Infiniti QX50: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Infiniti QX50 problems by model year, from 270 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.
Years to avoid: 2020 (70%, 23 drivetrain complaints), 2021 (69%, 27 drivetrain complaints) and 2019 (68%, 94 drivetrain complaints). 3 of the 3 Infiniti QX50 years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; all of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
No Infiniti QX50 year we score is clear of an elevated signal. The lowest is the 2019 (68%).
By raw volume, the 2019 drew the most drivetrain complaints (94 of 144 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.
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 QX50 year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 QX50 | too few to score | – | 1 | 2 | – | 0 |
| 2015 QX50 | too few to score | – | 2 | 3 | – | 0 |
| 2016 QX50 | too few to score | – | 7 | 19 | – | 0 |
| 2017 QX50 | too few to score | – | 2 | 13 | – | 0 |
| 2019 QX50 | very high | 68% | 94 | 140 | 3/3 | 3 |
| 2020 QX50 | very high | 70% | 23 | 33 | 1/3 | 2 |
| 2021 QX50 | very high | 69% | 27 | 40 | 2/3 | 2 |
| 2022 QX50 | too few to score | – | 5 | 16 | – | 2 |
| 2023 QX50 | too few to score | – | 2 | 4 | – | 1 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Infiniti QX50 years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Infiniti QX50 engine recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the Infiniti QX50 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2025 | 25V437000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical | 2019–2021 |
4 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2018 | 18V593000 | air bags: knee bolster | 2019 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V654000 | back over prevention: sensing system: camera | 2019 |
| Jan 2021 | 21V025000 | tires | 2020 |
| May 2021 | 21V402000 | suspension: rear: axle: spindle | 2021 |
What the free pages leave out on the Infiniti QX50
- 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 QX50
What are the worst years for the Infiniti QX50?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Infiniti QX50 years are the 2020 (70% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2021 (69% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2019 (68% of relevant complaints, very high). 3 of 3 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Infiniti QX50?
No Infiniti QX50 year we score is below the 33% line. The lowest share is the 2019 (68%).
Does the Infiniti QX50 have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 3 scored years, 144 of 213 relevant NHTSA complaints (68%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Is the Infiniti QX50 reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 3 of 3 Infiniti QX50 years we score have an elevated complaint share and 0 do not. Pooled across those years, 68% 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 QX50?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Infiniti QX50 years we track, out of 5 in total: 25V437000 (Jun 2025, 2019–2021). 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.