143 of the
401 complaints filed about the Infiniti QX50
are about the engine —
100% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2019.
#11753348 - on 7/1/2026, Infiniti Dealer found metal shavings actively present in my oil pan during a recall inspection. They passed the vehicle as good condition stating nothing found per a vehicle inspection report given to me. On July 25, 2026, my engine red light came on while driving and my engine began to shake violently and making a loud clunking noise. I towed the vehicle back to the dealer for another recall inspection. On 8/30/2026, the dealer informed me that the engine was failing due to the recall and needing bearing replacement but due to it passing back in July I would be responsible for replacing the bearings. They invoiced me for excess of $15,000, the diagnostic inspection of $270 and demanded that I return the loaner vehicle. When I returned the loaner vehicle on 9/3/2026, they attempted to sell me a new/pre-owned vehicle instead of providing me a written denial refusal notice of not honoring the vehicle recall. On 9/5/2026 Infiniti Consumer Affairs representative verbally confirmed that they were informed by the dealer that there were metal shavings present in my oil pan but denied the repair because there were not "chunks" or "clusters" of metal present. The manufacturer verbally claimed that the metal debris did not meet an internal, undocumented threshold of "chunks" or "clusters," and explicitly stated that Infiniti considered my vehicle's mileage and vehicle age and sludge present on the latter inspection that was not present on July 1 nor reported in making this denial decision. The representative also referenced a photograph sent to them at the end of August as justification for the denial. This photograph was not taken nor sent to them during the actual July 1st inspection. The dealer had already informed me that they did not send the manufacturer a photograph on July 1. The manufacturer refused to provide me written notice refusing to honor the recall and said to get it from the dealer.
NHTSA complaint #11762635 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Engine lost all power and car seemed to be locked in low gear while attempting to drive down the road. Took the car to Infiniti dealership which said there was a recall and they inspected the vehicle. Mechanic inspected the vehicle and said it fit all requirements to be replaced by engine recall. Infiniti is refusing to replace engine stating it does not meet recall requirements.
NHTSA complaint #11761492 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2020 Infiniti QX50. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the RPM became elevated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where an unknown recall repair was performed. The contact stated that the engine was replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the contact was informed that the failure was associated with the computer system which was not recalibrated after the engine replacement. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated and the message “Critical Warning - CVT Hot - Power Reduced” was displayed. In addition, the RPM became elevated, and there was an abnormal odor inside the vehicle. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The case was submitted by phone with the customer relations department. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
NHTSA complaint #11761616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
To Whom It May Concern, I am writing to formally request immediate assistance regarding a serious failure in my INFINITI vehicle. The vehicle’s compressor stopped working with fewer than 60,000 miles driven, which is unacceptable for a new vehicle and raises significant concerns about manufacturing quality and safety. This failure is especially troubling because the vehicle has already been subject to multiple serious engine-related recalls number NHTSA Recall 25V-437. The air conditioning stopped working properly after the car was serviced for this recall. The combination of repeated critical issues and now a major component failure at under 60K miles suggests a pattern of defects that should not exist in a vehicle of this class or price point. I am requesting the following: A full diagnostic review at no cost, Taverna Infinity is trying to charge me $300.00 for a simple diagnosis. Written confirmation of whether this failure is related to existing or pending recalls A clear explanation of how INFINITI intends to ensure the long‑term reliability and safety of this vehicle Consideration for replacement or buyback if the vehicle continues to demonstrate systemic defects I expect a prompt response, as this situation has already caused significant inconvenience and raises legitimate concerns about the vehicle’s safety and reliability. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your timely reply. Sincerely,
NHTSA complaint #11761010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2021 Infiniti QX50 has suffered a catastrophic internal engine failure. This vehicle is explicitly covered under active federal safety recall NHTSA Campaign 25V437000 (Infiniti Campaign R25A8/A9 / R25B1/B2) for defective, failing main and link bearings. The Infiniti dealership is actively refusing to honor the mandated federal recall remedy. The service department is attempting to illegally bypass the safety recall mandate by blaming the presence of engine sludge and claiming they do not visually see metal shavings. They are demanding that I pay out-of-pocket for a consumer-pay engine replacement. Under federal law, a manufacturer cannot deny a safety recall remedy based on vehicle maintenance history or engine sludge. Furthermore, the massive friction and overheating caused by the defective, failing recalled factory bearings directly causes and accelerates oil breakdown and sludge. The dealership is using the presence of sludge to mask a federal safety defect.
NHTSA complaint #11761058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle has metallic noises in the engine and drastic loss of power, compromising safety on the road. The problem in the VCR actuator was verified by Infiniti Taverna ([XXX]) and denied the repair by the extended warranty by them of up to 120k miles (currently my car is at 98k). There is an injection light on the dashboard. It was reported to Infiniti USA and they also denied the repair. The vehicle is my only means of transport to serve my [XXX] son. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11757747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Infiniti QX50. The contact stated that the vehicle was running rough while driving. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where an unknown recall inspection was performed, and the contact was informed that there was no debris found inside the oil pan. However, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle made abnormally loud sounds while driving. The vehicle was taken to two different independent mechanics, where it was diagnosed and determined that four engine mounts had detached and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
NHTSA complaint #11756723 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Infiniti QX50. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle was shaking erratically. In addition, the oil light and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. In addition, the vehicle was inspected on 07/01/2026 by the dealer under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V437000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact was informed that the vehicle had passed the inspection. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the mileage on the vehicle was over the mileage limitation. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
NHTSA complaint #11753348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On June 16, 2026, a 2021 Infiniti QX50 experienced a safety-related malfunction while being driven at approximately 15–20 mph. The vehicle suddenly jerked, lost power response, displayed multiple warning lights, showed a “System Fault – See Owner’s Manual” message, and became unresponsive/difficult to control. The engine remained on, but the vehicle did not respond properly. The vehicle struck a fixed object/rock. A police report was filed/requested, and medical evaluation was sought afterward. The suspected failed or malfunctioning systems are the engine/powertrain response, electrical system, and related control systems. The vehicle should be available for inspection upon request and should be preserved before any diagnostic codes, freeze-frame data, event data, modules, or electronic records are cleared, reset, repaired, overwritten, or destroyed. Before this incident, repeated drivability and safety-related concerns were reported to Infiniti/dealer service departments, including vibration during acceleration, abnormal gas pedal vibration, lack of acceleration, poor power response, jerking/jolting, rough ride, abnormal noises, front-end noise, and safety/reliability concerns. Some concerns were documented in service records. Prior repairs included front passenger-side wheel bearing replacement and cooling fan/IPDM-related warranty work, but the drivability/power-response concerns continued. UNKNOWN whether the manufacturer completed a full post-incident inspection. The vehicle has been reviewed by police and insurance-related parties to the extent related to the collision. This complaint is being filed because the condition appears to involve a safety defect causing loss of power response and system fault warnings while driving. I am currently waiting on the police report, the report number has been provided.
NHTSA complaint #11747250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 Infiniti QX50. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from under the hood. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and metal shavings were found in the oil pan. Upon further investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V437000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the repair was denied due to the criteria not being met, a lack of maintenance records, and sludge in the oil pan. The vehicle was previously taken to a local independent mechanic to be diagnosed and there was no sludge in the oil pan from a previous maintenance service. The contact was adamant that the VIN was previously associated with the recall, but was removed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 122,000.
