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2015 Infiniti Q50 Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2015 Infiniti Q50 carries 3 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering automated/adaptive steering and occupant classification. Owners report 6 recurring issue clusters, led by “Transmission valve body/TCM failure and limp mode.” Infiniti manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe — short trips, city traffic, extreme temperatures) and Schedule 2 (easy highway use). Most US drivers honestly belong on Schedule 1: oil every 5,000 miles. The VQ V6s that power most of the lineup are chain-driven and durable when the oil stays fresh. The two things owners skip at their peril: CVT fluid on QX50/QX60 (extended intervals are how these transmissions die) and oil discipline on the twin-turbo VR30 in Q50/Q60 Red Sport.

3 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

STEERING:AUTOMATED/ADAPTIVE STEERING

Campaign #16V430000 · Jun 13, 2016

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc.'s (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Infiniti Q50 vehicles manufactured December 26, 2012, to December 11, 2015, and Infiniti Q50 Hybrid vehicles manufactured December 10, 2012, to December 17, 2015. The Direct Adaptive Steering system may experience an error at vehicle start up altering the vehicle's steering responsiveness and turning radius.

Risk: If the vehicle does not steer as the driver anticipates, there is an increased the risk of a crash.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Direct Adaptive Steering ECU software, free of charge. The recall began on August 12, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

Campaign #16V244000 · Apr 26, 2016

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.

Risk: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

Fix: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

Campaign #24V470000 · Jun 21, 2024

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (INFINITI) is recalling certain 2011-2013 M56, 2012-2013 M35 Hybrid, 2014-2018 Q50, Q70 Hybrid, 2014-2019 Q70, and 2015-2019 Q70L two-wheel drive vehicles. The driveshaft can fatigue and break.

Risk: A broken driveshaft can result in a loss of drive power, or a vehicle roll away when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied. Both scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 13, 2024. Owners may contact INFINITI's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. INFINITI's numbers for this recall are R24A5 and R24A7.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2015 Infiniti Q50.

Reported to NHTSA

Transmission valve body/TCM failure and limp mode

POWER TRAIN

42 NHTSA complaints · 2019-11 → 2026-08

“While driving my 2015 Infiniti Q50s, the transmission suddenly suffered a catastrophic electronic failure, causing the vehicle to immediately drop into "limp mode." This resulted in a sudden and dangerous loss of acceleration while operating in traffic. A diagnostic scan”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11750490
“The contact owns a 2015 Infiniti Q50. While driving at various speeds, the transmission was slow to shift. The vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11722204
“When on the highway my transmission slipped then went out and wouldn’t accelerate, without any warning or sign of trouble beforehand. I scrambled to pull over and it started to accelerate again. It struggled to shift in 1st gear and second but despite going over 40 mph it would”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11447136

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Run-flat tire sidewall failure

TIRES

4 NHTSA complaints · 2016-07 → 2017-10

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 INFINITI Q50, EQUIPPED WITH DUNLOP TIRES, TIRE LINE: SP SPORT, TIRE SIZE: 245/40RUNFLAT/19 94W N/A, AND DOT NUMBER: U28T. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STRUCK "A BUMP OR A POTHOLE" CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK. THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11032700
“DUNLOP P245/R40R19 RUN FLATS. THESE TIRES SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BE SOLD TO THE PUBLIC UNTIL THE ISSUES ARE RESOLVED. WE WERE DRIVING HOME WHEN THE FLAT TIRE LIGHT CAME HOME. WE WERE ON CITY STREETS. AAA PUT ON THE SPARE TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP STATED ON THE REPAIR ORDER THAT THE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10978926
“TIRES WERE REPLACED 4 TIMES A YEAR DUE TO SIDEWALL PROBLEMS. WE HAVE 4 CARS IN THE HOUSE AND NONE OF THE OTHER CARS HAVE THIS ISSUE. THESE TIRES CANNOT HANDLE ANY POTHOLES. INFINITI TOOK OUT THE ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY FOR THESE TIRES IN THEIR 2015 MODEL Q50S”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10885008

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Sunroof glass shattering while driving

VISIBILITY

3 NHTSA complaints · 2019-06 → 2021-03

“2015 INFINITI Q50. CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE SUNROOF EXPLODED AND SHATTERED. *LD *JS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11402452
“I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AT APPROX 6:15AM ON HWY 17. SPEED WAS APPROX 40MPH WHEN THE SUNROOF SUDDENLY EXPLODED. MOST OF THE GLASS FLEW OUT SHOWERING THE CARS BEHIND ME. I DIDN'T HEAR OR SEE ANYTHING HIT THE SUNROOF”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11308442
“I WAS DRIVING ON I-65 AT 4:00 PM ON JUNE 19 WHEN MY SUNROOF EXPLODED. NO OTHER VEHICLES OR DEBRIS WERE NEAR ME AND NO INDICATION OF IMPACT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11221857

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Direct Adaptive Steering malfunction

STEERING

22 NHTSA complaints · 2015-09 → 2026-07

“DIRECT ADAPTIVE STEERING EXPERIENCEING AT START UP ALTERING THE VEHICLES STEERING AND RESPONSIVENESS AND TURNING RADIUS DOES NOT WORK AND IS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE IS A RECALL 16V430000 ON THIS VERY PROBLEM. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY DEALERSHIP AND”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11751944
“Was making a left turn when the steering stopped working and the motor lost power, the adaptive steering quit working after approximately 15 mins. I started the car and it was working. Went a half mile made a right turn and it went out again. Shut off the motor tried to start it”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11689862
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY 60 PLUS MPH, I LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT AND THE CAR WENT RIGHT. THIS OCCURRED TWICE ON TWO SEPARATE DAYS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. ...UPDATED 12/03/15 *BF UPDATED 10/30/2017*JS”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10767585

