AI Damage2006 Infiniti QX56: common problems
Owners of the 2006 Infiniti QX56 filed 80 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 80
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 73% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 11% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 8% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 5% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 5% of all complaints
- 7 Electronic stability control 3% of all complaints
- 8 Equipment 3% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 58 complaints (73% of all).
- Electrical system: 9 complaints (11% of all).
- Powertrain: 7 complaints (9% of all).
- Engine: 6 complaints (8% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 4 complaints (5% 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, 5-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 80 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 58 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 3 | 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.
Additionally, the check engine warning light and a sensor warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that an Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) distance sensor malfunction might have caused the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed.
Air bag not working, horn not working properly. And other functions. Was told clock spring needs to be replaced.
Brake Failure. The brake fails occasionally while driving on the streets or on the Highways without Waring. The brake pedal goes down to the floor, and grinding/hitting metal to metal sound is heard and vehicle brake control is lost.
My vehicle stalling all time which is very dangerous especially when I m driving on highway . More than 10 times I almost crash my vehicle.
2006 infiniti qx56, had back brakes and rotors replaced in october 2020, 2 weeks later I'm driving, flat surface, nice day, applied brakes, my pedal went to floor, no resistance, I heard a grinding noise, felt like a 'slip' , I had kids in car, I pulled over, asked the girls what they heard, turned off vehicle,…
Suv will have trouble braking, emitting a loud, grinding noise when brakes are applied. Diffiulty stopping. Almost caused a wreck twice now. Once vehicle is turned off and back on, the situation seems to stop. Happens periodically.
When my car is in motion and I go over any bumps it pulls the back end of car my to the side and bounces around so much that I almost don't have control of my car.this will pull so much it take me to the side of the land im currently in I have to make sure I look out for bumps in the road and make sure I slow down…
The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle started to vibrate and decelerated independently. The vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed.
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 4,081 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 11% most complained about).
On average one model year of the QX56 has 54 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 80, above average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Infiniti QX56?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 80. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (41%), warning lights, check engine (28%), brake failure (16%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2006 Infiniti QX56?
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 2006 Infiniti QX56 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 2006 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.