Head-to-head reliability
Infiniti QX60 vs Infiniti Q50
How the Infiniti QX60 and Infiniti Q50 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Infiniti QX60 vs Infiniti Q50: The QX60 averages 26.3 complaints per year with 15 recalls, while the Q50 averages 31.8 complaints and 18 recalls. Both have zero deaths, but the Q50 has more crash-related complaints (27 vs. 13). Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Infiniti QX60 or Infiniti Q50 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Infiniti QX60
The Infiniti QX60 is a three-row luxury SUV that averages about 26 complaints per year over the past decade, with 15 recalls and 28 reported injuries but no deaths. Owners frequently report engine and electrical problems, including sudden power loss, battery drain, and infotainment glitches. There are also complaints about the panoramic sunroof shattering and doors locking with the key fob inside. While many issues are annoying, some—like engine stalling—can be safety concerns.
Infiniti Q50
The Infiniti Q50 is a sport sedan that generates roughly 32 complaints per year, with 18 recalls and 12 injuries but no deaths. The most common trouble spots are the engine, power train, air bags, and steering. Owners describe sudden loss of acceleration, transmission jolts, air bag warning lights, and steering that locks or feels stuck. These are serious drivability and safety issues that can leave a driver stranded or unable to control the car.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Infiniti QX60 | Infiniti Q50 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 263 Better | 318 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 15 Better | 18 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 13 Better | 27 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 26.3 Better | 31.8 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 28 | 12 Better |
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 QX60
- 01ENGINE59
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM55
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER53
- 04POWER TRAIN50
- 05SERVICE BRAKES31
Owners report sudden loss of power and electronic malfunctions with warning lights, sometimes after routine service. This can leave you unable to accelerate or stranded, and may require costly diagnostics.
Complaints include the car failing to start after being parked and locked, requiring a jump, and then showing multiple malfunction alerts. Battery drain and feature failures are common, which is frustrating and can leave you stuck.
The panoramic sunroof glass has shattered without warning, and doors have spontaneously locked with the key fob inside. These are unexpected and potentially dangerous or inconvenient events.
Drivers describe intermittent jolting while stopping, infotainment screens turning off and restarting, and blind spot detection failing. These glitches can distract and reduce confidence in the vehicle's reliability.
“Our 2022 Infiniti QX60 was brought in at Infiniti Service Center for regular oil change. The car had 29,564 miles. After the service, I was deciding whether to take the highway or the local route. I thought of stopping by the church, so I decided to take the…”
“The contact owns a 2024 Infiniti QX60. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle experienced electronic malfunctions with unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined t…”
Infiniti Q50
- 01ENGINE65
- 02POWER TRAIN60
- 03AIR BAGS47
- 04STEERING46
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM44
Owners report sudden loss of acceleration and engine power, with the check engine light coming on. The car may shut off while driving, which is a serious safety risk and can require expensive repairs.
Complaints include the vehicle losing power and not accelerating properly, sometimes shutting off while in operation. This can happen even when parked with the engine running, leading to dangerous situations.
Air bag warning lights illuminate even when seats are unoccupied, and some owners are told the air bags have failed. This means the air bags may not deploy in a crash, and repairs can be costly after warranty.
Drivers experience the steering wheel locking or feeling stuck, along with unresponsive brakes and gas pedals. These issues can make the car uncontrollable and are among the most dangerous complaints.
“In August 2026, while driving, the vehicle suddenly lost acceleration and engine power and would only travel at a very slow speed. The check engine light came on. The driver had to safely stop, turn the engine off, and restart it. After restarting, the vehicl…”
“Shortly after purchasing the vehicle, I began experiencing serious performance issues. While driving, the vehicle suddenly lost power, would not accelerate properly, and warning lights appeared on the dashboard. The vehicle eventually shut off while in operat…”
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 QX60 — 15 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Infiniti QX60 vehicles. When driving at certain high speeds, the Adaptive Front-Light System (AFS) may incorrectly adjust the headlights downward.