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag warning light and non-deployment in crashes

AIR BAGS

19 NHTSA complaints · 2015-09 → 2025-04

“I was in a car accident during the summer, I was driving at speed limit when I came out the curve the car started sliding, and I went off the road and roll over at 4 times and ended up in a ditch upside in some water, but NO AIRBAGS went off I have pictures showing so, I try to”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11616077
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 INFINITI Q50. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, AN 18 WHEELER PASSED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AND SPLASHED WATER ONTO THE ROAD. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND CRASHED INTO THE TRUCK. THE VEHICLE THEN SPUN 360 DEGREES BEFORE CRASHING INTO A GUARDRAIL AND”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11180002
“The contact owned a 2015 Infiniti Q50. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 to 10 mph, she experienced a diabetic medical emergency. The driver was unable to feel her legs or feet to stop the vehicle and crashed into the rear of an unknown SUV. The air bags did”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11550457

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Service brake failure and unintended rollaway

SERVICE BRAKES

12 NHTSA complaints · 2015-08 → 2024-03

“My braking system completely failed while I was driving with no warning of sound or dash safety indicators. The only way I was able to stop my vehicle is by shifting into park while I was in motion. Two days prior to my car losing all ability to brake, my car was routinely”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11576051
“I WAS DRIVING 2015 INFINITY Q50 (PURCHASED ON 02/28/2015) ON LEE ROAD, SHAKER HEIGHTS, OHIO 44120, WHICH HAD A FIRST SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ON 09/14/2015 AT THE BEACHWOOD INFINITY DEALER. I STOPPED AT THE INTERSECTION OF LEE ROAD AND CHAGRIN BLVD. BEHIND A BLACK JEEP FOR WAITING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10795320
“RECENTLY I WAS SITTING AT A STOPLIGHT ABOUT 3RD IN LINE BEHIND A FORD EXPLORER. I LIVE IN ATLANTA SO STOPLIGHTS ARE EXTRAORDINARILY LONG. I HAD THE CAR IN DRIVE OBVIOUSLY AND MY FOOT FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE. ABOUT 5 MINUTES INTO THE RED LIGHT MY CAR STARTS TO SLOWLY MOVE FORWARD”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10750334

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 13, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1 (most US driving); 7,500 on the easy-use Schedule 2. VQ engines tolerate a lot but reward fresh oil with quiet chains and clean variable-timing operation. VR30 twin-turbo: treat 5,000 as the ceiling.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate with every oil change. Staggered-fitment sport models (G37S, Q60) can't rotate front-to-rear — budget rear tires accordingly.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

CVT Fluid (QX50 / QX60)

Every 60,000 mi

CVT-equipped models: replace fluid around 60,000 miles — sooner with towing or hot-climate city driving. Use only Nissan NS-spec CVT fluid. This is the single most skipped, most expensive-to-skip item on modern Infiniti SUVs.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect pads, rotors, and lines at every service. Akebono-caliper sport packages wear pads unevenly if the slide hardware isn't serviced — have it cleaned and lubricated with pad changes.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace around 30,000 miles. Twin-intake VQ and VR engines use two filters — replace both, not just the easy one.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace roughly every 30,000 miles or 2 years — Infiniti pairs it with major services. Sport models driven hard should err toward the 2-year mark.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Automatic Transmission Fluid (7/9-speed)

Every 60,000 mi

Conventional automatics (G35/G37/Q50 RWD 7-speed, QX80 9-speed): fluid service around 60,000 miles under severe use keeps shifts clean. Matic-S/Matic-D spec fluid only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$330–$500

Shop

~$235–$355

DIY

~$60–$180

Some sealed transmissions have no dipstick — fill is precise and best left to a shop. Many drivers can still DIY drain-and-fill.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium plugs rated to 105,000 miles. On transverse VQ models (older QX60, JX35) the rear bank hides under the intake plenum — pay the labor once, at the full interval.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace about every 15,000 miles; behind the glovebox on most models.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 75,000 mi

First replacement at 75,000 miles / 5 years (Nissan blue long-life), then about every 4 years after. Genuine or NS-spec coolant only — mixing types gels.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Drive Belt Inspection

Every 60,000 mi

Inspect from 60,000 miles; replace on cracking, glazing, or tensioner noise. VQ accessory belts announce their age with a cold-start chirp.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$195–$235

Shop

~$135–$165

DIY

~$20–$50

DIY-friendly if you can reach the tensioner. Inspect for cracks rather than swap on a strict mileage interval.

Battery Test & Service

Every 25,000 mi

Test annually after year 3. Intelligent-Key and always-on telematics draw at rest — weak batteries show up first as slow push-button starts.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$225–$390

Shop

~$160–$280

DIY

~$130–$250

Most auto-parts stores test and install batteries free with purchase. Skip the dealer markup.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

68 crashes 2010–2024

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

16

complaints mentioning a crash

2

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle·Open recalls for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2015 Infiniti Q50 reflects INFINITI's published service intervals and the Schedule 1 / Schedule 2 Maintenance system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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