NHTSA complaint #11746230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
There is an active and unremedied safety recall on my 2021 Infiniti QX50 (NHTSA Recall #25V-437) for a critical engine defect that can result in complete engine failure and risk of fire. The recall was issued on June 26, 2025. I am an active-duty military member stationed in Germany. I shipped my vehicle in January 2026, before a remedy was available. My vehicle is now exhibiting all the early warning signs mentioned in the recall notice, including unusual engine noises, rough performance, and illuminated warning lights. I first contacted Infiniti for assistance on March 19, 2026. As of today's date, after more than three months of communication with their representative (case #[XXX]), Infiniti has failed to provide a remedy or a timeline for the repair. They have been unable to coordinate with a local dealer in Germany, leaving me to drive a vehicle with a known, dangerous safety defect. The manufacturer is failing to provide a remedy in a timely manner as required. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11745834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2019 Infiniti QX50 with engine bearing failure defect matching NHTSA Recall #25V-437. Vehicle was sold to me on 12/24/2025 by a dealer, MORE THAN FIVE MONTHS after the recall was issued on 07/14/2025. The dealer NEVER disclosed the active, unrepaired safety recall. Two months after purchase, the engine developed loss of power and unusual noises - exact symptoms described in the recall. An independent mechanic diagnosed a pre-existing camshaft bearing defect. Despite component replacement, symptoms persist, confirming the defect was present at time of sale. This is a serious safety violation. The dealer knew or should have known about the recall via CARFAX and failed to disclose it, violating federal law 49 U.S.C. § 30120. The vehicle is unsafe to drive with an unrepaired engine bearing failure. Safety Risk: Engine bearing degradation can lead to complete engine failure while driving, resulting in loss of motive power and crash risk. Requested Action: Federal investigation into dealer's failure to disclose active safety recalls.
NHTSA complaint #11745805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The issue on the 2019 Infiniti QX50 it's not the motor that they had the recall on it's the VCR actuator it goes bad causes the bracket that's connected to rub against the side of the engine block causes it to have metal shavings and the car to go in limp mode and can cause an accident it's a common issue just put one in and already bad not even a year The original one made it to $47,000 mi before going bad
NHTSA complaint #11745300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 INFINITI QX50. The contact stated while operating the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, she stated she heard a loud sound coming from the motor, she pulled over and attempt to restarted the vehicle but it would not turn on. The vehicle was towed where it was diagnosed that the vehicle engine oil had metal shavings in the oil, the vehicle was brought in for regular maintenance and a recall repair. The vehicle engine was replaced under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V437000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) however, after the repair, the issue had reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,193.
NHTSA complaint #11735660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Infiniti QX50. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V437000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine failure due to metal shavings found in the oil pan. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was denied an engine replacement. The dealer informed the contact that the claim was denied due to the vehicle exceeding the warranty mileage and a lack of proper maintenance. The contact provided maintenance records; however, the claim was still denied. The dealer stated that the failure was related to insufficient maintenance and not the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
NHTSA complaint #11734404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Recall on my 2019 infiniti qx50. I am a 100% service connected from the vietnam war I can no longer drive and because this is a critical safety recall I sent a email to infiniti asking for help in getting the vehicle towed repaired and returned to my home address it is 100+ miles one way. Again, I am a 100% service connected war veteran. The car was being used to carry me to appointments most of which is the VA. medical center. I am on disability income and i can not afford to have it towed so the vehicle is garaged at my home because I don't want anyone driving get hurt.
NHTSA complaint #11730280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The car had a power failure so I took it to the dealer to have it checked since it had an open recall, according to what the mechanic tells me is that the fault comes from the mild tree, but he does not tell me what causes that failure and he has not given me the results of the recall either
NHTSA complaint #11729566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2019 Infiniti QX50 experiencing engine failure consistent with known bearing defects. On February 13, 2026, while driving from [XXX] to [XXX] on the highway, my vehicle began shaking severely, producing a rattling/knocking noise from the engine, and losing power while in motion. This created a dangerous driving condition and required the vehicle to be towed. The vehicle was taken to a repair shop in [XXX] , where it was diagnosed with engine bearing failure. The shop indicated that this issue was consistent with a known defect and that there was an active recall related to engine bearings at that time. Based on that information, the vehicle was towed to Bob Moore Infiniti in [XXX] for recall inspection and repair. Initially, the dealership indicated that there was an issue and that it was associated with a recall. However, they later reversed their position and stated that the vehicle was “fine” and did not perform any recall repair, despite the ongoing symptoms and prior diagnosis. The vehicle continues to exhibit the same dangerous symptoms, including shaking, engine knocking, and loss of power, and remains diagnosed by another repair facility as having engine bearing failure. This is a serious safety concern because the vehicle can lose power unexpectedly while driving at highway speeds. Additionally, there appears to be inconsistency in how this known defect is being handled, as my vehicle was initially identified as affected but later denied repair. I am requesting further investigation into engine bearing failures in the Infiniti QX50, as well as inconsistent recall application for this defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11728318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.