VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Infiniti Q5020142026

Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.

🏅 LUXURY
Infiniti Q50
20142026
B
Defect Risk
Recall intensity
2.7/yr · seg. median 0.0
Safety
Low
0 inj.
No open federal investigations
16
Recalls
0
Complaints
2021
Best Yr
0
Injuries
Avoid 2014
13
Years Analyzed
16
Total Recalls
0
Total Complaints
0
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Best Years to Buy a Infiniti Q50

Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.

#1 PICK5yr old
2021
Strong Buy · 83/100
Reliability81/100
Value window88/100
Recalls1
Complaints0
#2 PICK8yr old
2018
Strong Buy · 78/100
Reliability79/100
Value window77/100
Recalls2
Complaints0
#3 PICK11yr old
2015
Good Buy · 71/100
Reliability79/100
Value window56/100
Recalls2
Complaints0

Infiniti Q50 Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2014

4 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

#2 WORST
2017

4 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

#3 WORST
2016

3 recalls · 0 complaints

Top issue: No complaints on record

Federal Defect Investigations

NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 2 past investigations into the Q50 became recalls.

Recently concluded investigations
DP22005 · electrical system · closed Aug 2023→ Became recall

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of September 13, 2026.

Infiniti Q50 — Year-by-Year Comparison

Every model year ranked by Buyer Score. Click any year for its detailed problem report.

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
202600
81
40
67
Excellent
202500
81
55
72
Excellent
202400
81
68
76
Excellent
202300
81
78
80
Excellent
202200
81
85
82
Excellent
202110
81
88
83
Good
202000
81
87
83
Excellent
201900
81
83
82
Excellent
201820
79
77
78
Caution
201740
67
70
68
Avoid
201630
73
63
70
Avoid
201520
79
56
71
Caution
201440
67
50
61
Avoid

Buyer Score = Reliability (65%) + Value window (35%). Deaths and injuries sourced from NHTSA complaint filings. Year links open full NHTSA problem reports.

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: 2020 (Buyer Score 83).

Best: 2020

2013–2017

Mid-decade models in the depreciation sweet spot — typically 35–55% below original MSRP. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and recall completion. Best: 2015 (Buyer Score 71).

Best: 2015

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year Q50 to buy?+

The 2021 Infiniti Q50 scores highest on our Buyer Score (83/100) — combining a reliability score of 81/100 with a value score of 88/100. It has 1 recall and 0 NHTSA complaints on record.

Which Q50 years have the most problems?+

The 2014, 2017, 2016 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2014 Q50 leads with 4 recalls and 0 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?+

See the complaint chart on this page for a breakdown by component.

Deep-Dive Research

Found the right year? Verify the specific car.

A buyer's guide shows model-level risk. A VIN report shows the individual vehicle — accidents, odometer history, open recalls, and auction records.

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