2011 Infiniti QX56
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Infiniti QX56 has 94 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (41% of all complaints), specifically: problems with the timing belt chain on newer model infiniti qx56. problem of car making whistling noise appeared early after purchase and intermittently thereafter but became prominent in july 2011. appears to be a recurring problem with this vehicle model. dealer had to replace the entire engine. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.
94
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
1.2x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
39 complaints- • PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMING BELT CHAIN ON NEWER MODEL INFINITI QX56. PROBLEM OF CAR MAKING WHISTLING NOISE APPEARED EARLY AFTER PURCHASE AND INTERMITTENTLY THEREAFTER BUT BECAME PROMINENT IN JULY 2011. APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE MODEL. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE
- • WITH 72000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, TWO THOUSAND OVER WARRANTY, THE TIMING CHAIN HAS TO BE REPLACED. INFINITI REFUSES TO OFFER ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHEN IT IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THAT IS EVIDENCED BY THE FACT THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY RE-ENGINEERED. A TIMING CHAIN FAI
- • I NOTICED THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD WHISTLE NOISE EMANATING FROM THE ENGINE DURING COLD START-UPS. APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS LATER I TOOK IT FOR SERVICE AT THE ORLANDO INFINITI DEALERSHIP ON JANUARY 5, 2016. AS SOON AS I DESCRIBED THE ISSUE THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND MULTIPLE TECHNICIANS IMMEDIATE
“PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMING BELT CHAIN ON NEWER MODEL INFINITI QX56. PROBLEM OF CAR MAKING WHISTLING NOISE APPEARED EARLY AFTER PURCHASE AND INTERMITTENTLY THEREAFTER BUT BECAME PROMINENT IN JULY 2011. APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE MODEL. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
20 complaints- • FUEL LINE FAILURE: A FUEL LINE FITTING/CLAMP ON BACK SIDE OF ENGINE (DRIVERS SIDE) IS STREAMING FUEL AT A RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 1/2 CUP PER MINUTE. WHILE STARTING MY CAR THIS MORNING, I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE, SO I CHECKED UNDERNEATH AND SAW GAS STEADILY STREAMING FROM THE CAR AND FORM
- • FUEL LINE FAILURE: A FUEL LINE FITTING/CLAMP ON BACK SIDE OF ENGINE (DRIVERS SIDE) IS STREAMING FUEL AT A RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 1/2 CUP PER MINUTE. WHILE BRING MY KIDS TO SCHOOL THIS MORNING, I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE, SO I CHECKED UNDERNEATH AND SAW GAS STEADILY STREAMING FROM THE CAR AN
- • FUEL LEVELING SENSOR IS FAULTY IN A LARGE VARIETY OF INFINITI CARS, BUT THERE IS NOT RECALL FOR MY VIN. THE CAR'S FUEL GAUGE GOES UP AND DOWN ALL THE TIME AND TELLS ME I'M ON EMPTY WHEN I'M NOT AND NEVER REGISTERS FULL EVEN WHEN IT WAS JUST FILLED UP. IT CAN JUMP FROM READING 330 MILES LEFT TO EMPTY
“FUEL LINE FAILURE: A FUEL LINE FITTING/CLAMP ON BACK SIDE OF ENGINE (DRIVERS SIDE) IS STREAMING FUEL AT A RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 1/2 CUP PER MINUTE. WHILE STARTING MY CAR THIS MORNING, I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE, SO I CHECKED UNDERNEATH AND SAW GAS STEADILY STREAMING FROM THE CAR AND FORM”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SUSPENSION
9 complaints- • OUR 2011 INFINITI QX56 CANNOT BE PROPERLY CONTROLLED AT SPEED WHEN ANY ROUGH PAVEMENT, POT HOLE, BRIDGE CONNECTION JOINTS, OR SIMILAR IS RAN OVER. THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY WITH LITTLE IF ANY CONTROL BY THE DRIVER. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE DRIFTS OUT OF THE LANE. NO ACCIDENTS HAVE EVER
- • WHEN DRIVING 40-70 MPH AND HITTING ANY ROAD IRREGULARITIES (OFFSETS IN PAVEMENT AT BRIDGES, OLD TO NEW PAVEMENT, MAN HOLE COVERS, ROAD PATCHES) THE VEHICLE BACK END SKIPS SIDEWAYS WITH A LOSS OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WILL START TO HEAD INTO THE NEXT LANE AND NEEDS TO BE STEERED IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECT
- • I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A REPUTABLE INFINITY DEALERSHIP ON JANUARY 31,2013 WITH 41,669 MILES,AND I ALSO PURCHASED THE EXTENDED ELITE PROTECTION PROGRAM WARRANTY FOR 5 YEARS FOR $4,978.00.ON MAY 5TH, 2015, I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN FOR A STATE INSPECTION STICKER, WHICH WAS REJECTED BECAUSE MY R
“OUR 2011 INFINITI QX56 CANNOT BE PROPERLY CONTROLLED AT SPEED WHEN ANY ROUGH PAVEMENT, POT HOLE, BRIDGE CONNECTION JOINTS, OR SIMILAR IS RAN OVER. THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY WITH LITTLE IF ANY CONTROL BY THE DRIVER. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE DRIFTS OUT OF THE LANE. NO ACCIDENTS HAVE EVER”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
8 complaints- • THROUGH MY RESEARCH AND SPEAKING WITH INFINITI MECHANICS THERE HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH TIMING CHAINS AND ASSOCIATE PARTS THAT ARE A HAZARD AND A MAJOR EXPENSE TO 2011-2012 INFINITY QX56 OWNERS. THIS ISSUE WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED SOMEWHERE!! IT HAPPENS TO MY WIFE AND I THREE TIMES!!! I HAD TO GET
- • MY DASH BOARD STARTED CRACKING ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF THE LEATHER.
- • THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY INFINITI SERVICE. THE RIGHT SIDE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILED. WE REPAIRED THAT (ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO). TODAY, THE SAME SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT IS THE LEFT CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THE TOTAL AMOUNT SPENT TO REPAIR BOTH OF THE CATALYT
“THROUGH MY RESEARCH AND SPEAKING WITH INFINITI MECHANICS THERE HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH TIMING CHAINS AND ASSOCIATE PARTS THAT ARE A HAZARD AND A MAJOR EXPENSE TO 2011-2012 INFINITY QX56 OWNERS. THIS ISSUE WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED SOMEWHERE!! IT HAPPENS TO MY WIFE AND I THREE TIMES!!! I HAD TO GET”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
4 complaints- • PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMING BELT CHAIN ON NEWER MODEL INFINITI QX56. PROBLEM OF CAR MAKING WHISTLING NOISE APPEARED EARLY AFTER PURCHASE AND INTERMITTENTLY THEREAFTER BUT BECAME PROMINENT IN JULY 2011. APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE MODEL. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE
- • FUEL LEVELING SENSOR IS FAULTY IN A LARGE VARIETY OF INFINITI CARS, BUT THERE IS NOT RECALL FOR MY VIN. THE CAR'S FUEL GAUGE GOES UP AND DOWN ALL THE TIME AND TELLS ME I'M ON EMPTY WHEN I'M NOT AND NEVER REGISTERS FULL EVEN WHEN IT WAS JUST FILLED UP. IT CAN JUMP FROM READING 330 MILES LEFT TO EMPTY
- • TIMING BELT AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILURE CONFIRMED MY INFINITI OF MARIETTA
“PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMING BELT CHAIN ON NEWER MODEL INFINITI QX56. PROBLEM OF CAR MAKING WHISTLING NOISE APPEARED EARLY AFTER PURCHASE AND INTERMITTENTLY THEREAFTER BUT BECAME PROMINENT IN JULY 2011. APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE MODEL. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 94 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: PROBLEMS WITH THE TIMING BELT CHAIN ON NEWER MODEL INFINITI QX56. PROBLEM OF CAR MAKING WHISTLING NOISE APPEARED EARLY AFTER PURCHASE AND INTERMITTENTLY THEREAFTER BUT BECAME PROMINENT IN JULY 2011. APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE MODEL. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: FUEL LINE FAILURE: A FUEL LINE FITTING/CLAMP ON BACK SIDE OF ENGINE (DRIVERS SIDE) IS STREAMING FUEL AT A RATE OF APPROXIMATELY 1/2 CUP PER MINUTE. WHILE STARTING MY CAR THIS MORNING, I NOTICED A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE, SO I CHECKED UNDERNEATH AND SAW GAS STEADILY STREAMING FROM THE CAR AND FORM
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SUSPENSION: OUR 2011 INFINITI QX56 CANNOT BE PROPERLY CONTROLLED AT SPEED WHEN ANY ROUGH PAVEMENT, POT HOLE, BRIDGE CONNECTION JOINTS, OR SIMILAR IS RAN OVER. THE VEHICLE SHAKES VIOLENTLY WITH LITTLE IF ANY CONTROL BY THE DRIVER. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE DRIFTS OUT OF THE LANE. NO ACCIDENTS HAVE EVER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: THROUGH MY RESEARCH AND SPEAKING WITH INFINITI MECHANICS THERE HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH TIMING CHAINS AND ASSOCIATE PARTS THAT ARE A HAZARD AND A MAJOR EXPENSE TO 2011-2012 INFINITY QX56 OWNERS. THIS ISSUE WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED SOMEWHERE!! IT HAPPENS TO MY WIFE AND I THREE TIMES!!! I HAD TO GET
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Infiniti QX56 — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 94
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 3
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Infiniti QX56