The 2018 Infiniti Q50 carries 3 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering camera and fuel pump. Owners report 7 recurring issue clusters, led by “Serpentine belt shredding and noise.” 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.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Campaign #19V654000 · Dec 9, 2019
Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible and the system will retain that setting the next time the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Campaign #17V476000 · Jul 27, 2017
Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Infiniti Q50 and 2017 Infiniti Q60 vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. Incorrect Fuel Pump Control Module (FPCM) software may allow the fuel level in the main tank to be too low to supply fuel to the engine, causing the engine to stall while driving.
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and Infiniti dealers will reprogram the Fuel Pump Control Module (FPCM) with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began August 29, 2017. Owners may contact Infiniti customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
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.
What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2018 Infiniti Q50.
ENGINE
6 NHTSA complaints · 2018-12 → 2025-11
“VR30DDTT SERPENTINE BELT KEEPS SHREDDING”
“THE SERPENTINE BELT MAKES CONSISTENT NOISE IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER. ALREADY HAD THE DEALER REPLACE IT ONCE. NOISE CAME BACK AND THE DEALER NOW SAYS IT COULD BE THE TENSIONER PULLEY”
“WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY INFINITI ON THE HIGHWAY MY SERPENTINE BELT SNAPPED 4 DIFFERENT TIMES WHILE IN MOTION. ALL WITHIN ONE YEAR”
BACK OVER PREVENTION
3 NHTSA complaints · 2020-01 → 2026-05
“The contact owns a 2018 Infiniti Q50. The contact stated that the back-up camera was flickering while in use. The contact stated that over time, the back-up camera screen had gone blank and failed to operate as needed”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 INFINITI Q50. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BACK-UP SCREEN WOULD NOT DISPLAY WHILE THE GEAR WAS IN REVERSE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED”
“I am submitting this complaint regarding a safety defect in my 2018 Infiniti Q50, which was manufactured prior to May 1, 2018”
WHEELS
2 NHTSA complaints · 2018-08 → 2018-11
“RUN FLAT TIRES WENT FLAT ON A POTHOLE THAT WAS NOT EVEN REALIZED ON A SUNDAY WITH NO SERVICE STATION OPEN”
“CAR COMES WITH 19"RIMS AND RUN FLAT TIRES (BRIDGESTONE DRIVE GUARD). SINCE LEASOING THE CAR IN NOVEMBER 2018, I HAVE RECEIVED 8 FLAT TIRES ALL FROM "POTHOLES" THAT RIPPED THE SIDE WALL”
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2 NHTSA complaints · 2019-11 → 2020-05
“POOR GAS MILEAGE RANGE PER FULL TANK IS 289MILES VERY BAD MILEAGE *TR”
“GAS MILEAGE IS VERRY BAD ! IN CITY ONLY MY CAR GIVE ME 14 MPG AND HWY 18MPG INFINITI SAY IS. 20MPG CITY AND 29HWY. AND COMBINED 22MPG”
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2 NHTSA complaints · 2018-06 → 2019-10
“FAULTY "DISPLAY CONTROL UNITS" CAUSE BLUETOOTH SYSTEM TO BEHAVE ERRATICALLY, PLAY / PAUSE MUSIC OR SOUNDS, OVERRIDE USER CONTROLS, AND CAUSE SEVERE DISTRACTIONS WHILE DRIVING BY HAVING TO MANUALLY TURN OFF BLUETOOTH FROM PHONE”
“THE PHONE/BLUETOOTH CONSTANTLY DISCONNECT DEVICES THAT ARE ADDED TO BLUETOOTH. OFTEN WHEN CALLS ARE MADE FROM YOUR CELL THROUGH BLUETOOTH, THERE IS A FRYING/STATIC SOUND THAT OCCURS”
ENGINE
13 NHTSA complaints · 2018-07 → 2026-01
“Leak in the turbo causing oil to burn and create smoke from the exhaust”
“vehicle has porous block and lead to engine failure. many other VR30DDTT engine equipped vehicles are having the same issue some are being replace and others are not”
“THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD AND COMPLETELY BURNED UP IN THE PARKING LOT AS I WAS EXITING THE VEHICLE UPDATED 12/4/18*JB”
AIR BAGS
8 NHTSA complaints · 2020-01 → 2026-07
“The contact owns a 2018 Infiniti Q50. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor became inoperable”
“The airbag passenger light is illuminated causing air bag system to remain off until resolve. The vehicle was taken in for inspection and dealer confirmed diagnostic results found Occupant sensor malfunctioning”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 INFINITI Q50. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AFTER WHICH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO HESITATE”
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.
Critical for safety and preventing major damage
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.
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-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.
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.
Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently
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.
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.
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.
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.
Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort
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.
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.
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.
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.
Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)
43 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.
1
complaints mentioning a crash
1
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 2018 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.