2020 Infiniti QX50
The 2020 Infiniti QX50 is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the QX50, is EPA-rated at 26 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 33 complaints, most often about the engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QX50 | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 23 | 29 | 26 | $3,150 |
| QX50 AWD | Gas | AWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 22 | 28 | 25 | $3,300 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 42099, 42103.
Emissions & certification
Source: EPA emission certificates| Configuration | Smog rating | Emission standard | Where it can be sold new | SmartWay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QX50, QX50 AWD | 5 / 10 | California LEV-III ULEV70 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 | All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards | — |
Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.
The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.
Specifications filed with NHTSA
Source: NHTSA vPICDimensions Exterior
| Body style | Crossover Utility Vehicle [CUV] |
| Doors | 4 |
| GVWR class | Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg) |
Engine Basics
| Displacement | 2 L |
Fuel Economy
| Fuel | Gasoline |
Transmission
| Drivetrain | 4x2 |
Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim. Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.
Dimensions & weight
Source: Transport Canada| Length | 185.0 in |
| Width (body, without mirrors) | 75.2 in |
| Height | 66.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 110.2 in |
| Track, front | 64.6 in |
| Track, rear | 64.6 in |
| Curb weight | 4,173 lb |
| Weight distribution, front/rear | 59/41 |
Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: 4-door SUV. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2020 Infiniti QX50 is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. What an extended plan does and does not cover is worth reading before a dealer quotes you one.
What to check before you buy →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
Recalls (2)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseTires
PC788These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.
NHTSA defect investigations
Engine — Complete loss of motive power due to engine failure closed
On December 13, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-023 to investigate allegations of engine failures leading to loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2021-2023 Nissan Rogue; MY 2019-2021 Nissan Altima; and MY 2019-2021 Infiniti QX50 vehicles. At that time, ODI had received 6 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) and multiple early warning reports, with consumers reporting engine knocking noises accompanied by a loss of engine power while driving. The investigation identified bearing failures in certain vehicles equipped with the subject 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. ODI also identified early warning reports describin
Opened Dec 13, 2023 · closed Jul 18, 2025 · action PE23023 · the investigation’s page →
Whether any of this applies to one specific QX50
A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2020 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Infiniti publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.
Hear about a recall before the letter does
The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2020 Infiniti QX50, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.
Parts & accessories for the 2020 Infiniti QX50
Search by fitment on eBay Motors — OEM take-offs, aftermarket, and the trim pieces dealers no longer stock. The listing and the price are the seller's.
Find parts for this QX50 →Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported
18 per 10,000 built · Infiniti reported 18,399 QX50 built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)
Filed per year: 2020: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 12 · 2026: 11
Most-cited components
In owners' own words
Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.
VEHICLE : IMNFINITI QX50 YEAR: 2020 LOCATION : PUERTO RICO My Infiniti QX50 has an active engine recall by VIN In 2023 the Infiniti dealer in San Juan PR documented oil sludge in the engine and performed and engine flush and internal treatment .
The contact owns a 2020 Infinity QX50. The contact stated that while driving on the highway at 70 MPH, the vehicle started making an abnormal sound, and the vehicle stopped unintendedly. The contact was grateful that she was not involved in an accident because there was traffic nearby.
1. Collision warning sensor activated while driving in the #1 lane( closest to the cement highway dividers) and aggresively braked and slowed while diving at 77 MPH. Not safe!! 2.
I was going 70 miles an hour on a highway with no cars around me. When the car suddenly breaks and beeped. It was very dangerous. I was in the center lane of a 3 Lane Highway with no one around
Jan 25,2021 Highway 35 San Antonio Texas Display board lights turned off for a few seconds it made a click sound and the car turned off and turned back on for a few seconds, stalling the car. The automatic break was activated and deactivated at the same time. Trying to stop the car.
Day 1 noted car was having issues with irregular RPM's while cruising, and spiking of rpm's during acceleration. while on hwy w/ cruise control activated, "malfunction" warning lit on screen and forward propulsion ceased. had to move car to roadside, turn off engine and turn back on. took to dealership.
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV AWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 15% |
| SUV FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 16% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: forward collision warning, lane departure warning.
Service bulletins & campaigns
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communicationsMost often about: Electrical System, Equipment, Power Train, Structure, Visibility/Wiper.
