31 of the
394 complaints filed about the Infiniti QX50
are about the transmission —
8% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2019.
31
Complaints
8%
Share of all complaints
2
Crashes
1
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
My 2019 Infiniti QX50 has the KR20DDET 2.0L VC-Turbo engine involved in NHTSA Recall 25V437/Infiniti Campaign R25B2 for potential engine-bearing failure, but my VIN does not currently show an open recall. The vehicle is at Infiniti Milwaukee, [XXX], [XXX]. During inspection, bronze-colored metallic glitter/debris was found in the engine oil. This may indicate internal bearing wear and appears consistent with the metal debris that Recall 25V437 requires dealers to check for in the lower oil pan. The dealership is refusing to acknowledge or report the bronze-colored debris as possible bearing material. It reported only “engine sludge” to Infiniti and is treating the engine repair as customer-pay. Sludge and bronze-colored metallic particles are visibly different conditions. The vehicle and engine are available for inspection at the dealership. I requested preservation of the oil, filter, oil-pan contents, photographs, video and technician findings. Bearing failure could cause engine damage or loss of power while driving, increasing crash risk. Warning lights before inspection: UNKNOWN. The exact composition of the debris is UNKNOWN pending testing. You see metal debris in oil pan of the video of an engine that failed citing sledge while clearing seeing metal debris in the photo provided by the dealership. I request that NHTSA investigate whether this vehicle was incorrectly excluded from the recall and whether recall-related metallic debris is being misclassified as sludge. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11752709 — 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.
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.
I am the owner of a 2019 Infiniti QX50, VIN [XXX] , and I am filing this complaint due to repeated, severe mechanical failures that have rendered my vehicle unreliable and unsafe. Since purchasing the vehicle, I have experienced catastrophic failures requiring two complete engine replacements, two turbocharger replacements, and one transmission replacement. My vehicle has spent over one year cumulatively at repair shops, leaving me without transportation and in constant fear for my safety. I am unable to drive this vehicle on the highway or for long distances due to the very real risk of sudden engine stall or failure at speed. I am aware that Nissan has issued Recall 25V-437 acknowledging manufacturing defects in the VC-Turbo engine bearings on the 2019–2022 Infiniti QX50, and I believe my vehicle's repeated failures are directly related to this defect. Despite multiple repair attempts by authorized Infiniti dealerships, the underlying issues have not been resolved. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this vehicle and pressure Nissan/Infiniti to provide an appropriate remedy, including a full vehicle repurchase or buyback. My family's safety is at risk every time we are forced to drive this vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11734356 — 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.
Vehicle: 2019 Infiniti QX50 Mileage at engine replacement: 31,830 miles Date of engine replacement: August 2023 (recall-related repair) The engine in my 2019 Infiniti QX50 was replaced under recall at 31,830 miles in August 2023. Approximately 18,633 miles later, the vehicle began experiencing transmission malfunction symptoms consistent with CVT failure. An independent mechanic diagnosed the CVT transmission as needing replacement. I then took the vehicle to an Infiniti dealership, and they confirmed transmission issues but declined warranty coverage because the powertrain warranty expired February 28, 2025. The transmission is directly integrated with the engine in this vehicle. Following the engine replacement, the transmission began exhibiting unsafe operating behavior, including hesitation, loss of acceleration response, and drivability instability. There are widespread consumer complaints and litigation involving this engine and CVT transmission combination in the 2019 Infiniti QX50. Infiniti extended coverage for the engine but has not extended coverage for the transmission despite known reliability concerns. I am now afraid to operate the vehicle due to concern of sudden transmission failure while driving, which could result in loss of power in traffic and create a safety hazard. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this recurring pattern of CVT transmission failure following engine defects in the 2019 Infiniti QX50.
