2016 INFINITI QX80 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2016 INFINITI QX80, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes320.0%
- Driver assistance213.3%
- Airbags213.3%
- Engine213.3%
- Fuel system213.3%
- Visibility16.7%
- Powertrain (other)16.7%
- Electrical16.7%
- Steering16.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAD MY INFINITY 2016 QX 80 FOR 6 MONTHS AND THE BREAKS WENT OUT TO THE FLOOR. I WAS ONLY GOING OVER A SPEED HUMP, LUCKILY. I PULLED OVER AND THE CALIPER WAS AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE RIM. I WAS TOLD THE PIN FELL OUT. VERY DANGEROUS!
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH OUR VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES SINCE NOVEMBER 20, 2019. THE FIRST TIME WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS DUE TO IT BOGGING DOWN. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND IN BOTH THE CITY AND INTERSTATE. THE WORST TIME, WAS WHEN WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING AROUND 70 MILES AN HOUR AND WENT TO ACCELERATE TO PASS A VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BOGGED DOWN AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY UPDATED THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND WE WERE TOLD THIS SHOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON 9/23/19 AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO DEMONSTRATE THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 9/25/19. AT THIS TIME, MR. JUNOT RODE WITH A TECHNICIAN AND WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE REPINED THE ECM CONNECTOR AND CLEARED ALL THE CODES. WE WERE ABLE TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE ON 10/3/19. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE SLUGGISH AND BOG DOWN. ON 10/15/19, THE CUSTOMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE CITY, WHEN IT BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AND THE STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. SHE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND COAST INTO A PARKING LOT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED ON 10/16/19 AND WE WERE TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN ON 10/17/19. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND CALLED IN A DST SPECIALIST. WE WERE TOLD THAT HE WOULD NOT BE AT THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH. [XXX]. MET HIM AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT MORNING. HE TALKED TO THE DST AND REVIEWED ALL THE ISSUES WE HAVE HAD. WE DID NOT RECEIVE A CALL FROM THE DST AND RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM INFINITI STATING THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. MY HUSBAND HAD TO CALL TO GET THE DETAILS OF THE REPORT. WE WERE TOLD WE COULD PICK UP THE VEHICLE ON 10/21/19. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
I live in a state where it is required to have both front and back plates. When I got my 2016 QX80 it did not have official front plate mounting so I bought a kit and installed the front license plate. Since then I have not had a working sensor. The front collision sensor states there’s an obstruction. I can no longer use cruise control or the front collision safety sensor because the front sensor was brilliantly placed where the plate needs to be installed. Poor design.
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH OUR VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES SINCE NOVEMBER 20, 2019. THE FIRST TIME WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS DUE TO IT BOGGING DOWN. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND IN BOTH THE CITY AND INTERSTATE. THE WORST TIME, WAS WHEN WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING AROUND 70 MILES AN HOUR AND WENT TO ACCELERATE TO PASS A VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BOGGED DOWN AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY UPDATED THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND WE WERE TOLD THIS SHOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON 9/23/19 AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO DEMONSTRATE THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 9/25/19. AT THIS TIME, MR. JUNOT RODE WITH A TECHNICIAN AND WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE REPINED THE ECM CONNECTOR AND CLEARED ALL THE CODES. WE WERE ABLE TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE ON 10/3/19. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE SLUGGISH AND BOG DOWN. ON 10/15/19, THE CUSTOMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE CITY, WHEN IT BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AND THE STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. SHE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND COAST INTO A PARKING LOT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED ON 10/16/19 AND WE WERE TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN ON 10/17/19. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND CALLED IN A DST SPECIALIST. WE WERE TOLD THAT HE WOULD NOT BE AT THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH. [XXX]. MET HIM AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT MORNING. HE TALKED TO THE DST AND REVIEWED ALL THE ISSUES WE HAVE HAD. WE DID NOT RECEIVE A CALL FROM THE DST AND RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM INFINITI STATING THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. MY HUSBAND HAD TO CALL TO GET THE DETAILS OF THE REPORT. WE WERE TOLD WE COULD PICK UP THE VEHICLE ON 10/21/19. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
Airbag light keeps coming on and we take it in to be serviced and they say hey it shows low voltage so we tighten down your battery and that fixed it. Then we drive 100 miles and it's back on. Took it to a different dealer and they said the same thing. Another few hundred miles airbag light is on again. Putting my families lives in danger. When we bought this vehicle from Carmax that the same issue and took over 6 weeks before we could pick it up.
