VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Infiniti Q502014–2026
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Infiniti Q50
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Infiniti Q50 Years to Avoid
4 recalls · 150 complaints
3 reported injuries
Top issue: STEERING
2 recalls · 112 complaints
8 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN
2 recalls · 40 complaints
Top issue: ENGINE
Federal Defect Investigations
NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 2 past investigations into the Q50 became recalls.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of October 28, 2026.
Infiniti Q50 — Year-by-Year Comparison
Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Reliability | Value | Buyer Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 84 | 41 | 69 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 84 | 56 | 74 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 84 | 69 | 79 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 0 | 6 | — | — | 84 | 79 | 82 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 84 | 86 | 85 | Excellent |
| 2021 | 3 | 8 | — | — | 84 | 89 | 86 | Excellent |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 84 | 88 | 85 | Excellent |
| 2019 | 0 | 16 | — | — | 84 | 84 | 84 | Excellent |
| 2018 | 1 | 32 | — | — | 75 | 78 | 76 | Good |
| 2017 | 2 | 40 | — | — | 69 | 71 | 70 | Good |
| 2016 | 3 | 25 | 1 | — | 75 | 64 | 71 | Good |
| 2015 | 2 | 112 | 8 | — | 59 | 57 | 58 | Avoid |
| 2014 | 4 | 150 | 3 | 6 | 59 | 51 | 56 | Avoid |
Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.
Known Infiniti Q50 Problems
Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.
Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.
Shopping by Era
How each generation of the Q50 compares — best year within each era shown.
2018–Present
Modern safety tech, refreshed platforms, updated powertrains. Higher purchase price but lower reliability risk. Best pick in this era: 2021 (Buyer Score 86).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year Q50 to buy?+
The 2021 Infiniti Q50 scores highest on our Buyer Score (86/100) — combining a reliability score of 84/100 with a value score of 89/100. It has 3 recalls and 8 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which Q50 years have the most problems?+
The 2014, 2015, 2017 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2014 Q50 leads with 4 recalls and 150 owner complaints.
What is the Buyer Score?+
The Buyer Score is a composite metric that combines reliability (65% weight) and depreciation value (35% weight). Reliability reflects recall and complaint severity. Value reflects how much of the vehicle's depreciation has already been absorbed by prior owners — a 4–6 year old vehicle typically sits in the sweet spot.
What are the most common Q50 problems?+
The most frequently reported Infiniti Q50 issues involve: STEERING, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN. These are aggregated across all model years from NHTSA owner complaint filings. Frequency of complaints does not necessarily indicate severity.
Deep-Dive Research
A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.