2012 INFINITI QX56 Owner Complaints

While driving my vehicle with my family, I experienced a sudden and dangerous loss of control. I was able to safely maneuver the vehicle off the roadway without injury. After inspection, it was determined that the subframe had fractured due to severe rust, which was not previously identified. The failure occurred without warning and directly impacted the ability to control the vehicle, creating a significant safety hazard. No warnings or messages indicated a problem existed prior to the failure.

NHTSA ID

11742803

Incident

May 8, 2026

The contact owns a 2012 Infiniti QX56. The contact stated that while driving at 56 MPH, the vehicle slowed down and failed to respond as intended. An oil change was performed; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the high-pressure fuel pump was leaking, causing the timing chain to fail. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the failure progressed, causing the vehicle to stall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by a dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle failed on the side of the road and was towed to the residence. The contact used an OBD scanner and retrieved DTC: P0021, P0011, and P0300. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure, and Customer Service Program Number: P6305. The VIN was provided, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under the campaign and that the campaign had expired. The failure mileage was approximately 175,000.

NHTSA ID

11721950

Incident

Feb 16, 2026

Mileage

175,000 mi

While driving at highway speed, rear of vehicle suddenly became uncontrolled and caused vehicle to swerve dangerously. If a vehicle would have been in the adjacent lane an accident would have occurred. Upon initial inspection, the left rear lower control arm failed catastrophically due to rust rendering the vehicle undrivable. Driver and passenger were put at risk as a result of this incident. Deeper inspection revealed the right rear control arm was also compromised due to rust as well as the two forward mounting points of the modular rear suspension cradle (framework). No warning lights appeared, however the steering wheel did begin correcting to the right just prior to event, similar to heavy wind situation. Parts have not been inspected by manufacturer. Pictures attached. Parts are available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA ID

11515904

Incident

Mar 28, 2023

I have an engine light on as a result of 2 bad catalytic converters that need to be replaced. The vehicle has been inspected the infinite dealer maintenance dept. This poses a safety risk of this vehicle shutting down in the midst of driving

NHTSA ID

11492249

Incident

Oct 27, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Infiniti QX56. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle started shaking violently. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the timing chain to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and continued to experience the failure. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

NHTSA ID

11466379

Incident

May 10, 2022

Mileage

87,000 mi

I got Code : P0011 (my mechanic said that timing chain has to be replaced) I saw that Infiniti run the campaign as below : Dated July 15, 2016 VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN 2011 – 2013 QX56 AND M56; TIMING CHAIN CAMPAIGN ID #: P6305 APPLIED VEHICLES: 2011-2013 QX56 (Z62) 2011-2013 M56 (Y51) Check Service Comm to confirm campaign eligibility 2011-2013 QX56 IMPORTANT: The following service procedure for 2011-2013 QX56 is an abbreviated version of the Electronic Service Manual (ESM) procedure to replace the timing chains and related components. The Claims Information is based on this abbreviated procedure. I called Infiniti and they said that this campaign was for limited time and we called you but i never heard or aware about this otherwise I would have got it done . I have all the service record serviced everything from Infiniti dealer and the best maintanace Apart from that I get below code also which is makes me to think I did mistake buying Infiniti. P0300 P0011 C1118 C1130 C1A26 C1A14 C1a04 Buying car with full upgrade, waste of 98K .

NHTSA ID

11461649

Incident

Apr 14, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Infiniti QX56. The contact stated that while driving at high speeds, the vehicle shook and then lost motive power. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and diagnosed with fuel pump failure. The dealer informed the contact that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic and diagnosed with timing chain failure. The independent mechanic informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11450269

Incident

Nov 1, 2021

I own a 2012 QX56. Check engine light comes on and I take it to the dealer. It's the Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (catalytic covers - P0430 code) I was warned before I bought this vehicle about the cats going bad. Infiniti dealer, that I purchased the truck from said "this vehicle has been serviced at an Infiniti dealer since day one. Every possible service that was needed was completed. The owner took immaculate car of this truck. You won't have any issues." So tell me, if this vehicle was driven exactly how it was supposed to be and yet at 113K miles the cats go bad, why isn't there a recall?? This is a "top of the line SUV" and yet it needs $4500.00+ in engine repairs at just over 113K miles. Infiniti needs to step up and take responsibility for this issue. If dealerships are warning you about this issue, obviously there is a KNOWN issue.

NHTSA ID

11427869

Incident

Nov 13, 2020

My 2012 Infiniti QX56 has a loud rattling noise coming from the engine. This started around Oct 2020 and comes and go. It has got worse over the last month or so and has started stalling and acting like it doesn't want to go. A few times the car will start shaking while I'm driving. It has been checked out and codes for converter and timing chain are there. Engine light is on. I drive this car with my 2 children and am afraid of the safety issue. I know there is numerous others having these same 2 issues with my year and make of car. Spoke with Infiniti Corp. and they will not do anything about it because my VIN is not under the recall. However, the vehicles with this issue that have been repaired under the recall have the same engine and same issues that I'm having. I think all vehicles in 2012 regardless of VIN should be under the recall as I'm seeing so many with these issues.

NHTSA ID

11421001

Incident

Oct 20, 2020

HAD NO PRIOR ISSUES, DRIVING DOWN THE HWYAT 65 MILES PER HR.. CAR FAILED. COSTED TO SIDE OF ROAD MADE IT TO REPAIR SHOP AND THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT, WHICH AFFECTED THE TIMMING CHAIN AND BROKE THE TEETH, WHICH HAS AFFECTED THE MOTOR. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT HUNDRED OTHER FOLKS ARE HAVING. I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE WITH THIS VEHICLE

NHTSA ID

11403384

Incident

Feb 27, 2021

Mileage

130 mi

MY AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THE ISSUE THAT THEY REPORTED TO ME WAS "PAST CODE FOR AIR BAG PASSENGER SIDE: WILL NEED TO REPLACE DIAGNOSTICS MODULE TO BEGIN DIAGNOSIS."

NHTSA ID

11398451

Incident

Mar 1, 2021

THE PAINT ON MY 2012 QX 56 INFINITI IS PEELING REALLY BAD. I'VE SPOKE WITH SOMEONE AT THE COOPERATE LEVEL AND WAS TOLD THEIR WAS A RECALL ON THEM. THE DEALERSHIP WAS SUPPOSE TO REPAINT THE WHOLE VEHICLE, BUT I WAS NEVER CONTACTED. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE ASSOCIATE & MANGER, I WAS TOLD THERE WASN'T ANYTHING THEY COULD DO.

NHTSA ID

11372775

Incident

Oct 2, 2019

THE PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE TOP OF THE ROOF ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY THE ROOF RACKS, IN FRONT BY THE WINDSHIELD THERE IS A SPOT THAT IS LARGER THAN A HALF DOLLAR AND ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR A SPOT ABOUT 6-8 INCHES IN DIAMETER.

NHTSA ID

11354911

Incident

Jun 1, 2020

AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ID

11327035

Incident

Nov 14, 2014

Mileage

12,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BATTERY FAILED PREMATURELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER, AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE A FAILURE CODE THEREFORE, THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE UNKNOWN DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY FAILURE COULD BE CAUSED BY PARASITIC DRAIN OR A RELAY FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.*DT*JB

NHTSA ID

11323919

Incident

Sep 1, 2019

Mileage

83,000 mi

I TOOK MY 2012 QX56 INFINITI TO INFINITI IN AUSTIN TEXAS AND THEY TOLD ME BOTH OF MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER OR OUT THIS NEED TO BE A RECALL ISSUE WANT ME TO SPEND OVER $4,000 FOR BOTH TO REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID

11323433

Incident

Sep 16, 2019

Mileage

97,000 mi

A WHINE OR HISS WHEN I START THE VEHICLE AND IT GOES AWAY AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES. IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE BY MY MECHANIC. THERE APPEARS TO BE A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FOR THE 2012 QX56, BUT NOT FOR MY SPECIFIC VIN. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE NHTSA ALLOWS A MANUFACTURER TO ONLY INCLUDE A PORTION OF THE 2012 MODEL AND NOT OTHERS. THIS IS A SAFETY RECALL! DOES SOMEONE AT THE NHTSA RECONCILE THE 2012 QX56 VEHICLES SOLD VERSUS THE VINS ELIGIBLE TO BE COVERED UNDER THIS SAFETY RECALL NOTICE? OBVIOUSLY, OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM! I SUGGEST THE NHTSA TAKE SAFETY RECALL NOTICES MORE SERIOUS AND HOLD MANUFACTURERS ACCOUNTABLE!!!

