2014 Infiniti Q50: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
169 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
7,490 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 119 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 78 of 169 complaints (46.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 68 | 40.2% |
| Braking behavior | 21 | 12.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 13 | 7.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 78 |
| Electrical System | 41 |
| Power Train | 18 |
| Air Bags | 16 |
| Unknown Or Other | 16 |
| Service Brakes | 14 |
| Engine | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 |
Steering: 78; Electrical System: 41; Power Train: 18; Air Bags: 16; Unknown Or Other: 16; Service Brakes: 14; Engine: 12; Vehicle Speed Control: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 77 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 18 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 77; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 18; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (77). 50 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 |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 38 |
| 2015 | 22 |
| 2016 | 17 |
| 2017 | 11 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 11 |
| 2025 | 11 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2013: 9; 2014: 38; 2015: 22; 2016: 17; 2017: 11; 2018: 6; 2019: 12; 2020: 11; 2021: 6; 2022: 7; 2023: 6; 2024: 11; 2025: 11; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 68 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10544667 · 2013-09-20 (September 20, 2013)
AFTER DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE, THE CAR BEGAN TO PULL TO THE LEFT VERY STRONGLY; STRONG ENOUGH TO PULL ME INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC IF IT HAD NOT BEEN SO EARLY IN THE MORNING. I THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT TIRE BUT THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORS SAID THE PRESSURE WAS PROPER @ 36 PSI. THIS STRONG PULL LASTED ABOUT ANOTHER MILE AND THEN SUBSIDED. IT HAS OCCURRED 2 MORE TIMES SINCE THEN. DEALER HAD THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS AND INDICATED THAT PERHAPS THE ROAD WAS UNEVEN OR IT WAS JUST SENSITIVE DRIVING AND I AM NOT USED TO IT. I KNOW WHAT A CAR PULLING TO ON…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10544667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10552737 · 2013-11-18 (November 18, 2013)
AFTER FILLING UP CAR AT GAS STATION, STARTED CAR AND BEGAN TO DRIVE AWAY, AFTER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND DAS DRIVE SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING CAUSING STEERING TO BECOME VERY DIFFICULT. (WOULD COMPARE IT TO DRIVING A CAR WITH POWER STEERING THAT FAILED.) DROVE A COUPLE OF BLOCKS, PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. WAITED A MINUTE AND RE-STARTED THE CAR AND EVERYTHING WORKED, AND WARNING LIGHTS WERE OFF. TODAY (11-18-2013) RETURNED THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. THEY KEPT CAR AND WERE AWAITING A CALL FROM INFINITI SE…
Owner-reported narrative. 214 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556064 · 2013-12-14 (December 14, 2013)
AFTER PARKING MY CAR IN A PARKING LOT, I WANTED TO ADJUST IT TO BE MORE EVEN. SO I TURNED THE ENGINE ON AGAIN. BUT THEN I SUDDENLY COULDN'T TURN THE WHEEL. THE WHEEL WAS LOCKED UP. WITH VERY FIRM FORCE, I MANAGED TO TURN THE WHEEL ABOUT 15 DEGREES - BUT THE ACTUAL TIRES THEMSELVES DID NOT TURN. THE CAR WAS IN "R" AND DID REVERSE, BUT AS I COULD NOT STEER IT DID NOT REVERSE IN THE DIRECTION I WANTED TO GO. I TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND ON AGAIN AND THEN THERE WAS A WARNING ON THE DASH SAYING THAT "AFS IS OFF" AND "THE SYSTEM IS OFF." I TURNED …
Owner-reported narrative. 645 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556064 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556191 · 2013-12-16 (December 16, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 INFINITI Q50. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE IN REVERSE, BUT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,200.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556191 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556263 · 2013-12-16 (December 16, 2013)
UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE; STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT "LOCKED", AS A CURRENT INFINITI RECALL IS ADDRESSING. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE TEMP ABOUT 27DEGREES, ABOUT 2 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE GROUND. VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO STEERING INPUTS, CAR WAS DRIFTING TO THE RIGHT. AT SOME POINT, STEERING RESPONSE WAS RESTORED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE CAR HOME. CAR IS CURRENTLY AT THE LOCAL INFINITI DEALERSHIP AND ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556263 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556266 · 2013-12-16 (December 16, 2013)
UPON STARTUP (IN COLD WEATHER, BUT ON A WARM CAR THAT HAD ONLY SAT FOR 20 MINUTES BETWEEN TRIPS), THE STEERING WAS EXTREMELY STIFF. HAD A STEERING INDICATOR WARNING LIGHT(S) ALSO SHOW ON THE DASH. RESTARTING THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES SHOWED THAT THE STEERING WOULD START OK (NORMAL RESISTANCE), BUT THAT TURNING THE WHEEL MORE THAN A LITTLE BIT WOULD RESULT IN A 'THUD' SOUND, THE ERROR LIGHTS ON THE DASH, AND THE STEERING GOING STIFF. AFTER REPEATED STARTS OF THE CAR, IT EVENTUALLY WORKED PROPERLY. THIS HAS SUBSEQUENTLY HAPPENED SEVERAL MORE TIMES TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556266 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556445 · 2013-12-17 (December 17, 2013)
NO STEERING, STEERING LIGHT IN DASH IS LITE AND NO STEERING, UNABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556445 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10556484 · 2013-12-18 (December 18, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 INFINITI Q50. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V588000 (STEERING) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,950.
