2005 Infiniti QX56 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
80 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
92,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 71 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 22 of 80 complaints (27.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 38 | 47.5% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 17.5% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 16.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 8.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 6.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 2.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 22 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 12 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 11 |
| Electrical System | 7 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 |
Service Brakes: 22; Fuel/Propulsion System: 12; Fuel System, Gasoline: 11; Electrical System: 7; Air Bags: 5; Exterior Lighting: 5; Power Train: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 12 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 16
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 7 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2014 | 13 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 7 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2010: 7; 2011: 6; 2012: 7; 2013: 7; 2014: 13; 2015: 5; 2016: 7; 2017: 7; 2018: 3; 2019: 5; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 38 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 14 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10116342 · 2005-04-04 (April 4, 2005)
INADEQUATE BRAKES ON 2005 QX56. MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM IN 2004 BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL TO DATE OR SENT LETTERS TO CUSTOMERS ABOUT THE ISSUE. BRAKES OVERHEAT AND PREMATURELY WEAR OUT AT 2000 TO 2500 MILES CAUSING A VIOLENT SHAKING OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND CONTROL ISSUES. INFINITI IS REPLACING BRAKES HOWEVER 2 TO 3 MONTHS PREDICITED WAIT FOR A REAL FIX. SERVICE ADVISORS ARE RELUCTANT BUT HAVE ADMITTED THE BRAKE DESIGN IS INADEQUATE FOR THIS VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS OVER 6,000 LBS AND HAS A TOWING CAPCITY OF 9000 LBS. ACCOR…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10116342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10124039 · 2005-06-02 (June 2, 2005)
THE CAR STEERING WHEEL AND CAR SHAKE VIOLENTLY EVERY 2 TO 3 THOUSAND MILES, AT WHICH TIME THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT THE INFINITI DEALERSHIP REPLACES THE BRAKES AND RESURFACES/REPLACES THE ROTORS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO US AND THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THIS VEHICLE INCREASES TWO FOLD BECAUSE OF THE SHAKING. AFTER READING POSTS BY OTHER OWNERS, I REALIZE THE PROBLEM WAS KNOWN AS EARLY AS DECEMBER 2004 WHEN WE PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124039 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10352256 · 2010-08-27 (August 27, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 INFINITI QX56. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED ON FREEWAY. HE STATED THE GAS GAUGE READ MORE THAN A QUARTER TANK. HE COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. HE ADDED 1 GALLON OF GAS AND THE VEHICLE STARTED OK. THE FAILURE HAPPEN AGAIN AND HE AGAIN RAN OUT OF GAS. HE STATED ON THE WAY TO THE DEALER THE VEHICLE STALLED AND HE HAD TO GET THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. HE WAS ADVISED THAT THE FUEL PUMP RELAY SYSTEM FAILED AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HE REFERENCED RECAL…
Owner-reported narrative. 53,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10352256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10383828 · 2011-02-24 (February 24, 2011)
2005 INFINITI QX56. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE STALLING *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SLOWED DOWN TO 5 MPH THEN TO A FULL STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. AFTER AN INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE THROTTLE BODY MOTOR ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART WAS INSTALLED. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE STALLED TO A HALT AGAIN. THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE AND HE WOULD BE CHARGED FOR T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10383828 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10359541 · 2010-10-07 (October 7, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN FILLING THE FUEL TANK, THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD INDICATE THE TANK WAS FULL WHEN IT WOULD IT WAS NOT. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 10V074000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER: STORAGE: FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM) AND THE FUEL SENDING UNIT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT HER EXPENSE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,979.
Owner-reported narrative. 89,979 miles reported. Look up ODI 10359541 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10173762 · 2006-11-17 (November 17, 2006)
WHEN CAR STOP ON STOP SIGN, READY TO GO, BRIEF A MOMENT IT HOLD A CAR & THEN GO. I HAVE BEEN TAKING TO A DEALER FOR FIX ,THEY COULDN'T FIX OR THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. SEEMS TO ME EITHER THE TRANSMISSION OR FUEL RELATE PROBLEM. MY CAR IS INFINITI QX56. PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 5,135 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173762 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10499399 · 2013-02-20 (February 20, 2013)
MY WIFE DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AND FROM WORK WITH NO VISIBLE PROBLEM AND PARKED IT IN THE DRIVE. THE NEXT DAY I WAS ABLE TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY BUT WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE I NOTICED THAT THE ATS LIGHT IS ON AND IT IS STRUGGLING TO MOVE FORWARD. THE MANUAL SAYS TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER IF THE ATS LIGHT IS ON SO I HAD AAA FLAT BED IT TO MY LOCAL INFINITI DEALER. AFTER CHECKING THE VEHICLE I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE A LEAKING RADIATOR AND THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF ALMOST $5,000.00 SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS A…
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10499399 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10501472 · 2013-03-06 (March 6, 2013)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY I NOTICED THAT THE TACHOMETER CONTINUED RISING INSTEAD OF GOING UP AND DOWN WITH THE SPEED. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME THE GAUGE WAS FACING STRAIGHT DOWN, STUCK IN THAT POSITION. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON TO SEE IF IT WOULD CHANGE THE GAUGE, BUT NOTHING HAPPENED. NEXT I PUT THE CAN IN PARK, SET THE PARKING BRAKE AND HIT THE ACCELERATOR AND THE GAUGE BEGAN TO SLOWLY MOVE BACKWARDS, AFTER DOING THIS A FEW TIMES THE GAUGE MOVED BACK AROUND SLOWLY. AFTER DOING THIS 5 TIMES THE GAUGE IS JUST TO THE LEFT OF THE RED AREA. NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 92,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10501472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11386367 · 2021-01-04 (January 4, 2021)
THE VEHICLE WILL LOSE POWER TO THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN PROBLEM OCCURS YOU WILL LOSE POWER STEERING AND PRESSURE TO BRAKING SYSTEM. ALSO THE DRIVER HID HEADLAMP GETS MOISTURE IN IT WHENEVER IT RAINS. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HID BULB ABOUT 6 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. ALSO THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE ONBOARD COMPUTER THAT CAUSES THE TACHOMETER TO NOT WORK OR READ CORRECTLY.
Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11386367 at NHTSA ↗