2012 INFINITI QX56 Engine Problems

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

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

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

TAKATA INFLATORS THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING ON THE HIGHWAY AND EVEN AFTER ACCELERATING IT WON'T RUN ENOUGH TO GET PAST TRAFFIC WHILE CHANGING LANE AND CAUSING SEVERELY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.

NHTSA ID

11210211

Incident

May 27, 2019

Mileage

96,450 mi

WAS DRIVING HOME, A/C WAS ON, ALL LIGHTS WAS ON, ALL OF A SUDDENLY LOST OF POWER TO THE ENGINE AND WHILE GOING UP HILL, SO I FLOOR IT SO THE VEHICLE SO I CAN GET PAST OVER THE HILL THEN I STARTED TO SMELL SOMETHING THROUGH THE VENTS LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE BAY SO I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE POP THE HOOD BUT DIDN'T SEE NO FIRE, THEN WHEN I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE BACK UP IT WOULDN'T SO I WAITED FOR FEW MINUTES AND TRIED AGAIN, THE VEHICLE STARTED BACK UP SO I WENT ON DRIVING AGAIN BUT IT DIDN'T SHOW ANY THING ON THE DASH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT ALL. IT DONE IT AGAIN LOSE OF POWER TO THE ENGINE AND I STARTED SMELLING SOMETHING BURNING LIKE METAL COMING FROM THE VENTS AGAIN LUCKY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME WHEN IT DONE IT AGAIN, I SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF AND PUT THE SCANNER ON IT, IT THROW OUT 3 CODES BUT IT NEVER SHOWED UP ON THE DASH SAYING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT ALL. FOR THE 3 CODES ONE WAS FOR FUEL PUMP OTHER WAS FOR 02 SENSOR AND THE OTHER WAS ECM I BELIEVE, WISH I WROTE THEM ALL DOWN.

NHTSA ID

11202997

Incident

Apr 19, 2019

Mileage

115,540 mi

I HAVE ISSUES WITH AIR COMPRESSOR AND TIMING CHAIN THAT JUST RANDOMLY WENT OUT, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL OR CAMPAIGN FOR IT WITH INFINITI I CALLED INFINITI AND SENT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY STATED IT WAS NOT FOR MY ACTUAL VIN NUMBER BUT FOR SAME CAR WITH DIFFERENT VIN NUMBER, I ASKED THE QUESTION SINCE I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE THAT HAS A RECALL ON ANOTHER VIN SAME VEHICLE SHOULDN'T YOUR COMPANY FIX ALL OF THAT YEAR VEHICLES MAKE AND MODEL. I WAS TOLD NO.

NHTSA ID

11190228

Incident

Jan 4, 2019

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 35 MPH AND AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO INFINITI OF BIRMINGHAM (1804 MONTGOMERY HWY, HOOVER, AL 35244, (205) 403-5221) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ID

11186561

Incident

Mar 11, 2019

Mileage

128,000 mi

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DEALER STATES THAT I NEED NEW CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON MY FRONT DRIVER SIDE.

NHTSA ID

11179896

Incident

Feb 5, 2018

Mileage

95,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 INFINITI QX56. WHEN THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT EXCEED 25 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: P6305, BUT THE RECALL REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

NHTSA ID

11174286

Incident

Jan 23, 2019

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE AND THE SERVICE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUSTIN INFINITI (8140 BURNET RD, AUSTIN, TX 78757) AND THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE REPLACED TWICE IN ONE YEAR. TWO YEARS LATER, THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

NHTSA ID

11172962

Incident

Mar 7, 2017

Mileage

134,000 mi

AT 82,000 MILES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INDICATING BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS WERE BAD. THEY ARE WARRANTIED TO 80K MILES AND OF COURSE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT HELP. THIS NEEDS A RECALL, GOOGLE QX56 CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11131900

Incident

Feb 1, 2018

Mileage

82,000 mi

I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED BY SEVERAL OTHERS ON THIS SITE WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE BATTERY (JN8AZ2NE3C9****, JN8AZ2NF1C9****, AND JN8AZ2NC9C9****). I TOOK IT TO GET CHECKED OUT YESTERDAY AND JUST RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE TECHNICIAN. HE STATED THAT BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND IT WILL COST $5,200. IF THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, WHY IS INFINITI NOT RECALLING THIS AS AN ISSUE? INSTEAD IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE MAKING CONSUMERS PAY FOR MECHANICAL PROBLEMS THAT THEY ARE CLEARLY AWARE ARE MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO TOW MY VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS BEING COMPLETELY DRAINED. IT WAS TOWED TO INFINITI AFTER A FEW INCIDENTS BUT OF COURSE THEY COULD NOT TELL ME WHY I HAD TO KEEP BUYING BATTERIES FOR THE VEHICLE. IF INFINITI FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THESE ISSUES, I WILL NO LONGER PURCHASE THEIR VEHICLES. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND IRRESPONSIBLE.

NHTSA ID

11103396

Incident

Jun 21, 2018

Mileage

107,752 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 INFINITI QX56. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE DOOR FAILED TO OPEN PROPERLY. IN ADDITION, THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11081916

Incident

Mar 21, 2018

Mileage

50,000 mi

2012 INFINITI QX56. ATTORNEY REPRESENTING CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ENGINE STALLED AND OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUES WHILE DRIVING. *SMD *TR

NHTSA ID

10849538

Incident

Jan 28, 2016

Mileage

147,000 mi

EXPERIENCING ALMOST IDENTICAL ISSUES TO ANOTHER COMPLAINT I SAW THAT WAS PREVIOUSLY FILED (#10924936). TOLD WE NEED TO REPLACE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS AT $2,000 EACH. DEALERSHIP SAID IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLES. IF IT'S A KNOWN ISSUE, PERHAPS SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. WE'VE ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE BATTERY REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. HAD TO CALL AAA SEVERAL TIMES TO JUMP THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11040876

Incident

Aug 31, 2017

Mileage

107,506 mi

WE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY SINCE WE BOUGHT THE QX56. SUV'S COMPLETELY DIES AFTER A GLOVE BOX LIGHT, RADIO HAS BEEN PLAYED FOR 20 TO 30 MINUTES, CAR CANNOT BE JUMPED BY TYPICAL CABLES, EVERY TIME WE EITHER HAD TO HAVE A HEAVY DUTY JUMP DONE BY TOW COMPANY OR BATTERY WAS REPLACED BY INFINITI. TIMING CHAIN AND BOTH CATALYTIC CONVERTERS NEED TO BE REPLACED, WITH ENGINE ISSUES. INFINITI HAD SUV FOR ALMOST A MONTH TO FIX ENGINE AND TIMING CHAIN. ENGINE LIGHT STILL COMING ON THEN WE WHERE TOLD THE CONVERTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. $5K TO FIX. IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE WITH QX56 FOR THIS YEAR AND OTHERS. AFTER EACH TIME ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INFINITI SERVICE DEPT TOLD US TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE CAR AND AFTER 2 WEEKS IF IT DIDN'T RESET THEN CALL BACK AGAIN. WE DID THIS RELUCTANTLY, BECAUSE I AM MY WIFE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT THAT WHEN YOU HAVE AN ENGINE LIGHT COME ON, STOP CALL, AND GET THE VEHICLE IN TO BE INSPECTED.

NHTSA ID

10924936

Incident

May 13, 2016

Mileage

70,000 mi

2012 INFINITI QX56. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ABNORMAL NOISE FROM TIMING CHAIN AREA AND MAY BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING CAMSHAFT SPROCKETS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *SMD

NHTSA ID

10861804

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

INFINITI QX56 HAS A UBIQUITOUS ISSUE WITH TIMING CHAIN FAILURES GOING OUT BETWEEN 60K-80K MILES. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR ($3K TO $5K), BUT IS ALSO A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE IF TIMING CHAIN WERE TO FAIL ON THE ROADWAY. INFINITI HAS MENTIONED A POSSIBLE RECALL, BUT SEEMS TO STALLING DUE TO THE MASSIVE EXPENSE THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO BARE. I DETECTED A PROBLEM AT APPROXIMATELY 70K MILES, WHEN STARTING ON COLD MORNINGS. MY VEHICLE SOUNDED LIKE A SCREAMING EAGLE FOR THE FIRST 5 MINUTES OF OPERATION. I EVENTUALLY HAD A FAILURE JUST OVER 80K MILES (FORTUNATELY, WHILE IN THE DRIVEWAY). PER THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY LOCAL INFINITI DEALER, THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THE PART DEFECT WHICH ALL TOO COMMON ON 2010-2012 QX56 MODELS. INFINITI RESOLVED THE ISSUE AND DEVISED A NEW TIMING CHAIN FOR THE 2013 MODEL. I HAVE ATTACHED A COPY OF MY REPAIR BILL, ALONG WITH THE SAME DIAGNOSIS OF MANY VEHICLES FROM THE REPAIRPAL WEBSITE. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY THING YOU COULD DO ON MY BEHALF AND THE THOUSANDS OF OTHER CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME FATE.

NHTSA ID

10861512

Incident

Apr 11, 2016

Mileage

82,000 mi

THE INFINITI QX56 HAS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TIMING CHAIN ON THE SIDE THAT DRIVES THE FUEL PUMP. THE CHAIN STRETCHES AND BEGINS TO RUB METAL AGAINST METAL. THE COST TO REPAIR IS 4000 - 5000 DOLLARS AND IF YOU DO NOT REPAIR YOU RUN THE RISK OF RUINING THE MOTOR AND THAT IS 17,000. I WAS TOLD BY THE INFINITI MECHANIC IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND HE COULD REPAIR THEM IN HIS SLEEP AND THE NEW CHAINS ARE "HEAVER DUTY". INFINITI SAYS IT IS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM SO THEY WILL NOT REPAIR IT OUT OF WARRANTY. SEE THE ATTACHED WEB SITE. JUST THIS ONE SITE HAS OVER 70 PEOPLE WITH THIS ISSUE. HTTP://REPAIRPAL.COM/ABNORMAL-NOISE-FROM-TIMING-CHAIN-AREA-266 AT 4000 TO 5000 TO FIX THAT IS ALMOST 400000 IN REPAIRS FROM JUST THIS ONE SITE. IF IT IS NOT AN ISSUE I WONDER WHY THE NEW TIMING CHAINS ARE HEAVIER. THESE ARE NOT CHEAP VEHICLES AND INFINITI SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. IF THEY WILL REPLACE IT UNDER WARRANTY THEN IT IS NOT NORMAL WEAR. I COULD NOT GET INFINITI TO TELL ME HOW MANY TIMING CHAINS THEY HAVE SOLD AND / OR HOW MANY REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE ACROSS THE US BOTH IN AND OUT OF WARRANTY, MAYBE THEY WILL RESPOND TO YOU. IF YOU GOOGLE INFINITI QX 56 TIMING CHAIN ISSUE, YOU WILL SEE IT IS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT.

NHTSA ID

10837035

Incident

Feb 18, 2016

Mileage

81,000 mi