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2015 Infiniti Q50 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
44%
46 of 105 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

44% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2015 Infiniti Q50 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 54% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 21 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 37%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2015 Infiniti Q50 have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 46 of 105 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Infiniti Q50 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (44%), and the largest group is filed under power train (39). For comparison, the 2014 scores 19% and the 2016 scores 45%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
46
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
126
this model year
Fires reported
2
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
3
16 crashes · 10 injuries

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN39 · 31%
STEERING28 · 22%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL21 · 17%
AIR BAGS19 · 15%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER18 · 14%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM17 · 13%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
no data
2014
19%
28 of 169
2015
44%
46 of 126
2016
45%
15 of 39
2017
46%
24 of 62
2018
62%
21 of 43
2019
52%
14 of 30
2020
too few complaints
2021
too few complaints
2022
too few complaints
2023
too few complaints

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other luxury sedans with no elevated signal in 2015

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER08/12/2026
While operating the vehicle, the transmission suffered an abrupt failure resulting in Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0720 (Output Speed Sensor Circuit). Further diagnostic inspection revealed a complete internal failure of the integrated valve body assembly, which houses the Transmission Control Module (TCM), solenoid…
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL07/15/2026
While driving my 2015 Infiniti Q50s, the transmission suddenly suffered a catastrophic electronic failure, causing the vehicle to immediately drop into "limp mode." This resulted in a sudden and dangerous loss of acceleration while operating in traffic. A diagnostic scan revealed trouble codes P0500 and P0720 (Output …
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE05/14/2026
The valve body on these cars are useless. Driving down a highway and cant shift out of 3rd gear almost had a car re-end me. Today I am driving and the ECU is not responding I see the check engine light on then I'm like not again. This would be the 3rd valve body I replaced. First I replaced the whole transmission thin…

Three of 46 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2015 Infiniti Q50 (3)

STEERING:AUTOMATED/ADAPTIVE STEERING
Nissan North America, Inc.'s (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Infiniti Q50 vehicles manufactured December 26, 2012, to December 11, 2015, and Infiniti Q…
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissa…
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Nissan North America, Inc. (INFINITI) is recalling certain 2011-2013 M56, 2012-2013 M35 Hybrid, 2014-2018 Q50, Q70 Hybrid, 2014-2019 Q70, and 2015-2019 Q70L two-wheel dri…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2015 Infiniti Q50

Questions people ask about the 2015 Infiniti Q50

Does the 2015 Infiniti Q50 have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 46 of 105 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2015 Infiniti Q50 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (44%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2015 Infiniti Q50?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2015 Infiniti Q50. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Infiniti Q50 years are better?

Among the Infiniti Q50 years we track, the 2014 (19%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2015 (44%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2015 Infiniti Q50?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2015 Infiniti Q50 has an elevated transmission complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing transmission work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.