VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE

Infiniti QX502014–2026

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

🏅 LUXURY
Infiniti QX50
2014–2026
A+
Defect Risk
Recall intensity
0.3/yr · seg. median 2.0
Safety
Low
20 inj.
✓No open federal investigations
3
Recalls
197
Complaints
2020
Best Yr
20
Injuries
Top issue: ENGINEAvoid 2019
13
Years Analyzed
3
Total Recalls
197
Total Complaints
20
Reported Injuries
0
Reported Deaths

Best Years to Buy a Infiniti QX50

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

#1 PICK6yr old
2020
Strong Buy · 99/100
Reliability100/100
Value window98/100
Recalls1
Complaints15
Top issue: ENGINE
#2 PICK4yr old
2022
Strong Buy · 99/100
Reliability100/100
Value window96/100
Recalls1
Complaints8
Top issue: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
#3 PICK3yr old
2023
Strong Buy · 96/100
Reliability100/100
Value window89/100
Recalls0
Complaints5
Top issue: ENGINE

Infiniti QX50 Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2019

0 recalls · 104 complaints

2 reported injuries

Top issue: ENGINE

#2 WORST
2021

1 recall · 31 complaints

10 reported injuries

Top issue: ENGINE

#3 WORST
2016

0 recalls · 16 complaints

5 reported injuries

Top issue: UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Federal Defect Investigations

NHTSA investigations are the stage that precedes a recall. 1 past investigation into the QX50 became recall.

Recently concluded investigations
PE23023 · engine and engine cooling · closed Jul 2025→ Became recall

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Data current as of October 28, 2026.

Infiniti QX50 — Year-by-Year Comparison

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

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliabilityValueBuyer ScoreVerdict
202600——
100
51
83
Excellent
202500——
100
66
88
Excellent
202408——
100
79
93
Excellent
202305——
100
89
96
Excellent
2022183—
100
96
99
Good
202113110—
85
99
90
Caution
2020115——
100
98
99
Good
201901042—
85
94
88
Avoid
201800——
100
88
96
Excellent
201707——
100
81
93
Excellent
20160165—
91
74
85
Good
201501——
100
67
88
Excellent
201402——
100
61
86
Excellent

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

Known Infiniti QX50 Problems

Most frequently reported components across all model years, from NHTSA owner complaints.

ENGINE
48
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
26
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
18
POWER TRAIN
18
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
16
SERVICE BRAKES
12
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
11
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
6

Complaint counts across all model years. Numbers indicate frequency, not severity.

Shopping by Era

How each generation of the QX50 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 99).

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: 2017 (Buyer Score 93).

Best: 2017

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best year QX50 to buy?+

The 2020 Infiniti QX50 scores highest on our Buyer Score (99/100) — combining a reliability score of 100/100 with a value score of 98/100. It has 1 recall and 15 NHTSA complaints on record.

Which QX50 years have the most problems?+

The 2019, 2021, 2016 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2019 QX50 leads with 0 recalls and 104 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 QX50 problems?+

The most frequently reported Infiniti QX50 issues involve: ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, 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

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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