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2018 Infiniti Q50 problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
62% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2018 Infiniti Q50 are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.
Worse than 83% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 9 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 49%).
Does the 2018 Infiniti Q50 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 21 of 34 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Infiniti Q50 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (62%), and the largest group is filed under engine (17). For comparison, the 2017 scores 46% and the 2019 scores 52%. 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.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2018 compares with other Infiniti Q50 years
Of the 6 Infiniti Q50 years with enough complaints to score, the 2018 is the worst on engine and transmission share (62%). The best is the 2014 (19%). By volume, the 2018 drew 43 complaints (21 drivetrain), against 62 for the 2017 and 30 for the 2019.
Infiniti Q50 years to avoid and best years →
2014 Q50 problems · 2015 Q50 problems · 2016 Q50 problems · 2017 Q50 problems · 2018 · 2019 Q50 problems
The rest of the picture on the 2018 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
One of 21 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2018 Infiniti Q50 powertrain recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2018 Infiniti Q50 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 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.
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…
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…
1 other recall on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2018 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 2018 Infiniti Q50
Does the 2018 Infiniti Q50 have engine problems?
Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 21 of 34 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Infiniti Q50 concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (62%). 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 2018 Infiniti Q50?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2018 Infiniti Q50 is engine: 17 of 43 complaints (40%) name it, followed by air bags (9) and fuel/propulsion system (6). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2018 Infiniti Q50 reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 62% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 83% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 6 Infiniti Q50 years we score, it ranks worst. 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 2018 Infiniti Q50?
Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2018 Infiniti Q50 involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 3 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%), the 2015 (44%) and the 2016 (45%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2018 (62%). 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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Check a VINExperimental 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.