NHTSA complaint #11720215 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am a [XXX] woman who purchased my first vehicle on December 6, 2024, with 43,000 miles. I have driven fewer than 20,000 miles since purchase, and the vehicle currently has approximately 62,000 miles. Until January 19, 2026, I experienced no issues. I have properly maintained the vehicle and followed all recommended service guidelines. I completed three oil changes during my ownership, averaging approximately every 8,500 miles. Two oil changes were performed by a licensed mechanic, and the most recent oil change and inspection were completed on November 29, 2025 at Legend Infiniti. I have receipts for all services. On January 19, 2026, while driving approximately 65 mph on a four-lane highway in Long Island, the vehicle suddenly went into limp mode and dropped to about 10 mph without warning. This created an extremely dangerous situation with a serious risk of collision. I first brought the vehicle to my mechanic, who advised me to take it to an authorized Infiniti dealership due to an engine bearing recall associated with my VIN. I brought it to the same Infiniti dealership that had serviced it two months earlier. After diagnosis, the dealership stated there was engine sludge and that I needed a new engine. They denied any connection to the recall and attributed the issue to poor maintenance. However, two months prior they completed an oil change and inspection with no documentation of sludge, engine concerns, or maintenance deficiencies. I was not informed of any recall at that time. My warranty claim was denied on the basis that sludge is not covered and that maintenance performed outside Infiniti could not be validated, despite providing receipts from licensed facilities. I am also being told there are record-access issues because the vehicle was originally sold in Canada. Given the sudden loss of power at highway speed and the known recall related to engine components, I believe this presents a significant safety concern and warrants investigation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFO
NHTSA complaint #11719065 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A few months ago, I received an email from CarFax letting me know that my vehicle, a 2019 Infiniti QX50 with 2.0L Turbo Engine had a major recall (NHTSA Recall Campaign No. 25V-437). The letter indicated the recall was due to issues with the engine bearings which could lead to a catastrophic failure. I wasn't sure what this meant, so I took the car to Austin INFINITI. The technicians checked the oil pan to see if there were issues. My understanding is that the oil pan should have been removed, drained of all oil to ensure there were no issues that could lead to the catastrophic failure of the engine. None of this was done. I was given my car back and told all was okay. Unfortunately On the evening of November 10, 2025, my vehicle’s engine suddenly seized while driving at highway speeds. Fortunately, I was able to coast onto the Frontage Road. For my protection, the Police Department arrived quickly to park police vehicles in the front and back of my car with their lights on to avoid a nighttime collision or worse. I had no idea why my engine suddenly lost power while driving down the highway and continued to refuse to start despite repeated attempts to restart the vehicle, the engine would not start. I was scared to death and this situation has exacerbated my current diagnosis of PTSD for which I am currently in treatment. This was a horrifying event that could have cost me my life. I can't eat or sleep and experience nightmares that my car died, then I am hit by a car driving at highway speeds as I tried to exit the vehicle. My wife and I are both terrified of driving the car now. I tried to resolve the issue with my local INFINITI dealership and even contacted NISSA/INFINITI executives. I was met with disregard, disrespect and a $1,700 bill to replace the starter that burned out as we kept trying to start the car. The starter burnout was a secondary cause due to the primary issue of the engine seizure. Infiniti disagreed and insisted on the $1,700 for the starter.
NHTSA complaint #11708940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11705324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Infiniti has acknowledged that certain vehicles equipped with this engine may experience bearing failures caused by a manufacturing defect affecting the main, A-, C-, and L-link bearings. These defects can result in engine damage or complete engine failure, as outlined in Infiniti’s recall notice. In September 2025, I took my vehicle to an authorized Infiniti service center after receiving notice of the recall. At that time, I was informed that no repair remedy was yet available. I continued operating the vehicle as advised, and no warning lights or performance issues were present. However, on October 16, 2025, the Service Engine Light illuminated unexpectedly. I immediately brought the vehicle to the nearest certified repair facility the following day (October 17, 2025). Diagnostic testing determined that the engine had suffered internal bearing failure, consistent with the known recall condition. The vehicle required a complete engine replacement, which I had to proceed with at significant personal expense, covering both parts and labor. At no time prior to this incident did my vehicle display any warning indicators or abnormal performance. The sudden nature of the engine failure created a serious safety concern and considerable financial hardship. I am therefore formally requesting reimbursement or assistance with the full cost of the engine replacement and associated labor. I have attached supporting documentation, including repair invoices, diagnostic reports, and proof of payment, for your review. Given that the failure directly relates to the known defect identified in the recall, I believe reimbursement is both appropriate and warranted.
NHTSA complaint #11698665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle's engine light turned on. The engine light remains on, and frequently the Malfunction and System fault See Owners Manual will display. When the malfunction message appears all the traction lights are also turned on. The RPM's in the vehicle are very accelerated, and it's difficult to drive the vehicle. The vehicle will also produce a very heavy smog smell. I took the vehicle into the retailer several times and nothing was done. The manufacturer is also not taking responsibility and stated the issue is unrelated to the engine bearing recall.
NHTSA complaint #11685805 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My qx50 is currently back in the shop. So far I’ve spent about $12,000 on engine and transmission repairs and the NHTSA doesn’t seem to be doing anything about it. Now it needs a new “ignition coil” for another $1,000. I’m just at a loss for words!! I’m attaching the “Review of services” that was conducted earlier this month, when my Infiniti was in the shop and the diagnostic codes that came up when I had to have the vehicle towed there, less than a week later.
