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2016 Infiniti Q50 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
45%
15 of 33 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

45% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2016 Infiniti Q50 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 57% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 6 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 38%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2016 Infiniti Q50 have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 15 of 33 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Infiniti Q50 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (45%), and the largest group is filed under engine (10). For comparison, the 2015 scores 44% and the 2017 scores 46%. On a test drive, check for stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
15
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
39
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
4
1 crashes · 1 injuries

Complaints by component

ENGINE10 · 26%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM8 · 21%
STEERING6 · 15%
AIR BAGS5 · 13%
POWER TRAIN4 · 10%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3 · 8%

The years either side

2010
no data
2011
no data
2012
no data
2013
no data
2014
19%
28 of 169
2015
44%
46 of 126
2016
45%
15 of 39
2017
46%
24 of 62
2018
62%
21 of 43
2019
52%
14 of 30
2020
too few complaints
2021
too few complaints
2022
too few complaints
2023
too few complaints

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2016 compares with other Infiniti Q50 years

Of the 6 Infiniti Q50 years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 3rd-best on engine and transmission share (45%). The worst is the 2018 (62%), the best the 2014 (19%). By volume, the 2016 drew 39 complaints (15 drivetrain), against 126 for the 2015 and 62 for the 2017.

Infiniti Q50 years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2016 Infiniti Q50

  • What the repair costs. Typical engine repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

ENGINE07/20/2026
My 2016 Q50 was driving strangely, but no indicator light came on the dashboard. I took the vehicle to the dealer where I purchased it and was told that the engine is dying. No other information was given to me. I called the service advisor asking what in particular was wrong with my car, but he said he wasn't sure…

One of 15 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2016 Infiniti Q50 powertrain recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2016 Infiniti Q50 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

power train: driveline: driveshaft24V470000 · Jun 2024

Nissan North America, Inc. (INFINITI) is recalling certain 2011-2013 M56, 2012-2013 M35 Hybrid, 2014-2018 Q50, Q70 Hybrid, 2014-2019 Q70, and 2015-2019 Q70L two-wheel drive vehicles. The driveshaft can fatigue and break.

Risk: A broken driveshaft can result in a loss of drive power, or a vehicle roll away when the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied. Both scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 13, 2024. Owners may contact INFINITI's customer service at 1-800-662-6200. INFINITI's numbers for this recall are…

fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump17V476000 · Jul 2017

Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Infiniti Q50 and 2017 Infiniti Q60 vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. Incorrect Fuel Pump Control Module (FPCM) software may allow the fuel level in the main tank to be too low to supply fuel to the engine, causing the engine to stall while driving.

Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and Infiniti dealers will reprogram the Fuel Pump Control Module (FPCM) with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began August 29, 2017. Owners may contact Infiniti customer…

2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
steering: automated/adaptive steering16V430000 · Jun 2016
Nissan North America, Inc.'s (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Infiniti Q50 vehicles manufactured December 26, 2012, to December 11, 2015, and Infiniti Q50 Hybrid vehicles…
air bags: sensor: occupant classification16V244000 · Apr 2016
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60,…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2016 Infiniti Q50? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.

Questions people ask about the 2016 Infiniti Q50

Does the 2016 Infiniti Q50 have engine problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 15 of 33 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Infiniti Q50 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (45%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the engine and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2016 Infiniti Q50?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Infiniti Q50 is engine: 10 of 39 complaints (26%) name it, followed by electrical system (8) and steering (6). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2016 Infiniti Q50 reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 45% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 57% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 6 Infiniti Q50 years we score, it ranks 3rd-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Infiniti Q50?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2016 Infiniti Q50 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 4 in total: 24V470000 (power train: driveline: driveshaft), 17V476000 (fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Infiniti Q50 years are better?

Among the Infiniti Q50 years we track, the 2014 (19%) and the 2015 (44%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (45%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/infiniti-q50

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.