Infiniti QX50 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls β NHTSA data
Comparing used Infiniti QX50 options? We analyzed 10 model years (2015β2025) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Found a Infiniti QX50? Check that exact car.
Model-year trends show patterns β they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Infiniti QX50 has 266 owner complaints and 11 safety recalls across model years 2015β2025. The most reported issue area is ENGINE. 2019 drew the most complaints; 2023 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Infiniti
- Model
- QX50
- Model years analyzed
- 2015β2025 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 266
- Safety recall campaigns
- 11
- Crash-related complaints
- 10
- Fire-related complaints
- 6
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2019 (137 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2023 (4 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Poor
By model year
Infiniti QX50: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used β lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record β lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
PoorThe INFINITI QX50 has 266 NHTSA complaints and 11 recalls on record. 10 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 266 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 11 federal recall campaigns
- 10 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
11 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LOCK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
TIRES
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2015β2025. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 266 NHTSA complaints β these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
266 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
Vehicle purchased from dealer 3/5/25 (brand new). Noticed struggle to start/shaking vehicle/weak power, within first week. Malfunction indicator light came on 4/15/25, brought into dealership for testing. Data showed fail/pass misfires upwards of 30 times. Diagnosed as fuel injector pump misfire. Part was replaced and picked up the vehicle 5/8/25. Vehicle misfired again on 5/9/25. Brought into dealership for further testing; service advisor stated that the misfire was "likely due to air in the new pump." Noticeable misfire again on 5/27/25, no malfunction indicator light came on, notified service advisor. 5/30/25 vehicle misfired significantly, malfunction indicator light came on again, brought in for service. 6/11/25 service advisor stated they are doing a "pin fit repair" to refit all the connector pins for the ignition coils. I don't feel safe in this car. It's brand new, and should perform as such. When it misfires, I can barely drive past 30mph. It shakes violently, and I don't know whether it is safe to be driving it. Dealership doesn't seem to understand what the actual problem is.
Component/system that failed: Panoramic sunroof glass on a 2023 Infiniti QX50. Date of Incident: July 21, 2025 at approximately 8am. Incident description: While my daughter was driving on the interstate at normal speed, the panoramic sunroof suddenly and spontaneously shattered. There was no impact, no visible object, and no warning. The explosion of glass was loud and violent. Safety risk: Thankfully, the sunroof shade was closed at the time of the incident. Had it been open, glass would have rained down inside the cabin, potentially causing serious or even fatal injuries. This was a terrifying failure with high risk to life and safety, particularly at highway speeds. Immediately after the incident I called Infiniti of Memphis where we purchased the vehicle brand new, and it is currently under warranty. I was notified that since there isnβt a current recall anything glass related is not included under warranty and I would need to file a claim under my insurance. We were forced to file a claim through our insurance provider to repair the damage β despite no fault on our part. Warning signs or prior symptoms: There were no warning lights, no abnormal sounds, and no signs of weakness or cracking. The glass failed without warning. Cause: UNKNOWN β but based on public reports, thousands of similar incidents have occurred in other Infiniti and Nissan models. This appears to be part of a known manufacturer defect currently involved in active class-action litigation (Johnson v. Nissan North America) regarding spontaneous sunroof explosions.
Vehicle is prone to stalling while on the road extremely dangerous starting issues after long trips
The contact owns a 2023 Infiniti QX50. The contact stated while driving 28-29 MPH at nighttime, she noticed an animal in the roadway and decelerated. The contact stated that while the vehicle was approximately 2 ft. away from the animal, the vehicle made a loud sound, and the hood popped up and partially covered the windshield. The contact veered to the side of the road. The contact stated that she sat on a pillow in the front driver's seat, and she was able to drive to her residence at low speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer the following morning. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was designed with the Pop-Up Engine Hood For Pedestrian Protection feature, in which the pedestrian safety sensor in the bumper, signaled the hood to pop up while the vehicle was near the animal on the road. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle operated as designed and charged a repair fee for the hood pistons replacement. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and sent a field technician, who diagnosed the vehicle and informed the contact that the vehicle operated as designed. However, the contact stated that based on the Owner's Manual, the feature was designed to pop up the hood in the event of a frontal collision with a pedestrian. The contact stated that the vehicle had not collided with the animal. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 5,200.
