2011 Infiniti QX56: complaints, problems and recalls

TRAVELING AT 1 MPH, MY 2011 INFINITI QX56 BUMPED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO EITHER VEHICLE, BUT MY DRIVER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. INFINITI IS REFUSING TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE UNLESS MY INSURANCE COMPANY ASKS THEM TO. I FEEL THIS LOW SPEED DEPLOYMENT IS FROM A DEFECT IN THIS WEEK OLD VEHICLE, BUT CANNOT GET HELP. I AM CONCERNED INFINITI IS ATTEMPTING TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM AND BRUSH IT UNDER THE RUG. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360540 at NHTSA ↗

OUR 2011 INFINITI QX56 CANNOT BE PROPERLY CONTROLLED AT SPEED WHEN ANY ROUGH PAVEMENT, POT HOLE, BRIDGE CONNECTION JOINTS, OR SIMILAR IS RAN OVER. THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY WITH LITTLE IF ANY CONTROL BY THE DRIVER. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE DRIFTS OUT OF THE LANE. NO ACCIDENTS HAVE EVER OCCURRED BUT AT LEAST THREE NEAR MISSES ON INTERSTATE DRIVING HAVE OCCURRED. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT IS SCARY AND QUITE DANGEROUS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10400790 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A SIX INCH FRACTURE IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD UNDER THE WIPER. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OVERNIGHT IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY AND THE FRACTURE WAS NOT PRESENT THE NIGHT BEFORE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT IT WOULD BE MONTHS BEFORE A NEW WINDSHIELD WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING TO INDICATE THAT THE WINDSHIELD WAS STRUCK BY ANY DEBRIS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,000. UPDATED…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10402524 at NHTSA ↗

PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMING BELT CHAIN ON NEWER MODEL INFINITI QX56. PROBLEM OF CAR MAKING WHISTLING NOISE APPEARED EARLY AFTER PURCHASE AND INTERMITTENTLY THEREAFTER BUT BECAME PROMINENT IN JULY 2011. APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE MODEL. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE ON THE VEHICLE TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, WE BELIEVE THE UNDERLYING DEFECT IN THE TIMING BELT CHAIN WILL CONTINUE TO OCCUR AND THAT THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THE ENGINE COULD FAIL AND CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT(S) AND/OR FATALIT(IES). *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10483640 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN DRIVING 40-70 MPH AND HITTING ANY ROAD IRREGULARITIES (OFFSETS IN PAVEMENT AT BRIDGES, OLD TO NEW PAVEMENT, MAN HOLE COVERS, ROAD PATCHES) THE VEHICLE BACK END SKIPS SIDEWAYS WITH A LOSS OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WILL START TO HEAD INTO THE NEXT LANE AND NEEDS TO BE STEERED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO CORRECT IT. WE DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT. OTHERS IN THE CAR HAVE SAID THEY HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE IT. DEALERSHIP IS TELLING US THIS IS NORMAL. VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY AND WE CAN'T GET RESOLUTION TO THIS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10543700 at NHTSA ↗

FRONT WIND SHIELD CRACKS WITH THE SLIGHTED HIT ON MY SECOND ONE IN THREE MONTHS. IF IT CAN NOT WITHSTAND ROAD DEBRIS IMAGINE A CAR ACCIDENT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10599119 at NHTSA ↗

WITH 72000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, TWO THOUSAND OVER WARRANTY, THE TIMING CHAIN HAS TO BE REPLACED. INFINITI REFUSES TO OFFER ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHEN IT IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THAT IS EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY RE-ENGINEERED. A TIMING CHAIN FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED WOULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT OR FATALITY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN CAREFULLY MAINTAINED BY NISSAN. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10643634 at NHTSA ↗

WINDSHIELD CRACKS - I'VE BEEN THROUGH 3 WINDSHIELDS ON THIS VEHICLE - ALWAYS BREAKS IN SAME SPOT: DRIVERS SIDE, UNDER WIPERBLADE, NEAR THE CORNER BY THE VIN PLATE. FIRST TIME THERE WAS NO BULLSEYE, CHIP, OR EXTERNAL DAMAGE, BUT DEALER STILL WOULD NOT COVER IT. SECOND TIME WAS AFTER A MINOR IMPACT WITH FRONT BUMPER. THIRD WAS A ROCK HIT, BUT ALL THREE HAD THE BREAKAGE IN THE SAME SPOT! I NOTICED OTHER COMPLAINTS, SO CLEARLY THIS ISN'T A RANDOM OCCURRENCE.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10743673 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2020-03-30 (March 30, 2020)

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012-2017 NV Cargo and NV Passenger Van, 2013-2015 Titan and Armada and 2011-2012 Infiniti QX56 vehicles. Due to a manufacturing issue, the air bag inflator may not function properly or may rupture during deployment.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began May 7, 2020. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or Infiniti customer service at 1-800-662-6200.

Reported: 2026-07-15 (July 15, 2026)

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Nissan Armada, 2011-2013 Infiniti QX56, and 2014-2027 QX80 vehicles equipped with 22" wheels. The Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) listed on the certification label is incorrect, which can allow the vehicle to be overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Consequence: An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will install new labels, free of charge. Additionally, Nissan will mail replacement labels to owners. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed September 2, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated Fall 2026. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R26B1 and P6A13/4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.