Infiniti QX50 engine problems, 2016–2025
143 of the 270 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Infiniti QX50 2016–2025 name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). The loudest years: 2019 (85), 2021 (25), 2020 (22). Filed under the same heading across these years: 1 recall campaign, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Infiniti QX50 engine problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the engine | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 100% | — | 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2024 | 1 | 25% | — | 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2023 | 1 | 25% | — | 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2022 | 3 | 19% | — | 5 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2021 | 25 | 62% | — | 10 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2020 | 22 | 67% | — | 10 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigation | the year → |
| 2019 in depth | 85 | 61% | 82k | 23 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigation | the record → |
| 2017 | 0 | — | — | 10 TSBs | the year → |
| 2016 | 5 | 26% | — | 11 TSBs | the year → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the engine. Nothing here is a rate.
When the engine complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2018: 1 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 11 · 2025: 76 · 2026: 49
Across the model years, half of the 41 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 49,000 and 106,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
On January 1, 2025 at about 10:30pm, while driving at about 40 miles per hour the engine made some knocking noises and then suddenly lost power, forcing the car to be pulled over to the side of a dangerous road. When I opened the hood of the car there was a small amount of smoke.
The engine stopped working. Allowing me to go no faster than 15 miles an hour. The safety issue is you can no longer drive at the speed that you need to drive. especially if you’re on the highway. The problem has been addressed by a dealer. I needed a whole new engine $13,000. The car at 97,000 miles on it. Was well taken care of.
The contact owns a 2021 Infiniti QX50. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start and was inoperable. The check engine warning light was illuminated.
I received the recall notice approximately 2 weeks ago, the notice state “parts are anticipated to be available beginning in Q4 2025” so I did not schedule for an inspection. This morning, 09/16/2025, I was unable to accelerate after being stopped at a traffic light.
The contact owns a 2020 Infiniti QX50. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended and lost motive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. No further information was available.
What is on file about the engine, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaign filed under this heading, any model year
- 25V437000 CriticalJun 27, 2025 · 443,899 vehicles
- Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure.
NHTSA investigation
- PE23023 Complete loss of motive power due to engine failureopened Dec 13, 2023 · closed Jul 18, 2025
- 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 e…
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Infiniti QX50 years have the most engine complaints?
2019, 85; 2021, 25; 2020, 22. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2025 (100%).
Is there a recall for the engine on the Infiniti QX50?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading across these model years: 25V437000 (2022). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the Infiniti QX50?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 80,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 49,000 and 106,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.