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2020 Infiniti Qx50 Recalls, Issues & Maintenance

The 2020 Infiniti Qx50 carries 2 open NHTSA recalls — most recently covering tires and hard parts internal/mechanical. Owners report 4 recurring issue clusters, led by “Engine bearing recall repair delays and denials.” 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.

2 Open Recalls

Source: NHTSA

TIRES

Campaign #21V025000 · Jan 26, 2021

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (INFINITI) is recalling certain 2020 INFINITI QX50 vehicles. The text of the Tire and Loading Information placard, including the tire size and loading capacity, may be illegible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Risk: Illegible tire size or loading capacity information can lead to the incorrect sized tire being installed or its overloading, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: INFINITI will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the legibility of and, as necessary, replaced the placard, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200. Infiniti's number for this recall is PC788.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL

Campaign #25V437000 · Jun 27, 2025

Issue: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Rogue, 2019-2020 Altima, 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50, and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. The engine bearings may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine failure.

Risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash. A bearing failure may cause a breach in the engine block, allowing hot oil to be discharged, increasing the risk of an engine fire.

Fix: Dealers will reprogram the engine control module (ECM) software, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact Nissan's customer service at 800-647-7261 or Infiniti's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R25A8/A9 and R25B1/B2.

Recall data refreshed Sep 13, 2026.

Known issues for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2020 Infiniti Qx50.

Reported to NHTSA

Engine bearing recall repair delays and denials

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

9 NHTSA complaints · 2025-08 → 2026-02

“The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V437000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The local dealer was contacted to schedule an appointment, and it was confirmed that parts were not yet available”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11715561
“The contact called the local dealer and was advised that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11710323
“The dealership misrepresented the recall status of my vehicle, failed to disclose that Recall 25V437 remained open, and delivered a defective product – a vehicle with a known safety defect that directly impacts usability, value, and consumer safety”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11700129

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine bearing failure requiring engine replacement

POWER TRAIN, ENGINE

9 NHTSA complaints · 2025-06 → 2026-02

“On January 19, 2026, while driving approximately 65 mph on a four-lane highway in Long Island, the vehicle suddenly went into limp mode and dropped to about 10 mph without warning”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11719065
“I promptly took my vehicle to the dealership, and they confirmed there is metal shavings engine and Infiniti refused to replace the engine”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11710207
“Infiniti of Birmingham (Alabama) says that one of the bearings in the engine spun and there is metal shavings in the oil pan. They say I need a new engine with only 68,000 miles”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11664985

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Forward collision warning false activation

SERVICE BRAKES, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

7 NHTSA complaints · 2022-01 → 2025-01

“COLLISION WARNING SENSOR ACTIVATED WHILE DRIVING IN THE #1 LANE( CLOSEST TO THE CEMENT HIGHWAY DIVIDERS) AND AGGRESIVELY BRAKED AND SLOWED WHILE DIVING AT 77 MPH. NOT SAFE!!”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11602003
“When in ProPILOT Assist/Intelligent Cruise Control, when hands leave the steering wheel, car failed to give a dash visual warning, sensory warning, or did not take control of the vehicle to bring it to a safe stop”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11568151
“While driving vehicle, randomly vehicle brakes are applied on their own, causing vehicle to suddenly slow down in traffic. Red warning light appears on the dash”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11446663

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Electrical system malfunctions, display and stalling

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2 NHTSA complaints · 2020-10 → 2021-03

“CAR ABRUPTLY STALLS WHILE DRIVING. HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES. DRAMATICALLY INCREASING A CHANCE OF COLLISION”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11366795
“DISPLAY SCREEN COMPLETELY BLACK, BUTTONS WOULD WORK, RADIO WOULD WORK, HEATED SEATS WOULD WORK, AC WOULD WORK BUT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ON THE SCREEN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11404257

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Note: NHTSA also opened 1 defect investigation(s) on this vehicle that closed without action.

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)

No occupant deaths in FARS 2010–2024 crashes are on record for this year and model. That is the census answer for the window, and it says nothing more than that.

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.

0

complaints mentioning a crash

0

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 2020 Infiniti Qx50 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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