NHTSA complaint #11648896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On February 28, 2025, while driving home form work in my 2019 Infiniti QX50, on a 4 lane highway, I slowed to turn across 2 lanes of oncoming traffic to a side county road. I made it across the highway and the vehicle immediately lost all power. I coasted to a stop on the side of the road. I tried to restart the car and it would not start. I called for a tow and had it taken to the nearest repair shop. The vehicle was inspected and I was informed the engine was blown and would need to be replaced. Prior to this happening, there were no sounds, indicators or warnings of any possible issues. I have owned the vehicle since February 2020. It has always been maintained on schedule (records available). In fact, the vehicle was thoroughly inspected by Infiniti in October of 2024, when I had to have the rear lift gate motor replaced. I was told everything looked good, timing belt had no wear, there were no leaks or concerns. The only recommended services at that time were to change the brake fluid and antifreeze. The vehicle is available for any and all requested inspection.
NHTSA complaint #11646423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Turbo, Rear-Coupler, Engine, Actuator Car was squealing and I was told that the serpentine belt needed to be replaced. Replaced this. Car still squealing and took it back. They replaced the belt, again.. Still squealing, now I am told its the tensioner that needs to be replaced but only Infiniti can do this (belt done at Firestone). At Infiniti - they look at the car and the tensioner is fine. But my turbo is blown. How? So, they replace the turbo and then say the rear coupler needs to be replaced. Repairs done and Infiniti said all fluids are good, everything is great. However, I might see slight smoke and a burning smell for 100-150 miles as theres a thin layer of oil on the turbo that will burn off. Oil change isnt due for 5k miles and I checked before my short road trip - all is good. Past the 100-150 miles and the car is SMOKING and SMELLS OF BURNING... Call infiniti, this is normal it will go away. Check fluids again, as no lights on the dashboard and oil is fine. Come back to get my car, check the ground as I always do and no oil/fluid and proceed home. 10 mins from my house the car WREAKS of burning smell, will not accelerate, no dashboard lights. So, I sit there and let it cool down - check again everything looks good. Try again, car will not go. Fluids look fine - oil, no spikes in temp, and no lights. Next day, no fluids under the car. Car accelerates but lunges me then stops going. Car smells bad, smoke.. go to check the fluids and NO OIL in the car out of no where. Infiniti tows it and it sounded like it was going to blow up. Also, a tink tink tink sound started out of no where. This is dangerous as the vehicle could had started on fire. I still dont know what is going on as Inf. has the car right now. This is a major safety hazard as I found a LOT of reports on this happening to others with this specific model and year. I had NO issues like this until Inf replaced the turbo.. NONE!
NHTSA complaint #11628585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Without any warning or indicator light on the dash, the vehicle lost power when pulling out of our driveway - we live on a main road and were very lucky not to be hit by upcoming traffic. The car went into limp mode and would not accelerate past 20mph. We have been fighting with Infiniti for the last three weeks as no one can find the problem and they finally said a new engine was needed. There is on 35,000 miles on this car and we had to fight to have this replacement covered under warranty. Now that parts are back ordered and we are not receiving any help. We are three weeks without a vehicle and have no loaner vehicle. No one at Infiniti can give a timeframe for the resolution of this issue, what caused this issue and we are now very fearful that this will happen again - even with an engine replacement. This was very scary for our family and we are amazed that there was no indicator light or warning. The car didn't make any noises and was running great and then all of a sudden it would not go. Very alarming to say the least!
NHTSA complaint #11621911 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11616162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
so after my initial report about my engine catching fire on the highway, I received an invoice for $5,000 for a used engine with 80k miles on it; plus another $2800 for the service fee. I already put down about $3900 for the engine repair. The mechanic sent me pictures of the engine with the holes on it that caused the damage (or the holes might have happened during the fire). I’m attaching photos sent to me, from my mechanic, showing the holes/damage on the engine, for your consideration and a photo of the initial repair bill (including receipt of my deposit) for your review … also, I still need to pay another $4300 to pick it up, but he said my check engine light is still on due to a transmission, that may be related to the valve body failing. What are these qx50s still being sold?? On the car forums and YouTube, there are so many issues with the engines and the transmissions (including the 450k that are currently under investigation). And their consumer affairs dept is extremely hostile about the situation, when you call into the infiniti office/headquarters. These defective engines/ transmissions need to be recalled, as soon as possible. They’re extremely dangerous and Infiniti is not taking responsibility for the problem. Why is the govt not intervening on behalf of the infiniti owners??
NHTSA complaint #11594280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Infiniti QX50. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that following the warning light illumination the vehicle hesitated to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to the mechanic and diagnosed as a speed sensor module located inside the transmission. The contact was advised the module being in the transmission caused the transmission to overheat requiring valve body replacement. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #11590184 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.