The contact owns a 2023 Infiniti QX50. The contact stated that upon pressing the start button and starting the vehicle, the vehicle sputtered. While driving attempting to drive, the vehicle failed to move. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. While driving, the vehicle failed to accelerate properly. There was an abnormally loud grinding sound detected. The contact stated that the vehicle was stuck in first gear. The vehicle was towed back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted by the contactβs attorney. The failure mileage was approximately 62,018.
Vehicle screens repeatedly rebooting over a 2 month period. Auto high beams stopped working. Chassis control error on dash occurred. Smoke smell in cabin occurred after dealer returned the vehicle from a repair attempt. Vehicle had to be towed back up . Dealer reporting they can not recreate errors and want to return it. Itβs a safety hazard . Has been at the mechanics for over 20 business days. Dealer being unprofessional and swearing at the customer. Vehicle reported crash detection to emergency services in its own when sitting in a fast food drive through.
Read 14 more owner reports
Engine bearing failures, sudden loss of power, stalling, or complete engine failure β creating crash risks.
I was driving from [XXX] to [XXX] on Saturday, March 28th. I started smelling a strong, chemical odor and my eyes started burning and watering, so I pulled off of the highway and found that my back passenger side seat heater had started burning. There was a pillow and a down jacket on the seat that also burned. It really scared me because I was in the middle of nowhere and only had a cup with ice, but luckily there was a mud puddle that I was able to get some water from and pour on the back seat. My granddaughter was riding in that seat in her booster seat the night before. I am thankful she or no one else was in the seat when it burned. There were no warning lights or messages appear - I just smelled the burning. I had to continue to drive the car with the windows down to my son's home in West Virginia, and on Monday, March 30th, we took the car and dropped it off at the nearest Infiniti dealership (Cochran Infiniti in Monroeville, PA). We spoke with the service manager and many employees came to inspect and they all said they had never seen anything like this before. They confirmed there had been no recalls on the vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The system falsely beeps and displays collision alerts even when no vehicles or objects are present. The system has also initiated braking on the highway with no obstacle present, which is a major safety concern for me and for other drivers. Conversely, when an actual vehicle approached too closely, the system failed to alert or respond at all.
The contact owns a 2015 Infiniti QX50. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, who confirmed the diagnosis. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 46,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 INFINITI QX50. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AUTO DIMMING FEATURE WAS FRACTURED CAUSING IT TO BE VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AUTO DIMMING SWITCH NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE CAR STARTED NORMALLY AND AFTER DRIVING ABOUT A QUARTER OF A MILE I WAS SUDDENLY COASTING WITHOUT POWER. THE ENGINE JUST QUIT. WITHOUT POWER STEERING AND BRAKES I WAS STILL ABLE TO GUIDE IT TO THE CURB AND COME TO A SAFE STOP. WHAT I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR IT ACTED AS IF THE BATTERY DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO TURN OVER THE ENGINE, ALTHOUGH LIGHTS, HORN AND RADIO STILL WORKED FINE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND AFTER WEEK OF UNSUCCESSFUL TROUBLESHOOTING THE INFINITI REPS GOT INVOLVED. WHEN THE OIL PAN WAS REMOVED THEY FOUND NUMEROUS PIECES OF METAL OF VARYING SIZES AS IF SOMETHING IN THE ENGINE HAD DISINTEGRATED. IF THEY KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT THEY HAVEN;T TOLD ME, AND I SINCE I HAD LEASED IT JUST TWO WEEKS PRIOR I'VE ASKED FOR A NEW VEHICLE RATHER THAN TO HAVE THE ENGINE IN THIS ONE REPLACED. AS OF TODAY, NEARLY 2 WEEKS AFTER THE INCIDENT, I AM STILL AWAITING A DECISION. LUCKILY I WAS ON A SIDE STREET WHEN THIS OCCURRED. HAD IT HAPPENED MINUTES LATER I WOULD HAVE BEEN ON A HIGH SPEED MULTI-LANE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. *TR
The contact owns a 2022 Infiniti QX50. The contact stated that upon parking and exiting the vehicle the horn proceeded to go off for 45 minutes until complete failure, and no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed and the contact was advised that the circuits and fuses for horn operation were faulty and would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 51,946.