Owner-reported narrative. 4,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10556484 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V588000 · Steering:Automated/Adaptive Steering | Steering:Electric Power Assist System
Reported: 2013-11-20 (November 20, 2013)
Nissan North America, Inc.'s (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 vehicles equipped with Direct Adaptive Steering. The affected vehicles received a power steering software version that, should the engine compartment reach freezing temperatures, the power steering software may disable the electric steering system and also may delay the engagement of the mechanical steering backup system.
Consequence: The disablement of the steering systems could result in a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan notified owners and arranged to have vehicles towed to the nearest Infiniti retailer. Customers were instructed not to drive their vehicles until they were repaired. Infiniti retailers provided affected customers with loaner vehicles, while the software update remedy was applied. These services were provided at no cost to the customer. Owners may contact Infiniti at 1-800-662-6200.
NHTSA campaign record ↗14V138000 · Electrical System:Software | Air Bags:Frontal
Reported: 2014-03-25 (March 25, 2014)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Altima, LEAF, Pathfinder, and Sentra, model year 2013 NV200 (aka Taxi) and Infiniti JX35 and model year 2014 Infiniti Q50 and QX60 vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the occupant classification system (OCS) software may incorrectly classify the passenger seat as empty, when it is occupied by an adult.
Consequence: If the OCS does not detect an adult occupant in the passenger seat, the passenger airbag would be deactivated. Failure of the passenger airbag to deploy during a crash (where deployment is warranted) could increase the risk of injury to the passenger.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will update the OCS software, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan at 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V244000 · Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification
Reported: 2016-04-26 (April 26, 2016)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Consequence: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
NHTSA campaign record ↗16V430000 · Steering:Automated/Adaptive Steering | Steering:Electric Power Assist System
Reported: 2016-06-13 (June 13, 2016)
Nissan North America, Inc.'s (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Infiniti Q50 vehicles manufactured December 26, 2012, to December 11, 2015, and Infiniti Q50 Hybrid vehicles manufactured December 10, 2012, to December 17, 2015. The Direct Adaptive Steering system may experience an error at vehicle start up altering the vehicle's steering responsiveness and turning radius.
Consequence: If the vehicle does not steer as the driver anticipates, there is an increased the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Direct Adaptive Steering ECU software, free of charge. The recall began on August 12, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA campaign record ↗24V470000 · Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft
Reported: 2024-06-21 (June 21, 2024)
Nissan North America, Inc. (INFINITI) is recalling certain 2011-2013 M56, 2012-2013 M35 Hybrid, 2014-2018 Q50, Q70 Hybrid, 2014-2019 Q70, and 2015-2019 Q70L two-wheel drive vehicles. The driveshaft can fatigue and break.
Consequence: A broken driveshaft can result in a loss of drive power, or a vehicle roll away when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied. Both scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 13, 2024. Owners may contact INFINITI's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. INFINITI's numbers for this recall are R24A5 and R24A7.
NHTSA campaign record ↗