VEHICLE BUYER'S GUIDE
Infiniti QX562004–2013
Year-by-year buyer intelligence from NHTSA safety data — reliability, value, and which years to target or avoid.
Best Years to Buy a Infiniti QX56
Buyer Score combines reliability (65%) and depreciation value (35%) — higher is better.
Infiniti QX56 Years to Avoid
2 recalls · 67 complaints
2 reported injuries
Top issue: SERVICE BRAKES
2 recalls · 62 complaints
Top issue: SERVICE BRAKES
2 recalls · 58 complaints
Top issue: SERVICE BRAKES
Infiniti QX56 — 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 1 | 21 | 1 | — | 57 | 46 | 53 | Good |
| 2012 | 2 | 34 | — | — | 57 | 42 | 52 | Caution |
| 2011 | 2 | 53 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
| 2010 | 3 | 19 | 1 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Caution |
| 2009 | 2 | 5 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2008 | 3 | 42 | 1 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
| 2007 | 1 | 17 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Good |
| 2006 | 2 | 58 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
| 2005 | 2 | 62 | — | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | Avoid |
| 2004 | 2 | 67 | 2 | — | 57 | 39 | 51 | 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 QX56 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 QX56 compares — best year within each era shown.
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: 2013 (Buyer Score 53).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best year QX56 to buy?+
The 2013 Infiniti QX56 scores highest on our Buyer Score (53/100) — combining a reliability score of 57/100 with a value score of 46/100. It has 1 recall and 21 NHTSA complaints on record.
Which QX56 years have the most problems?+
The 2004, 2005, 2006 model years have the highest problem scores in our analysis. The 2004 QX56 leads with 2 recalls and 67 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 QX56 problems?+
The most frequently reported Infiniti QX56 issues involve: SERVICE BRAKES, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM. 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.