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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).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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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%), 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.

Drivetrain complaints
23
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
33
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
2
0 crashes · 0 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE18 · 55%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE7 · 21%
POWER TRAIN4 · 12%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4 · 12%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4 · 12%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3 · 9%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
no data
2014
too few complaints
2015
too few complaints
2016
too few complaints
2017
too few complaints
2018
no data
2019
68%
94 of 140
2020
70%
23 of 33
2021
69%
27 of 40
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

Other luxury SUVs with no elevated signal in 2020

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

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.

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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.