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG OCCUPANT SENSOR DOES NOT RECOGNIZE OCCUPANTS CONSISTENTLY. IT WORKS FOR SOME OCCUPANTS SOMETIMES, AND AT OTHER TIMES IT DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THE SAME OCCUPANTS. SHIFTING IN THE SEAT SOMETIMES HAS AN EFFECT AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T. IT HAS BEEN TO THE SELLING DEALER WITH THIS COMPLAINT BUT THE SELLING DEALER STATES IT IS WORKING CORRECTLY. I'VE ATTACHED A PICTURE OF MY 16YO DAUGHTER SITTING IN THE SEAT WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAG IS OFF. SHE MEETS THE WEIGHT LIMIT STATED BY THE DEALER THAT SHOULD TRIGGER THE AIRBAG TO BE ON. THIS HAPPENS NO MATTER IF THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR MOVING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
RETURNING HOME FROM A TRIP TO BIRMINGHAM, AL ON SUNDAY APR 29TH, 2018 AND NOTICED THE AIR WAS NO LONGER COOLING IN THE CAR. MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH INFINITI TO TAKE THE CAR IN TO BE CHECKED OUT ON MONDAY APR 30. UPON GETTING CAR CHECKED OUT WAS TOLD THAT A ROCK ALLEGEDLY WENT THROUGH THE GRILL, SOME HOW MISSED ALL THE OTHER COMPONENTS IN THE CAR AND HIT THE CONDENSER/COOLANT LINE AND CAUSED ALL THE FREON TO RUN OUT OF THE CAR. MIND YOU THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS AND YOU CAN HEAR IF YOUR CAR IS IT BY A ROCK AND NONE OF THAT HAS HAPPENED. SOME FAMILY FRIENDS WITH THE SAME CAR HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THEIR CAR AND WAS TOLD IT WAS HIT BY A ROCK ALSO. HOW LIKELY IS THAT TO HAPPEN, NEED TO INVESTIGATE INFINITI FOR POOR COOLANT LINES AND CHARGING CUSTOMERS FOR ITEMS THAT SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY. WAS TOLD REPAIRS WILL COST $1200 AND CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY WITH LESS THAN 21000 MILES. CALLED INFINITI TO COMPLAIN AS OTHERS HAVE AND WAS ONLY GIVEN A REFERENCE NUMBER AND TO WAIT FOR A CALLBACK. OTHERS HAVE BEEN MADE TO PAY FOR REPAIRS AND THIS IS HAPPENING WAY TOO OFTEN AND INFINITI NEEDS TO STEP UP AND OWN THEIR DEFECTIVE PART AND STOP PASSING THE EXPENSE ON TO CUSTOMERS. SHAME ON THEM. POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CUSTOMER RELATIONS.
WHILE IN MOTION ON A HIGHWAY ON THE WAY TO OUR SUMMER VACATION, OUR BRAND NEW INFINITI QX80 STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP (AND GETTING A TAXI TO TAKE US TO A RENTAL CAR PLACE) WE WERE TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE HAD COME FROM THE FACTORY WITH AN OIL COOLER WATER HOSE THAT WAS 2 INCHES LONGER THAN STANDARD, CAUSING THE HOSE TO RUB AGAINST THE COOLING FAN BLADE AND SEVERING IT CAUSING ALL COOLANT TO LEAK. INFINITI WILL NOT REIMBURSE US FOR RENTAL CAR COSTS, DESPITE THE CAUSE BEING FACTORY DEFECT. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2016 Infiniti QX80. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked in the garage, there was an abnormally strong fuel odor inside the garage. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the Vin was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
I PURCHASED A 2016 QX80 LAST WEEK. AFTER FILLING MY CAR WITH FUEL, WITHIN 10 MINUTES, MY GAS GAUGE WENT FROM FULL, TO DOWN 3/4 OF A TANK OF GAS. AFTER ONLY 50 MILES OF DRIVING, WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING ON, I'M AT 1/2 OF A TANK ACCORDING TO MY FUEL GAUGE. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THAT CAN BE CORRECT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2016 Infiniti QX80. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 50 MPH on the interstate, there was an abnormal booming sound coming from the sunroof, and the driver discovered that the sunroof glass had shattered. The contact called the Insurance Company for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that the sunroof needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired; however, the dealer was in the process of ordering the part to repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 27,448.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
Vehicle will not shift pass 3rd gear. Valve body issue, diagnosed by dealership. Many of the same model have the same problem. Vehicles have very low mileage with a problem like this. Dealer refuses to replace part or compensate. Vehicle poses a potential safety issue on the road.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I PURCHASED A 2016 QX80 LAST WEEK. AFTER FILLING MY CAR WITH FUEL, WITHIN 10 MINUTES, MY GAS GAUGE WENT FROM FULL, TO DOWN 3/4 OF A TANK OF GAS. AFTER ONLY 50 MILES OF DRIVING, WITH NO AIR CONDITIONING ON, I'M AT 1/2 OF A TANK ACCORDING TO MY FUEL GAUGE. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY THAT CAN BE CORRECT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH OUR VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES SINCE NOVEMBER 20, 2019. THE FIRST TIME WE TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP, IT WAS DUE TO IT BOGGING DOWN. THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND IN BOTH THE CITY AND INTERSTATE. THE WORST TIME, WAS WHEN WE WERE ON THE INTERSTATE DRIVING AROUND 70 MILES AN HOUR AND WENT TO ACCELERATE TO PASS A VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BOGGED DOWN AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THEY UPDATED THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE AND WE WERE TOLD THIS SHOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE ON 9/23/19 AND THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO DEMONSTRATE THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 9/25/19. AT THIS TIME, MR. JUNOT RODE WITH A TECHNICIAN AND WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE REPINED THE ECM CONNECTOR AND CLEARED ALL THE CODES. WE WERE ABLE TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE ON 10/3/19. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO DRIVE SLUGGISH AND BOG DOWN. ON 10/15/19, THE CUSTOMER WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN THE CITY, WHEN IT BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN AND THE STEERING AND BRAKES LOCKED UP. SHE WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK AND COAST INTO A PARKING LOT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED ON 10/16/19 AND WE WERE TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN ON 10/17/19. THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND CALLED IN A DST SPECIALIST. WE WERE TOLD THAT HE WOULD NOT BE AT THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18TH. [XXX]. MET HIM AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT MORNING. HE TALKED TO THE DST AND REVIEWED ALL THE ISSUES WE HAVE HAD. WE DID NOT RECEIVE A CALL FROM THE DST AND RECEIVED AN EMAIL FROM INFINITI STATING THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. MY HUSBAND HAD TO CALL TO GET THE DETAILS OF THE REPORT. WE WERE TOLD WE COULD PICK UP THE VEHICLE ON 10/21/19. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .