLIP ON WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE STOPPED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE O…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10-speed automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with hard shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden power loss. Some owners report the vehicle shutting off and restarting, which is dangerous in traffic.
Electrical issues include warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which appear every time the truck starts. These can disable safety features.
Headlight problems are common, with recalls for exterior lighting. Owners may experience dim or malfunctioning headlights, reducing visibility at night.
Engine-related recalls and complaints suggest potential issues that could affect performance and reliability, though specific symptoms are less detailed in the sample.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Infiniti QX56 — 30 recalls
The defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 AND MAY 14, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 TITAN, AR…
The risk: IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED LOWER LINK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 TITAN, ARMADA, QX56, FRONTIER, XTERRA, AND PATHFINDER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 19, 2009 THROUGH MARCH 3, 2010. THE LOWER CONTROL LINK ASSEMBLY HAS TWO CYLINDRICAL COLLARS FORMING THE INBOARD ATTACHMENT POINTS TO THE CHASSIS. DUE TO AN IMPROPER…
The risk: IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The fix: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 TITAN, ARMADA, AND INFINITI QX56, AND MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 NISSAN QUEST VEHICLES. THE BRAKE PEDAL PIVOT PIN END WAS NOT SPIN-FORMED TO SPECIFICATION DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY. THE PIVOT PIN COULD SLIDE AND CAUSE THE…
The risk: THE DRIVER WILL EXPERIENCE UNUSUAL AND NOTICEABLE LOOSENESS IN THE PEDAL AND A REDUCTION IN BRAKING FORCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT TO SEE IF THE PIVOT PIN HAD BEEN FORMED PROPERLY AND WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE PEDAL ASSEMBLY IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 22, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013 Infiniti QX56 vehicles manufactured September 1, 2012, to April 26, 2013, and 2014 Infiniti QX80 vehicles manufactured June 18, 2013, to February 11, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag inflator may ha…
The risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's air bag, the incorrect part may block the flow of propellant to the air bag and the air bag's inflator may rupture. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike and pote…
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Infiniti QX56 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Infiniti QX56 has far fewer complaints per year (46.1) compared to the Ford F-150 (1131.1), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the QX56's problems are more concentrated in safety-critical areas like brakes, which could be more severe. In practice, the F-150's higher volume reflects its popularity, but the transmission issues are widespread and could lead to costly repairs.
Key differences
- The QX56 has a much lower complaint rate (46.1/yr) than the F-150 (1131.1/yr), but its brake complaints are more safety-critical.
- The F-150's transmission issues are a dominant problem, with hard shifts and power loss, while the QX56's engine issues include timing belt failures.
- Electrical problems in the QX56 often cause starting failures, whereas the F-150's electrical issues disable driver-assist features.
- The QX56 has fewer recalls (30) than the F-150 (145), but both have significant safety-related recalls.
- Inspect the brake system thoroughly, including the brake pedal feel and any warning lights, as owners report delayed response and control module issues.
- Check the battery and charging system, as the QX56 has a history of starting failures despite new batteries.
- Test drive the F-150 through various speeds to feel for hard shifts or jerking, especially between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, as transmission problems are common.
- Check for any warning messages on the dash, such as front camera malfunction or pre-collision assist not available, which indicate electrical issues.
Before you buy
- For the QX56, have a mechanic inspect the brake system, including the ABS and dynamic control modules, and check for any pending codes.
- For the QX56, test the battery and alternator, and look for signs of parasitic drain that could cause starting issues.
- For the F-150, perform a thorough test drive, including highway speeds, to assess transmission shift quality.
- For the F-150, check the vehicle's recall status and ensure any outstanding recalls are addressed.
- For both, obtain a vehicle history report and have a pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Infiniti QX56 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti QX56 vs FORD F 150
- Infiniti QX56 total complaints
- 461
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Infiniti QX56 total recalls
- 30
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Infiniti QX56 avg complaints/year
- 46.1
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti QX56
- Infiniti QX56 top complaint area
- SERVICE BRAKES
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN