2018 INFINITI QX60 Engine Problems

Subject of Complaint: Severe odometer fraud, mileage tampering, and title misrepresentation by the selling dealership: Phenix Motors, LLC ([XXX]), operated by [XXX]. The Discrepancy: The vehicle was sold to me with a falsely represented odometer reading. Subsequent electronic diagnostics and vehicle history reports reveal that the actual mileage is severely discrepant from the mileage disclosed on the official bill of sale and title paperwork provided by Phenix Motors, LLC. The dealership has since explicitly refused to participate in state-level consumer mediation with the Mississippi Attorney General's Office.Current Status & Evidence Location: The vehicle is currently completely inoperable with a dead dashboard/ECM display. On XXX, the financing lender, Magnolia Federal Credit Union, executed a repossession of the vehicle. Under the FTC Holder Rule, the lender is fully aware of the fraud claims. The physical car and its electronic control modules (the core evidence of the fraud) are currently being held by the lender's agent: United Auto Recovery (Account reference partial VIN: [XXX]).State Action & Reference History:Mississippi Attorney General's Office: Consumer Protection Division File closed due to Dealer Principal's ([XXX]) formal refusal to mediate.State Licensing Authority Contact: [XXX], Mississippi Motor Vehicle Commission / Mississippi Department of Revenue (Title and Dealer Enforcement Division: [XXX]).Request: I am requesting a formal federal investigation into Phenix Motors, LLC for systemic odometer manipulation, and a formal safety/title flag placed on this VIN to prevent the lender or dealer from washing the title or liquidating the vehicle at auction before the electronic evidence can be audited. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11752471

Incident

Feb 20, 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Infiniti QX60. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power, and the vehicle decelerated to 20 MPH. The contact stated that there was a knocking sound coming from the engine with the Check Engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 126,422.

NHTSA ID

11744237

Incident

Feb 21, 2026

Mileage

126,422 mi

The contact owns a 2018 Infiniti QX60. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with major internal engine failure. The dealer determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the warranty had expired the same day that the vehicle was towed to the dealer for the diagnostic test. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and offered to partially cover the repair. The failure mileage was 101,000.

NHTSA ID

11730001

Incident

Mar 27, 2026

Mileage

101,000 mi

Since my car had about 45000 miles on the odometer, it has been producing a thick white smoke, not only upon starting the car from a cold start, but also after longer distance trips over 30 miles. After having taken it to the dealership multiple times, their response has been that they cannot recreate the problem and most likely it is from engine sludge due to not maintaining the regular oil change schedule. After having shown the dealership the timely maintanence schedule I had performed on the car over the years, they continued to claim that there is no problem with the car. After the standard warranty had run out one year later and upon taking it to the dealership they claim that I need to replace the head gasket and it would cost me $3500. In addition to the avoidance game they played over that year, in my opinion they were simply pushing back the maintenance until the warranty ran out. This is a common problem with this specific car and the low mileage and I know of at least one more family experiencing this problem. There needs to be a thorough investigation on not only the problem with the engine of this car, but the potential of unscrupulous business practices of the dealerships.

NHTSA ID

11725791

Incident

Mar 23, 2023

The contact owns a 2018 Infiniti QX60. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the timing chain had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

NHTSA ID

11677740

Incident

Jun 15, 2025

Mileage

65,000 mi

The rear differential is messed up on this truck, and there is grinding noise - when i turn left or right, and there,s a whinning noise while driving, and also black fluid drips from in between the oil pan, and transmission and hissing sound when turned on..

NHTSA ID

11633450

Incident

Dec 30, 2024

Check engine light came on, poor idling and start up. Infiniti replaced pvc hose that was cracked, electical seat warmer issue was fixed, dvd electrical issue was denied under the claim warranty, and some sensors were replaced due to codes of lean fuel, and the technician noticed a ticking noise. The dealership told us to pick the car up, drive it and put more miles on it and bring it back in to file another claim for the ticking sound. Returned to file new claim and was told the engine needed to be replaced or timing chain should be replaced due to sludge in the engine even with proper maintenance [records submitted to dealership for warranty claim which was denied]. Passanger seat warmer had also gone out since our last visit, so they're fixing that electrical issue as well. [We were denied for driver side electical window repairs, as they said components were "only loose"]. We purchased the Elite Protection Plan that should have covered all issues but they are denying the claim. Main concern is the engine as there are multiple forums and social media groups that are complaining of the engine sludge issue on new or certified Infiniti or Nissan vehicles with the same engines. Most owners are providing service/maintenance records and still being denied engine repair or replacement under warranty. These engines need to be recalled and consumers need to be compensated for their time and repairs.

