AI Damage2011 Infiniti QX56: common problems
Owners of the 2011 Infiniti QX56 filed 78 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and fuel/propulsion system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 78
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 47% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 23% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 12% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 4% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 4% of all complaints
- 7 Visibility 4% of all complaints
- 8 Air bags 3% of all complaints
- Engine: 37 complaints (47% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 18 complaints (23% of all).
- Suspension: 9 complaints (12% of all).
- Powertrain: 4 complaints (5% of all).
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (4% 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, 4WD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 78 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 37 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 18 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 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.
The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V455000 (Equipment); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact was unable to rent the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted.
Need to know if there are recalls on the Q56 Infinite for the Catalytic Converter Failure. This truck had 2 and this is the second one that seems to be faulty and the truck only had 162000 miles The 1st one faulted at [phone] The Infinite 2011 Q56 has been known for faulty Catalytic Converter Failure and nothing was…
Doing much research on this model suspension and subframes become rusted as I didnât know this when purchasing making it very unsafe . I experienced being involved in almost 2 accidents. Very dangerous. Subframe split in half and suspension.
The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle began to shake and inadvertently stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with needing the high-pressure fuel tank replaced.
The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would vibrate violently. Additionally, the vehicle had experienced intermittent power loss and had gone into limp mode. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated.
While driving my 2011infiniti qx56 to work, the service engine light came on and the vehicle start losing power and shaking.after checking it I had codespoo21,poo87 and poo90. The codes are related to vvt solenoid and high pressure fuel pump.
The contact stated while driving 65 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact continued driving to his destination. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer southwest infiniti ([address], houston, [ZIP], [phone]) where it was diagnosed with needing the catalytic converter to be replaced.
Timing chain started rattling @ 125,000 miles.. However, my vin shows no recall for my car. Cats went bad, had to be replaced and now need to be replaced again. Yet no recall on my car. The battery constantly goes dead in the car. I bought a new infinity battery in the car the same thing happened.
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 4,151 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 78, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Infiniti QX56?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, fuel/propulsion system, suspension. Total complaints: 78. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (24%), fuel system, fuel smell (9%), knocking, grinding or other noise (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2011 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 2011 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 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.