AI Damage2011 Infiniti M56: common problems
Owners of the 2011 Infiniti M56 filed 13 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 13
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 46% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 31% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 23% of all complaints
- 4 Air bags 15% of all complaints
- 5 Electronic stability control 8% of all complaints
- 6 Seat belts 8% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 8% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 6 complaints (46% of all).
- Engine: 4 complaints (31% of all).
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (23% of all).
- Air bags: 2 complaints (15% of all).
- Electronic stability control: 1 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 5.6 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 7-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 13 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Front passenger airbag occupancy sensor fails leading to inactivation of front passenger airbag. Dealership says that a repair solution is not available.
The contact stated that while making a left turn from a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle drove 2 MPH and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that as he released the accelerator pedal and depressed it again, he was able to drive the vehicle.
Driveshaft malfunctioning is causing the vehicle to shake violently at speeds above 60 mph. My safety and others safety is put at risk when I'm accelerating above 60 mph and the vehicle begins to shake violently causing the vehicle to veering into on coming traffic or nearby lanes.
I started the car up and started to drive to work about 3 miles into driving the check engine light came on followed by revs with no power or speed gain and the vehicle was giving me around 15mph to the point where I couldn't gain much more speed and had to pull off the road.
When you go to apply the brake it often locks up and stops immediately. This is an issue that comes and goes. It also at the same time it is stopping abruptly without applying the brake completely it will do the opposite and the brake will deflate all the way to the floor before stopping.
4was and stability control warning lights come on when driving over rough asphalt, or turning right or left and road is rough. The rear of the car feels unstable and steering wheel is off-center. The lights are on until the car is turned off.
Issue: passenger seat belt light continues to remain on after the passenger is no longer sitting on the seat. Root cause from dealer: defective passenger occupancy sensor. Only way to turn off the seat belt light is to either put the passenger seat belt on or turn on and off the car.
My solenoid switch went bad on me and needed to be replaced, took it to the infiniti dealership and they corrected the problem so I thought until oct 13 when I kept hearing this noise coming from my hook like a squealing noise..
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 9,843 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 27% most complained about).
On average one model year of the M56 has 6 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 13, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Infiniti M56?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, engine, electrical system. Total complaints: 13. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (31%), airbag warning light (8%), battery drain (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2011 Infiniti M56?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2011 Infiniti M56 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2011 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.