While the vehicle was being operated under normal driving conditions, the hood unexpectedly disengaged and flew upward from the windshield side of the vehicle. This sudden and dangerous event substantially obstructed the driver's visibility and created an immediate risk of catastrophic injury, death, and property damage. Fortunately, no collision occurred; however, the potential consequences of such a failure are self-evident.
The contact owns a 2022 Infiniti QX50. The contact stated that upon parking and exiting the vehicle the horn proceeded to go off for 45 minutes until complete failure, and no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where it was diagnosed and the contact was advised that the circuits and fuses for horn operation were faulty and would need to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 51,946.
The contact owns a 2022 Infiniti QX50. The contact stated that while driving at unknown speeds, the Four-Wheel Drive (4WD) and Forward Collision Avoidance system engaged, and the vehicle automatically braked. The contact stated that the vehicle corrected itself after an extended period of time, and the instrument cluster froze. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who was unable to correct the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.
The contact owns a 2022 Infiniti QX50. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V437000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the vehicle was sluggish while driving and made an abnormal sound while accelerating. The local dealer was contacted, but declined to inspect the vehicle because the recall repair part was not yet available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.
In reference to the recall R2582 and NHTSA recall 25V-437. I had made an appointment for an engine inspection for my 2022 Infiniti QX50 for August 15, 2025. I delivered my vehicle to the dealership at 7:00 am and was called by the dealership at 8:13 am and was told that they were told by Infiniti not to inspect my vehicle. They asked me to come and get it. They noted on the invoice that the recall was suspended by Infiniti on August 7,2025. No work was performed. The public notice of the suspension was for August 18, 2025.
Multiple electronic and sensor issues with the display screens and infotainment center. Time/time zone change from 12-hour format to military time off and on sometimes multiple times a day. Dash board routinely goes black and not displaying any information. HUD proximity alerts continually go off/flashing when no vehicles are around, tagging the same areas on a specific street that was empty. The sensor system engages the braking system after a faulty proximity alert or a vehicle is outside the normal range. Navigation system map blacking out Inability to disconnect Bluetooth calls using the steering wheel end button and the end button on the screen. The infotainment screen would not respond to menu button for the audio and climate control nor could you access it through the touchscreen menu. The radio would stop working randomly. I had to go to the dealership to get this corrected it would not restart on its own even if it was left overnight. The audio button also would not work. The car would not recognize the profile connected to the key fob routinely. After service, the car took over 8 minutes to lead the infotainment system. The blind spot warning would not function properly continuously. The car was taken into the dealership multiple times, it was assessed by "engineers" 3 times, and it had a total of 3 infotainment systems in this vehicle with 2 replacements since leasing the vehicle. These issues continue to remain and there seems to be nothing that Infiniti can or will do to fix these issues permanently.
See attached document for complaint
Showing 20 of 266 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Infiniti QX50
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations β hereβs what each number actually tells you about a used Infiniti QX50, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Infiniti QX50 has 266 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Infiniti QX50 has 11 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 10 of the Infiniti QX50's 266 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Infiniti QX50 vehicles on the road β not any specific car. Two Infiniti QX50 vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Infiniti QX50 has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Infiniti QX50 reliability β frequently asked questions
Is the Infiniti QX50 reliable?
Poor. The Infiniti QX50 has 266 NHTSA owner complaints and 11 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Infiniti QX50 years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2019 (137 complaints), 2021 (39 complaints), 2020 (30 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Infiniti QX50 problems?
Top reported issues: ENGINE (95 complaints); ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (43 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (40 complaints).
Does the Infiniti QX50 have recalls?
Yes β 11 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Infiniti QX50. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.