2011 Infiniti QX56 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
78 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 62 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 37 of 78 complaints (47.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 9.0% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 6.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 37 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 18 |
| Suspension | 9 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
| Power Train | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
Engine: 37; Fuel/Propulsion System: 18; Suspension: 9; Unknown Or Other: 8; Power Train: 4; Electrical System: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 10 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 22 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 10; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 22; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (22). 16 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 |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 9 |
| 2018 | 16 |
| 2019 | 10 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 4; 2016: 9; 2017: 9; 2018: 16; 2019: 10; 2020: 11; 2021: 3; 2022: 3; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 10883600 · 2016-07-08 (July 8, 2016)
FUEL LEVELING SENSOR IS FAULTY IN A LARGE VARIETY OF INFINITI CARS, BUT THERE IS NOT RECALL FOR MY VIN. THE CAR'S FUEL GAUGE GOES UP AND DOWN ALL THE TIME AND TELLS ME I'M ON EMPTY WHEN I'M NOT AND NEVER REGISTERS FULL EVEN WHEN IT WAS JUST FILLED UP. IT CAN JUMP FROM READING 330 MILES LEFT TO EMPTY DOWN TO 299 AND BACK UP TO 330 IN JUST A FEW SECONDS. THE DIAGNOSTIC CONFIRMED A PROBLEM, BUT THEY WANT OVER $1,000 TO FIX A KNOWN PROBLEM IN MANY OF THEIR MAKES AND MODELS. THIS DOESN'T EVEN TOUCH ON THE TIMING CHAIN ISSUE THAT IS FAULTY AS WELL. …
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10883600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10884370 · 2016-07-12 (July 12, 2016)
INFINITI/NISSAN ISSUED A RECALL BACK IN 2010 (RECALL ID#10V074000) FOR FUEL GAUGE/SENSOR SENDING UNIT PROBLEM. THE SAME ISSUE IS HAPPENING ON LATER YEAR VEHICLES, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. THERE ARE ENDLESS REPORTS ON THE WEB ACROSS MANY FORUMS WHERE PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM FOR SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED BEFORE. SEE NOTES FROM PAST RECALL. RECALL ID # 10V074000 - FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM RECALL DATE: MAR 03, 2010 SUMMARY: NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2009 TITAN, ARMADA, AND INFINI…
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10884370 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10819153 · 2016-01-09 (January 9, 2016)
THROUGH MY RESEARCH AND SPEAKING WITH INFINITI MECHANICS THERE HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH TIMING CHAINS AND ASSOCIATE PARTS THAT ARE A HAZARD AND A MAJOR EXPENSE TO 2011-2012 INFINITY QX56 OWNERS. THIS ISSUE WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED SOMEWHERE!! IT HAPPENS TO MY WIFE AND I THREE TIMES!!! I HAD TO GET IT TOWED ALL THREE TIMES!! THE HAZARD IS WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE ENGINE JUST LOSES ALL POWER LEAVING THE HAZARD OF SOMEONE RUNNING IN BACK OF YOU. IF YOU DRIVING UP AN INCLINE AND THIS PROBLEM COMES ABOUT YOUR VEHICLE WILL STALL AN YOU CAN POSS…
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10819153 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10821654 · 2016-01-22 (January 22, 2016)
THE SUV WAS DRIVING WITHOUT ISSUE; HOWEVER, IF THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKEN WE WOULD HAVE HAD AN ENGINE STALL WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. WE HEARD A NOISE IN THE CAR AND DECIDED TO BE SAFE AND TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE. AFTER GETTING TO THE INFINITI DEALERSHIP OF GWINNETT THE NOISE HAD SUBSIDED. WE EXPLAINED WE HEARD A WHINING NOISE WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTING UP THAT WENT AWAY AFTER A TIME. THE NOISE WASN'T EVEN EVIDENT BUT THEY KNEW WHAT IT WAS BEFORE EVEN HEARING IT. AFTER LETTING THE CAR COOL DOWN THEY STARTED THE ENGINE UP AGAIN AND HE…
Owner-reported narrative. 79,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10821654 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10972269 · 2017-04-13 (April 13, 2017)
THE BATTERY CONSTANTLY GOES DEAD IN THE CAR. I BOUGHT A NEW INFINITY BATTERY IN THE CAR THE SAME THING HAPPENED. YOU CAN REPRODUCE THIS PROBLEM BY SITTING IN THE CAR LISTENING TO THE RADIO FOR 30 MINUTES. I WAS SITTING IN THE CAR LISTENING RADIO AND THE CAR BATTERY WENT DEAD AND THE CAR SHUT OFF. THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE, THE QX56 IS A 8 CYLINDER CAR. IT DOES NOT CHARGE VERY EASILY. I HAVE TO CARRY A BATTERY CHARGER IN MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO INFINITY AND THEY CLAIM NOTHING IS WRONG WITH …
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10972269 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11267366 · 2019-10-09 (October 9, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST BATTERY CONNECTION AND THE BATTERY FAILED. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE BATTERY WAS EITHER REPLACED OR RECHARGED IN SOME CASES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NALLEY INFINITI ATLANTA [phone removed], LOCATED AT 2550 THE NALLEY WAY, ATLANTA, GA 30360) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONT…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11267366 at NHTSA ↗