2020 Infiniti QX50 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
70%
23 of 33 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
70% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2020 Infiniti QX50 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 91% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 23 of 33 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Infiniti QX50 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (70%), and the largest group is filed under engine (18). For comparison, the 2019 scores 68% and the 2021 scores 69%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. 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.
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
ENGINE09/29/2026
We received the federal recall information and took the vehicle to the nearest Infiniti dealer (96 miles away) on 9/2/26. Diagnostics were performed and were told that the car "passed" the inspection. Two days later, the engine demonstrated complete failure. We had to have the vehicle towed to a Nissan dealer in our…
ENGINE09/02/2026
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 t…
ENGINE09/02/2026
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 …
Three of 23 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on the 2020 Infiniti QX50 (2)
TIRES
Nissan North America, Inc. (INFINITI) is recalling certain 2020 INFINITI QX50 vehicles. The text of the Tire and Loading Information placard, including the tire size and…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylin…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2020 Infiniti QX50
Ask the seller whether the engine has ever been repaired or replaced, and whether the car has shown stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light.
Drive it from a cold start and long enough to warm up. Many engine faults hide once the car is warm.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose, and tell them to focus on the engine.
2 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Questions people ask about the 2020 Infiniti QX50
Does the 2020 Infiniti QX50 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 23 of 33 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Infiniti QX50 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (70%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Infiniti QX50?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2020 Infiniti QX50. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Infiniti QX50 years are better?
Among the Infiniti QX50 years we track, the 2019 (68%) and the 2021 (69%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (70%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2020 Infiniti QX50?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2020 Infiniti QX50 has an elevated engine complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing engine work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
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.