The risk: Incorrectly adjusted headlights can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reconfigure the Intelligent Power Distribution Module (IPDM) settings, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 26, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Titan, Frontier, Infiniti QX60, Pathfinder, 2023-2024 Sentra, Versa, Kicks, Infiniti QX50, and 2023 Rogue vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the driver's air bag inflator may absorb moisture, and cause the air bag to deploy improper…
The risk: An air bag that deploys improperly may not protect the driver as intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the front driver's air bag assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are PD103, PD10…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2024 Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 vehicles. The lap belt pretensioner in the left-side front seat belt assembly may be improperly secured, due to a missing rivet. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor V…
The risk: An unsecured lap belt pretensioner will not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the left-side front lap seat belt pretensioner assemblies as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2024. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. O…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2022 INFINITI QX60 and Nissan Pathfinder vehicles. The second-row seat track may be missing a mounting bolt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly…
The risk: A missing mounting bolt may allow the seat track to move during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the second-row seat track and install a new mounting bolt as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 13, 2022. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numb…
Infiniti Q50 — 18 recalls
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020 Nissan Murano, INFINITI QX60, 2021 Nissan GT-R, INFINITI QX50, and Q50 vehicles. The front steering knuckle or rear axle housing may have insufficient strength due to improper heat-treatment.
The risk: The steering knuckle or rear axle could deform upon impact, such as from hitting a curb, resulting in a loss of steering control, or possible wheel separation. Both of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the front steering knuckle and rear axle housing, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 26, 2021. Nissan owners may contact customer service at 1-800-867-7669. INFINITI o…
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (INFINITI) is recalling certain 2021 INFINITI Q50 and Q60 vehicles. After detecting rapid acceleration, the Engine Control Module (ECM) may incorrectly reduce engine power and reduce fuel supply to the engine.
The risk: A lack of fuel may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: INFINITI will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECM software, free of charge. The recall began on May 25, 2021. Owners may contact INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200. INFINITI's number for this recall is R20C5.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021 Infinity Q50, Q60, and QX80 vehicles. A software error may deactivate the audio/video control unit screen, preventing the rear-view image from displaying. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehi…
The risk: A rear-view camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 14, 2021. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's number for this recall is R21A9.
The defect: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additio…
The risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-…
Buyer analysis
Infiniti QX60 or Infiniti Q50: which should you buy?
The Infiniti QX60 has fewer complaints per year (26.3 vs. 31.8) and fewer recalls (15 vs. 18) than the Q50. However, the Q50's complaints more often involve critical safety systems like air bags and steering, while the QX60's issues are more often electrical and engine-related. In practice, the QX60 may have fewer overall problems, but the Q50's problems can be more severe when they occur.
Key differences
- The QX60 has fewer complaints per year (26.3) than the Q50 (31.8), but both have zero deaths reported.
- Q50 owners report dangerous steering lock-ups and air bag failures, while QX60 complaints center on electrical no-starts and sunroof shattering.
- The Q50 has more crash-related complaints (27) than the QX60 (13), despite fewer injuries (12 vs. 28).
- Both have engine and power train complaints, but the Q50's power loss often occurs while driving, whereas the QX60's electrical issues often occur when parked.
- Check for battery drain and starting problems: ask if the car has ever needed a jump, and test all electrical features including infotainment and warning lights.
- Inspect the panoramic sunroof for cracks or previous replacement, and test the door locks to ensure they don't spontaneously lock with the key inside.
- Test the steering at low speeds for any locking or stiffness, and check for air bag warning lights on the dashboard.
- During a test drive, accelerate firmly to see if the car loses power or hesitates, and listen for transmission jolts when stopping.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full vehicle history report and look for repeated electrical or engine-related repairs.
- Have a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic who specializes in Infiniti/Nissan, focusing on the engine, transmission, and electrical systems.
- Test all safety features: air bags (check for warning lights), steering, brakes, and backup camera.
- For the QX60, specifically test the sunroof operation and check for water leaks; for the Q50, test the steering and acceleration at various speeds.
- Ask the seller for any recall documentation and confirm that all open recalls have been addressed.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Infiniti QX60 | Infiniti Q50 |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 19 | 0 |
| 2023 | 27 | 8 |
| 2022 | 23 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 | 6 |
| 2020 | 24 | 3 |
| 2019 | 38 | 30 |
| 2018 | 38 | 43 |
| 2017 | 68 | 62 |
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 QX60 or Infiniti Q50 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Infiniti QX60 vs Infiniti Q50
- Infiniti QX60 total complaints
- 263
- Infiniti Q50 total complaints
- 318
- Infiniti QX60 total recalls
- 15
- Infiniti Q50 total recalls
- 18
- Infiniti QX60 avg complaints/year
- 26.3
- Infiniti Q50 avg complaints/year
- 31.8
- More reliable overall
- Infiniti QX60
- Infiniti QX60 top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Infiniti Q50 top complaint area
- ENGINE