vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2013 Infiniti QX56 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

32 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

102,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 model year. Data snapshot: . 20 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 32 complaints (59.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation515.6%
Braking behavior412.5%
Electrical and battery issues412.5%
Transmission and shifting13.1%
Steering behavior13.1%
Fuel system concerns13.1%

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.

Engine
19
Service Brakes
4
Electrical System
3
Power Train
3
Suspension
3
Fuel/Propulsion System
2
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine19
Service Brakes4
Electrical System3
Power Train3
Suspension3
Fuel/Propulsion System2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking1

Engine: 19; Service Brakes: 4; Electrical System: 3; Power Train: 3; Suspension: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
4
100,000 to 149,999
10
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9994
100,000 to 149,99910
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 1

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 12 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.

2013
1
2014
2
2015
1
2017
1
2018
2
2019
3
2020
7
2021
7
2022
3
2023
5
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20131
20142
20151
20171
20182
20193
20207
20217
20223
20235

2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 3; 2020: 7; 2021: 7; 2022: 3; 2023: 5

Pattern summary

Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 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 11270589 · 2019-10-24 (October 24, 2019)

LOUD WHISTLING/WHINING SOUND FROM THE MOTOR AT START UP. EXTREME LOSS OF POWER WHEN STARTING UP A GRADE OR TO GET UP TO SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE CAUSING FEAR OF REAR END COLLISION. IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT RESULTS IN A TIMING CHAIN OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPAIR, COSTING SEVERAL THOUSAND DOLLARS. IT APPEARS INFINITI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WON'T ISSUE A RECALL FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. THIS VEHICLE IS NOW VIRTUALLY INOPERABLE AS IT IS NOT SAFE TO BE ON THE ROAD UNTIL IT IS FIXED.

Owner-reported narrative. 137,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11270589 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11277068 · 2019-10-30 (October 30, 2019)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ALSO, THE VEHICLE SHOOK WHEN STOPPING AND HESITATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CHECKED THE VEHICLE, AFTER MULTIPLE INCIDENT HAPPEN THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AND THE STALLING GOT WORSE THE CONTACT STATED GOT TIMING CHAIN REPAIRED BUT FOUND NO FAILURES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK IN IF THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. JOE MACHENS…

Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11277068 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10667433 · 2014-12-20 (December 20, 2014)

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN TWO DAYS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, I WAS ALREADY AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN IT SUDDENLY COLLAPSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE, AS SOON AS I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL COLLAPSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, FOR FEAR IT WILL OCCUR AGAIN WHEN I AM NOT COMPLETELY STOPPED, AND I WILL HAVE NO BRAKING ABILITY. THE INFINITI DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE CAR, CLAIMS NOTHING IS WRONG, AND T…

Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10667433 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10717126 · 2015-05-18 (May 18, 2015)

4/14/15 VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM CARMAX. PROBLEM: BRAKES DO NOT WORK WHEN PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR FIRST BRAKE FAILURE (4/15/15) TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, BRAKES FAILED AT APPROX. 6PM UNDER CLEAR WEATHER/GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS, WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON VERMONT AVE. IN GARDENA, CA AT APPROX. 10 MPH. THE QX56 HIT A DODGE STRATUS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE STRATUS DRIVER WAS INJURED AND SUBSEQUENTLY REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE QX56 WAS RETURNED TO CARMAX FOR REPAIR, BUT CARMAX SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE BRAKE FAILURE. T…

Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10717126 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11316183 · 2020-03-04 (March 4, 2020)

THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DEAD AND WOULD NOT START WHEN BATTERY WAS JUMPED. BATTERY WAS REPLACED ONCE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ORIGINAL BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. ONCE THE VEHICLE STARTED , THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS VISIBLE ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A VERY LOUD HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE SOUND GOT LOUDER AND INTENSIFIED AS THE RPMS INCREASED.

Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11316183 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11364157 · 2020-10-13 (October 13, 2020)

DEAD BATTERY. REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY, VEHICLE IS DEAD EVERY 2-3 DAYS. MANY OTHERS REPORT THE SAME ISSUE. INFINITI HAS AN "INFOTAINMENT SOFTWARE UPDATE" TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT HAVE NO FIX FOR OLDER VEHICLES.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11364157 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11394273 · 2021-02-02 (February 2, 2021)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE MISFIRED AND STALLED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND FLASHING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO WILLIS INFINITI (2101 NW 100TH ST, DES MOINES, IA 50325, [phone removed]) AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 118,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 118,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11394273 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11319803 · 2020-03-31 (March 31, 2020)

DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 421 IN WILKESBORO, NC ON A 45 MPH SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY, MERGED OVER INTO THE TURNING LANE TO TURN LEFT ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC. WAITED FOR A BREAK IN TRAFFIC, UPON A BREAK IN TRAFFIC TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO CROSS TRAFFIC, AS VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE IT STALLED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. WIFE AND CHILDREN IN CAR STARTED SCREAMING. TRAFFIC NICE ENOUGH NOT TO RUN INTO US. HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP. FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 5.6 LITTER NISSAN/ INFINITI ENGINE. ONE OF THE TIMING GEAR…

Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11319803 at NHTSA ↗