2013 Infiniti QX56: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 32 complaints (59.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 5 | 15.6% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 12.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 5 |
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10500481 · 2013-02-26 (February 26, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. MAH UPDATED 06/26/2013 *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10500481 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10628623 · 2014-08-27 (August 27, 2014)
BACKING UP IN PARKING LOT SLOWLY (3MPH), UTILIZING ALL MIRRORS, GLANCING OVER BOTH SHOULDERS WHEN I BACKED INTO A VEHICLE'S BUMPER CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY BUMPER WHILE NONE TO THE OTHER CAR. THE INFINITI QX56 IS EQUIPPED WITH CAMERA AIDING CORNER SONAR AND MOD (MOVING OBJECT DETECTION). THE SONAR SYSTEM UTILIZES CAMERAS ON THE VEHICLE WHICH ARE DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY SCREEN AS WELL AS AUDIBLE TONES WHICH INCREASE IN INTERMITTENT FREQUENCY UP TO CONTINUOUSLY, THE CLOSER THE OBJECT BECOMES. THE CORNER SONAR IS ADJUSTABLE TO HIGHER OR LOW…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,823 miles reported. Look up ODI 10628623 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 10985139 · 2017-05-12 (May 12, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 INFINITI QX56. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS SAGGING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION AIR BAG ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE EXPLODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10985139 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11131472 · 2018-09-25 (September 25, 2018)
THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THOUSAND OAKS INFINITI WHERE I REGULARLY HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BANK 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTOR FAILURE. BASED ON MY RESEARCH, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME THAT THE OTHER CATALYTIC CONVERTOR WILL ALSO NEED TO BE REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 143,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11131472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11150715 · 2018-11-10 (November 10, 2018)
TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT NEEDED AFTER 80000 MILES
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11150715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11185571 · 2019-03-09 (March 9, 2019)
HEAR ABNORMAL NOISES FROM THE ENGINE SOUND LIKE RATTLE OR TICKING
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11185571 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
14V668000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2014-10-24 (October 24, 2014)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013 Infiniti QX56 vehicles manufactured September 1, 2012, to April 26, 2013, and 2014 Infiniti QX80 vehicles manufactured June 18, 2013, to February 11, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag inflator may have been manufactured with an incorrect part.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's air bag, the incorrect part may block the flow of propellant to the air bag and the air bag's inflator may rupture. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike and potentially seriously injure the vehicle occupants.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA campaign record ↗14V683000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Reported: 2014-11-28 (November 28, 2014)
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Nissan Juke, 2012-2013 Infiniti M56, QX56, and 2014-2015 Infiniti Q70 (V8 engine vehicles only), and QX80 vehicles. The fuel pressure sensors may not have been sufficiently tightened during production. As a result, the fuel pressure sensor may loosen with vehicle usage and cause a fuel leak.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could cause a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will re-torque the fuel pressure sensors free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
NHTSA campaign record ↗26V455000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