2013 Infiniti QX56
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2013 Infiniti QX56 has 43 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (44% of all complaints), specifically: the service engine light came on, and i brought the vehicle to thousand oaks infiniti where i regularly have the vehicle serviced. the diagnosis was a bank 2 catalytic convertor failure. based on my research, this is a very common problem with the car and it is just a matter of time that the other c.
43
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.5x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
19 complaints- • THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THOUSAND OAKS INFINITI WHERE I REGULARLY HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BANK 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTOR FAILURE. BASED ON MY RESEARCH, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME THAT THE OTHER C
- • HEAR ABNORMAL NOISES FROM THE ENGINE SOUND LIKE RATTLE OR TICKING
- • LOUD WHISTLING/WHINING SOUND FROM THE MOTOR AT START UP. EXTREME LOSS OF POWER WHEN STARTING UP A GRADE OR TO GET UP TO SPEED ON THE INTERSTATE CAUSING FEAR OF REAR END COLLISION. IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT RESULTS IN A TIMING CHAIN OR CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPAIR, COSTING
“THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THOUSAND OAKS INFINITI WHERE I REGULARLY HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BANK 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTOR FAILURE. BASED ON MY RESEARCH, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME THAT THE OTHER C”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
4 complaints- • ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN TWO DAYS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, I WAS ALREADY AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN IT SUDDENLY COLLAPSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE, AS SOON AS I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAK
- • 4/14/15 VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM CARMAX. PROBLEM: BRAKES DO NOT WORK WHEN PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR FIRST BRAKE FAILURE (4/15/15) TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, BRAKES FAILED AT APPROX. 6PM UNDER CLEAR WEATHER/GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS, WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON VERMONT AVE. IN GARDENA, CA AT APPRO
- • DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 421 IN WILKESBORO, NC ON A 45 MPH SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY, MERGED OVER INTO THE TURNING LANE TO TURN LEFT ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC. WAITED FOR A BREAK IN TRAFFIC, UPON A BREAK IN TRAFFIC TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO CROSS TRAFFIC, AS VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE IT STALLED IN MIDD
“ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN TWO DAYS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, I WAS ALREADY AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN IT SUDDENLY COLLAPSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE, AS SOON AS I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAK”
— NHTSA complaint filing
SUSPENSION
4 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 INFINITI QX56. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS SAGGING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION AIR BAG ON THE RE
- • While my wife was driving our QX56 during normal conditions at approximately 40MPH, QX56 begun to swerve repeatedly left to right in a dangerous manner and she had to apply brakes rapidly. Looking under the vehicle, the lower control arm was badly cracked and the cause of the swerving. I towed to
- • The contact owns a 2013 Infiniti QX56. The contact stated that intermittently while parked, and while driving at various speeds, the rear of the vehicle was sagging. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the air shocks and compressor
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 INFINITI QX56. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS SAGGING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION AIR BAG ON THE RE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
3 complaints- • TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT NEEDED AFTER 80000 MILES
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ALSO, THE VEHICLE SHOOK WHEN STOPPING AND HESITATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CHECKED THE VEHICLE, AFTER MULTIPLE INCIDENT HAPPEN TH
- • The contact owns a 2013 Infiniti QX56. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment while accelerating. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a f
“TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT NEEDED AFTER 80000 MILES”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
3 complaints- • DEAD BATTERY. REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY, VEHICLE IS DEAD EVERY 2-3 DAYS. MANY OTHERS REPORT THE SAME ISSUE. INFINITI HAS AN "INFOTAINMENT SOFTWARE UPDATE" TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT HAVE NO FIX FOR OLDER VEHICLES.
- • THERE WAS CAR THAT PULLED UP BEHIND ME WHILE I WAS IDLE IN THE DRIVEWAY AND AS I PULLED OUT NO WARNING BEEP..AND NOW THE VEHICLE. WAS NOT CRANKING FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND NOTHING IS WRONG WITH BATTERY AND REMOTE IS FULLY CHARGED & HAVE BEEN STRANDED SEVAL TIMES BECAUSE IF OF IT...THIS HAS TO BE A REC
- • SUV WOULD NOT START SO HAD TO GET A JUMP. 1 WEEK LATER SAME THING. HAD BATTERY TESTED BUT WAS NOT BAD AND IT HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED BY DEALER IN 2019. 1 WEEK LATER AGAIN SUV WOULD NOT START. GOT A JUMP AND TOOK TO JBA INFINITI IN ELLICOTT CITY, MD WHO CHARGED THE BATTERY FOR 2 HOURS. 2 WEEKS LATE
“DEAD BATTERY. REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY, VEHICLE IS DEAD EVERY 2-3 DAYS. MANY OTHERS REPORT THE SAME ISSUE. INFINITI HAS AN "INFOTAINMENT SOFTWARE UPDATE" TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT HAVE NO FIX FOR OLDER VEHICLES.”
— 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 43 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THOUSAND OAKS INFINITI WHERE I REGULARLY HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BANK 2 CATALYTIC CONVERTOR FAILURE. BASED ON MY RESEARCH, THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME THAT THE OTHER C
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐BRAKES: ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN TWO DAYS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, I WAS ALREADY AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN IT SUDDENLY COLLAPSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE, AS SOON AS I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐SUSPENSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 INFINITI QX56. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS SAGGING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION AIR BAG ON THE RE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT NEEDED AFTER 80000 MILES
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 2013 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
- 43
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 4
- Injury reports
- 1
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
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