NHTSA ID

11322959

Incident

Apr 10, 2020

Mileage

171,000 mi

MY WIFE DROVE TO MY DAUGHTERS SCHOOL SCHOOL FOR A BASKETBALL PRACTICE. SHE LOCKED THE DOORS USING THE KEYFOB LIKE ALWAYS. WHEN SHE GOT BACK TO THE CAR SHE UNLOCK THE DOORS USING THE KEYFOB, BUT THIS TIME THE DRIVERS DOOR DID NOT OPEN. SHE TRIED USING THE DOOR ENTRY BUTTON ON THE HANDLE WHICH DID NOT WORK. SHE THEN GOT IN THRU THE PASSENGER DOOR AND TRIED TO PULL THE HANDLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AND THAT DID NOT WORK. FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR SHE HAD TO CLIMB OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE TO GET INTO THE DRIVER SEAT. I CHECKED THE OPERATION MYSELF WHEN SHE GOT HOME AND I COULD NOT FIND A WAY TO OPEN THE DOOR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET I FOUND THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DESIGN OF THE PLASTIC ACTUATOR AND ITS COMPONENT. WITH THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVING THIS PROBLEM, I AM SURPRISED THERE ISN'T A RECALL SIMILAR TO THE TAKATA AIRBAGS SINCE THIS WOULD NO PASS AN INSPECTION AND WOULD BE A HAZARD IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT

NHTSA ID

11309580

Incident

Feb 14, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 INFINITY QX56. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG COVER WAS CRACKING. THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND THE ISSUE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY WITHOUT WARNING SINCE IT WAS CRACKED AND POSSIBLY INJURIE THE PASSENGER. THE CONTACT WENT TO INFINITI OF CORAL GABLES (2701 S LE JEUNE RD CORAL GABLES, FL 33134 (786) 899-5127) WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE OR DIAGNOSES AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ID

11308946

Incident

Jan 2, 2019

Mileage

80,000 mi

ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AFTER DRIVING TO A STORE OR APPT. AND PARK . GO OUT TO A COMPLETELY DEAD VEHICLE. JUMP START TO GET GOING MAY GO FOR A MONTH OR SO AND IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN WITH NO WARNING.

NHTSA ID

11307996

Incident

Feb 7, 2020

MY 2012 INFINITI QX56 NEEDS A NEW TIMING CHAIN AND INIFINITI SAID THERE WAS A RECALL BUT NOT ON MY PARTICULAR VIN NUMBER. IT SEEMS ODD THAT I HAVE THE YEAR AND MAKE OF THE CAR WITH THE EXACT REPAIRS NEEDED AS THE RECALL BUT THEY AREN'T COVERING IT.

NHTSA ID

11306305

Incident

Jan 24, 2020

Mileage

64,000 mi

THE FUEL GAUGE MAY BE SLOW TO REGISTER, FAIL TO READ FULL WHEN THE GAS TANK IS ACTUALLY FULL, OR READ INACCURATELY. WHEN FILLING GAS TANK TO FULL, AFTER 30 MILES THE GAUGE IS READING 2/3 OF A TANK OR LESS WHILE THE MILES TO EMPTY READING IS STILL HIGH.

NHTSA ID

11289989

Incident

Dec 2, 2019

Mileage

90,400 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WEST HOUSTON INFINITI (12200 KATY FWY, HOUSTON, TX 77079, (281) 589-8900) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES WERE WEARING DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE HUMMING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE HUMMING NOISE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MECHANIC CALLED THE INFINITI DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE TIMING CHAIN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ID

11267989

Incident

Oct 2, 2019

Mileage

70,000 mi

I HAD MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED BACK IN DECEMBER 2016 . THERE WAS A RECALL FOR CATALYTIC CONVERTER SO I HAD IT REPLACED. NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON SO I GOT IT CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AGAIN. 35K MILES LATER

NHTSA ID

11240421

Incident

Jun 15, 2019

MY 2012 INFINITI SEEMS TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM OTHER INFINITI QX56 OWNERS ARE HAVING. STARTS WITH A LOUD HISSING/WHISTLING SOUND WHICH SEEMS TO GO AWAY AFTER 10-20 MINUTES OF DRIVING AND THE CAR FEELS JUST FINE. TODAY ALL MY DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND MY HUSBAND TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE INFINITI DEALER, JUST TO HAVE THE MECHANIC RETURN A FEW MINUTES LATER TO INFORM US IT IS A TIMING CHAIN ISSUE. I AM HUGE ON RESEARCHING AND AFTER A FEW HOURS OF RESEARCH AND REALIZING THAT SOME OF THESE MODELS HAVE HAD RECALLS ISSUED ACCORDING TO VIN# FOR THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE, I AM IN AWE ON WHY THIS RECALL IS ONLY BEING APPLIED TO SPECIFIC VIN #'S AND NOT EVERY SINGLE 2012 QX56 MODEL. EVERY COMPLAINT LISTED ONLINE FROM OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES LIST THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. HOW ARE WE BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR A MORE THAN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11219307

Incident

Jun 11, 2019

Mileage

158,000 mi