Infiniti Q50: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Infiniti Q50 problems by model year, from 487 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2018 (62%, 21 drivetrain complaints), 2019 (52%, 14 drivetrain complaints) and 2017 (46%, 24 drivetrain complaints). 5 of the 6 Infiniti Q50 years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 1 of them is at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2014 (19%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2014 (19%) to 2015 (44%), up 25 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2015 drew the most drivetrain complaints (46 of 148 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
2021, 2022 and 2023 have fewer than 25 complaints on record so far, too few to score. Newer cars have had less time to collect complaints.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Infiniti Q50 year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 Q50 | no elevated signal | 19% | 28 | 169 | 6/6 | 5 |
| 2015 Q50 | high | 44% | 46 | 126 | 5/6 | 3 |
| 2016 Q50 | high | 45% | 15 | 39 | 4/6 | 4 |
| 2017 Q50 | high | 46% | 24 | 62 | 3/6 | 4 |
| 2018 Q50 | very high | 62% | 21 | 43 | 1/6 | 3 |
| 2019 Q50 | high | 52% | 14 | 30 | 2/6 | 1 |
| 2020 Q50 | too few to score | – | 2 | 3 | – | 0 |
| 2021 Q50 | too few to score | – | 2 | 6 | – | 3 |
| 2022 Q50 | too few to score | – | 0 | 1 | – | 0 |
| 2023 Q50 | too few to score | – | 1 | 8 | – | 0 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Infiniti Q50 years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Infiniti Q50 powertrain recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the Infiniti Q50 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 8 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2017 | 17V476000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2016–2018 |
| Jun 2024 | 24V470000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2014–2018 |
6 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2013 | 13V588000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2014 |
| Mar 2014 | 14V138000 | electrical system: software | 2014 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V244000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification | 2014–2017 |
| Jun 2016 | 16V430000 | steering: automated/adaptive steering | 2014–2016 |
| Sep 2017 | 17V571000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2017 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V654000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2018–2019 |
What the free pages leave out on the Infiniti Q50
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Infiniti Q50
What are the worst years for the Infiniti Q50?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Infiniti Q50 years are the 2018 (62% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2019 (52% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2017 (46% of relevant complaints, high). 5 of 6 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Infiniti Q50?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Infiniti Q50 years are the 2014 (19%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Infiniti Q50 have transmission problems?
In some years. Across the 6 scored years, 148 of 420 relevant NHTSA complaints (35%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is power train. The years with an elevated share are 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Is the Infiniti Q50 reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 5 of 6 Infiniti Q50 years we score have an elevated complaint share and 1 do not. Pooled across those years, 35% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Infiniti Q50?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Infiniti Q50 years we track, out of 8 in total: 17V476000 (Jul 2017, 2016–2018), 24V470000 (Jun 2024, 2014–2018). Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.