- ITB22-025D Service bulletin2026-08-26 · Electrical System
- ROARING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COOLING FAN ASSEMBLY AND THE A/C IS NOT COOLING IF YOU CONFIRM A roaring noise from the engine cooling fan assembly (engine fan on high not cycling) is present, and the Air Conditioning (A/C) is not cooling. ACTION 1. Check the hardware part number for the IPDM E/R. 2. Replace the IPDM E/R with the part number listed in the PARTS INFORMATION, if applicable. 3. Reconfi
- ITB09-063C Service bulletin2026-04-13 · Structure — Body
- CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) label. These items may be available from Infiniti by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provide
- ITB21-021A Service bulletin2025-10-06 · Structure — Body
- IF YOU CONFIRM The client states that either the rear hatch is inoperative, or the rear hatch closes after opening only a small amount, AND DTC B2426-23 for “SPINDLE SENSOR LH” and/or DTC B2427-23 for “SPINDLE SENSOR RH” is stored, AND/OR There is a growling type noise from the rear hatch area when opening/closing the rear hatch. · DTC B2426-23 for “SPINDLE SENSOR LH” and/or DTC B2427-23 for “SPIN
- ITB23-023A Service bulletin2025-02-20 · Electrical System
- AEB WARNING LIGHT IS ON WITH WARNING MESSAGES DISPLAYED ON COMBINATION METER APPLIED VEHICLES: 2015-2024 Q50 (V37) 2015-2018 Q50 Hybrid (HV37) 2017-2022 Q60 (CV37) 2015-2019 Q70 (Y51) 2015-2018 Q70 Hybrid (HY51) 2019-2024 QX50 (J55) 2022-2024 QX55 (FJ55) 2015-2021 QX60 (L50) 2022-2024 QX60 (L51) 2015-2019 QX60 Hybrid (L50H) 2015-2024 QX80 (Z62) SERVICE INFORMATION The AEB system is designed to tur
- ITB19-024D Service bulletin2024-09-19 · Air Bags
- DTC B00A0-00 STOREIF YOU CONFIRM DTC B00A0-00 (OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR UNIT) is stored, AND OCS zero point reset cannot be performed, (continued on the next page)D
- ITB22-020B Service bulletin2024-08-15 · Electrical System
- TELEMATICS CONTROL UNIT RESET AFTER AUTOMATIC COLLISION NOTIFICATION SERVICE INFORMATION The Telematics Control Unit (TCU) has the ability to send an automatic collision notification when the vehicle is involved in an accident. Once an automatic collision notification is performed, the function becomes disabled and the TCU must be reset to re-enable the automatic collision notification function. S
- ITB22-017B Service bulletin2024-08-15 · Electrical System
- DTC B2E01-96 (INTERNAL BATTERY) STORED AS CURRENT IN IVC APPLIED SYSTEMS: Vehicles equipped with Telematics SERVICE INFORMATION CONSULT has been updated to allow DTC B2E01-96 for “Internal battery” to be cleared in the Telematics Control Unit (TCU). If DTC B2E01-96 is Current/Active in the TCU, and no additional Current/Active DTCs are present in the TCU, perform the SERVICE PROCEDURE starting on
- ITB19-042E Service bulletin2024-08-15 · Electrical System
- AV CONTROL UNIT REPLACEMENT PROCESS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin. IF YOU CONFIRM The AV control unit needs to be replaced. ACTION 1. Read and save the VIN. 2. Read and save the configuration. 3. Replace the AV control unit. 4. Reprogram the AV control unit. 5. Configure the AV control unit. 6. Write the VI
A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.
Diagnostic trouble codes on file
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaintsCodes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.
| Code | What it means | Most often filed under | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|---|
| P0456 P0456 on Infiniti → | A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system. | Engine · Gas cap → | 4 bulletins |
| P11A7 | Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard. | Engine | 2 bulletins |
Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.
Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.
At the New York inspection station
Source: New York State DMVIn New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Infiniti QX50 failed the emissions check on 2.5% of first inspections — close to the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.2% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%).
failed emissions
719 initial inspections of 701 vehicles.
| Measure | The 2020 QX50 | Every 2020 vehicle | Behind it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Failed the emissions check | 2.5% | 2.2% | 717 |
| Failed the safety inspection | 1.2% | 1.6% | 719 |
| Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit | 0.28% | 0.19% | 719 |
| Miles driven a year | 8,901 | 9,980 | odometer at inspection |
| Average odometer | 55,855 | 62,630 | odometer at inspection |
New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2020 vehicle” is every 2020 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).
QX50 by model year
all years, side by side →Common questions about the 2020 QX50
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsDoes the 2020 Infiniti QX50 have any recalls?
NHTSA has posted 2 recall campaigns for the 2020 Infiniti QX50, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 25V437000, covering Engine And Engine Cooling. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.
How safe is the 2020 Infiniti QX50?
NHTSA gave the 2020 Infiniti QX50 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 5-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it B (82/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Infiniti QX50?
Across the 2 EPA-rated configurations of the 2020 Infiniti QX50, the best EPA combined figure is 26 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.
What are the dimensions of the 2020 Infiniti QX50?
Transport Canada measured it at 185.0 in long, 75.2 in wide (body, without mirrors), 66.1 in tall, on a 110.2 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,173 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.
What do owners complain about on the 2020 Infiniti QX50?
Owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Infiniti QX50, most often about engine, forward collision avoidance, electrical system. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.
How clean is the 2020 Infiniti QX50?
The EPA smog rating for the 2020 Infiniti QX50 is 5 out of 10. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III ULEV70, Federal Tier 3 Bin 70 — which the table above lists per configuration.
Are there service bulletins for the 2020 Infiniti QX50?
The manufacturer has filed 154 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2020 Infiniti QX50, most often covering electrical system, equipment, power train. The most recent is dated 2026-08-26. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.
How does the 2020 Infiniti QX50 do at state inspection?
In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2020 Infiniti QX50 failed the emissions check on 2.5% of first inspections — close to the 2.2% for every 2020 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.2% (every 2020 vehicle: 1.6%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.
What we hold, and what an empty row means
Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.
| Data | Held | Source | What it covers — or what empty means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel economy & configurations | 2 configurations | EPA certification records | Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures. |
| Emission certificates | 2 configurations | EPA emission certificates | Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new. |
| Recalls | 2 | NHTSA recall campaigns | A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags. |
| Owner complaints | 33 | NHTSA complaint database | Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold. |
| Crash ratings | 2 tested | NHTSA NCAP | Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them. |
| Service bulletins | 154 | NHTSA manufacturer communications | Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall. |
| Investigations | 1 | NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation | Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative. |
| Driver-assist crash reports | none | NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01 | No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like. |
| Specifications filed with NHTSA | 6 fields | NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns | What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder. |
| Measured dimensions | 7 fields | Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications | Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions. |
| Trims, pricing & equipment | none | Manufacturer press kit | We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind. |
Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.