Infiniti QX56 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
538 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
90,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 to 2013 model years. Data snapshot: . 439 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 136 of 538 complaints (25.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 205 | 38.1% |
| Engine operation | 53 | 9.9% |
| Steering behavior | 51 | 9.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 31 | 5.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 25 | 4.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 2.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 136 |
| Engine | 96 |
| Electrical System | 60 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 49 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 38 |
| Suspension | 37 |
| Air Bags | 33 |
| Unknown Or Other | 27 |
Service Brakes: 136; Engine: 96; Electrical System: 60; Fuel/Propulsion System: 49; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 38; Suspension: 37; Air Bags: 33; Unknown Or Other: 27
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 64 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 37 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 59 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 97 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 127 |
| 150,000 and above | 55 |
Under 25,000: 64; 25,000 to 49,999: 37; 50,000 to 74,999: 59; 75,000 to 99,999: 97; 100,000 to 149,999: 127; 150,000 and above: 55
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (127). 99 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 20 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 33 |
| 2011 | 28 |
| 2012 | 24 |
| 2013 | 35 |
| 2014 | 63 |
| 2015 | 38 |
| 2016 | 45 |
| 2017 | 34 |
| 2018 | 45 |
| 2019 | 53 |
| 2020 | 40 |
| 2021 | 18 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 13 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 6 |
2004: 8; 2005: 20; 2006: 6; 2007: 3; 2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2010: 33; 2011: 28; 2012: 24; 2013: 35; 2014: 63; 2015: 38; 2016: 45; 2017: 34; 2018: 45; 2019: 53; 2020: 40; 2021: 18; 2022: 15; 2023: 13; 2024: 4; 2025: 2; 2026: 6
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 205 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 53 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 51 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 10093315 · 2004-09-29 (September 29, 2004)
THE FRONT BRAKES ON MY 2004 INFITI QX56 BEGAN SQUEAKING AND SHUDDERING IN MID JULY 2004 AT APPOXIMATELY 5000 MILES. THE BRAKE REPAIR PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL SEPTEMBER 24, 2004. AT THIS WRITING 09/29/04, THE VEHICLE REMAINS AT THE DEALER AWAITING A REPLACEMENT FRONT PASSENGER SEAT ADJUSTMENT ASSEMBLY THAT TOOK TWO MONTHS TO ARRIVE. IT TURNS OUT THE WRONG PART WAS ORDERED REQUIRING A REORDER OF THE PART. MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN PROMISED TO ME BY 09/30/04!*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093315 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10097672 · 2004-10-25 (October 25, 2004)
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP COMPLETELY. HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE ABS SYSTEM KICKED IN. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE PADS AND COMPUTER SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND REPLACED THEM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10097672 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10504395 · 2013-03-25 (March 25, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO ADVISED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 109,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10504395 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10660479 · 2014-11-24 (November 24, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, ALL OF THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STARTED TO BLINK ON AND OFF, ALL OF THE GAUGES SPUN AROUND AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IPDM MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V517000 (E…
Owner-reported narrative. 142,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10660479 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086372 · 2004-08-07 (August 7, 2004)
SEVERAL FAILURES: 1. FAILURE OF THE BACKUP WARNING SENSORS. 2. FAILURE OF THE SEAT MEMORY SYSTEM. 3. FAILURE OF THE STEERING WHEEL ENTRY/EXIT POSITION FUNCTION. 4. NAVIGATION DISK FAULTS 5. HEAD LINER SQEAZKS AND RATTLES. THE CAR HAS NOW BEEN IN AT THE DEALER FOR THREE WEEKS TO REPAIR THESE PROBLEMS. I HAVE PICKED THE CAR UP ONCE ONLY TO TURN AROUND AND RETURN IT WHEN THE HEADLINER PROBLEMS STARTED AGAIN AND THE BACKUP WARNING SENSORS MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086372 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10102942 · 2004-12-14 (December 14, 2004)
INFINITI QX56 HAS BRAKE SYSTEM DESIGN FLAW. FRONT BRAKES NEED REPLACEMENT ON AVERAGE EVERY 4-6000 MILES. BRAKE ROTORS ARE TOO SMALL WHICH CAUSES ROTOR WARPAGE. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING WHEEL SHUTTERS BACK AND FORTH WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THERE IS NO FIX FOR THIS FROM NISSAN. THIS IS BRAKE DESIGN FLAW ALSO EFFECTS SIMILAR PLATFORMS SUCH AS THE ARMADA AND THE TITAN. THERE ALSO IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE FRONT END WHICH CAUSES THE STEERING WHEEL TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 45 MPH. HITTING CERTAIN BUMPS …
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10102942 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10610769 · 2014-07-15 (July 15, 2014)
SHOWED I HAD 3/4 LEFT IN GAS TANK WHEN REALLY IT WAS EMPTY. CAR JUST STOPPED. NO YELLOW LIGHT ON TO INDICATE LOW GAS LEVEL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10610769 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 10147398 · 2006-04-06 (April 6, 2006)
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH UNDER CLEAR DRIVING CONDITIONS AND TOWING A TRAVEL TRAILER, INFINITI QX-56 HAD AN EXTENSIVE ELECTRICAL FIRE IN FRONT, INTERIOR CONSOLE, WHICH CAUSED MAJOR/EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. IF NOT EXTINGUISHED WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR INJURY OR DEATH TO THE OCCUPANTS AND TOTALED THE VEHICLE. INFINITI REPLACED ALL OF THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS (APPROX $12,000 OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE). *JB *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 17,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147398 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10253272 · 2008-12-30 (December 30, 2008)
INFINITI QX56: INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL ON VEHICLE CAUSES ALL OF INSTRUMENT PANEL TO MALFUNCTION AND THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY STOP RUNNING. THIS OCCURS EVEN WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT BEING USED. THE LASER GUIDED SYSTEM CAUSES ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE CAUSING GAUGES TO FLUCTUATE RANDOMLY AND ALERT LIGHTS TO GIVE FALSE READINGS. DEALER DEEMS IT A "POOR DESIGN" AND CONSIDERS VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE UNLESS THE SYSTEM IS REPLACED. THE SYSTEM IS BEING REPLACED WITH THE EXACT SAME PART SO THE LIKELIHOOD OF RECURRENCE I…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10253272 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10432609 · 2011-10-24 (October 24, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITY QX56. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC TO HAVE THE FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 119,000. THE CONSUMER AT HIS OWN EXPENSE, HE HAD TO REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT CONTROL LOWER ARMS. THE CONSUMER …
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10432609 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10440714 · 2011-12-14 (December 14, 2011)
THIS 95% TOTAL BREAK FAILURE HAS HAPPENED 2 SEPARATE TIMES 8/2010 AND 3/2011; AND WHILE NO ACCIDENT, THERE COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN ONE HAD I BEEN TRAVELING AT A HIGHER RATE OF SPEED, OR IF THERE HAD BEEN OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME. APPLIED BREAK, IMMEDIATELY BRAKE PEDAL SUNK TO THE FLOOR, BREAK LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON, FRONT BREAKS BEGAN MAKING HARSH GRINDING SOUNDS (AS WHEN SLIP CONTROL ENACTS); HAD THERE BEEN CARS IN FRONT OF ME I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP W/OUT HITTING THEM. EVEN WITH FOOT TO FLOOR VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, DOWN SHIFTED INTO…
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10440714 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 3 |
2004: 1; 2005: 3; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 3; 2013: 3