NHTSA ID

11633183

Incident

Dec 26, 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Infiniti QX60. The contact stated that upon attempting to start the vehicle, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle failed to start. After calling Roadside Assistance, all attempts to jumpstart the vehicle failed. The check engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 154,000.

NHTSA ID

11532961

Incident

Jul 15, 2023

Mileage

154,000 mi

I purchased my 2018 QX60 in 2021 at Competition Infiniti as a certified pre-own vehicle. I soon began to hear a rattling noise and the steering wheel would vibrate a little. I brought the vehicle back to the dealer several times with this complain and they keep telling me that their is nothing that the can do for me because that’s the way the vehicle is built. The noise as I was told is common in QX60 models and that I’m not the only person that has complained about it. I told him that I don’t expect for a $30,000+ Luxury vehicle to sound that. They also explained to me that it was something that was built in the vehicle to help with fuel efficiency. I think he called it a Droner or something like that. I love the look my vehicle but I hate driving my vehicle because of this noise. I filed a complaint with Infiniti consumer service as well, who instruct me to have the fail inspected by another Infiniti dealer to make sure the dealer is not refusing to fix the problem. I am disgusted that a vehicle that I purchased at an Infiniti dealer is sounding like this. If you can provide any help in this matter, it would be greatly appreciated.

NHTSA ID

11482763

Incident

Feb 1, 2022

THIS PROBLEMATIC INFINITI QX60 HAD FAILED ONCE AGAIN WHILE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY. IT'S JUST DEAD AND THE ENGINE REFUSED TO START. I HAD TO CALL THE TOW TRUCK TO DROP OFF AT THE KINGS INFINITI AUTO SHOP FOR REPAIR. FIRST, IT WAS A HUGE INCONVENIENCE THAT THEY COULDN'T TAKE A LOOK AT THE VEHICLE UNTIL A WEEK LATER. SECOND, NO ONE EVER OFFERED ME A LOANER CAR TO TAKE HOME AND HAS STILL DENIED THIS REQUEST. WE DEPEND ON THIS FOR WORK AND SCHOOL. THIRD, JUST TODAY I WAS INFORMED BY THE INFINITI TECHNICIAN THAT I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR FEES OF $13,000 DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE! SERIOUSLY?! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS AND I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT FROM ANYWHERE. TO ME THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND I STRONGLY BELIEVE IT IS THE MANUFACTURER GUILTY OF THE CAR ISSUES AND SUSPECTING THIS IS A CAR DEALER FRAUD. $13,000 REPAIR COST IS RIDICULOUSLY HIGH, YOU COULD PUT DOWN A DOWN PAYMENT FOR A CONDO OR TO BUY A LOWER GRADE NISSAN SENDRA. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED AT THE UNRELIABILITY OF THIS VEHICLE AND THE COMPANY IN GENERAL. I'VE BEEN LEASING VEHICLES FROM NUMEROUS CAR BRANDS FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED AN ISSUE EVEN REMOTELY TEDIOUS AND FRUSTRATING AS THIS. WE'VE ALREADY DEALT WITH THE MINOR ISSUES OURSELVES BUT HOW COULD WE BE EXPECTED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ENGINE FAILURE THAT ISN'T OUR FAULT? AS I HAD MENTIONED ABOVE, I HAVE REGULARLY KEPT UP THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AS LISTED ON THE CAR MANUAL FOR ALL TYPES OF OIL CHANGE, CHANGING ENGINE FILTER, ETC. I'M ATTACHING ALL THE RECEIPTS WE COULD FIND FOR THE MAINTENANCE SERVICES THAT WERE DONE FROM THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT THE ENGINE COULD FAIL DUE TO "LACK OF MAINTENANCE".

NHTSA ID

11416338

Incident

Mar 25, 2021

Mileage

32,000 mi