Fuel system, brake and electrical issues among the top complaints received by the NHTSA from vehicle owners
Infiniti fans couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel of the 2019 Infiniti QX50. This luxury crossover boasted about a lot of features with the new models proclaimed to “empower the drive.” Yet, it didn’t take long for drivers to understand that this model wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. In fact, this luxury vehicle suffers from a defective fuel system, malfunctioning electrical equipment and a faulty braking system.
Click on other model year to view more problems: 2021
In a conventional vehicle, the gasoline is what burns to produce power. When something inside the fuel system malfunctions, drivers can experience a myriad of problems, including strong odors, as illustrated below.
One Edmunds review states, “Bought this car three weeks ago and it’s already in the shop for gas smells filling up my garage. So strong in fact that I have to either park my brand new luxury SUV outside in the cold or leave my garage door open for hours while it “cools off”. Dealer repair shop says they can’t find anything wrong of course. This is a serious health hazard! The fact that it’s a gas smell makes me nervous to drive it too as i have no idea if it’sa leak close to the hot engine. This new VC engine definitely has some issues. Also, no run flats available for it anywhere currently so I’m screwed if I have a flat…smh. Car looks cool and has some nice tech but it’s not ready for prime time. With as much money as I spent on this “luxury crossover” I should not have to worry about smelling like gas when I get to work everyday! I seriously wish I had gone with a competitor. I was an Infiniti loyalist but I won’t be buying another one after this. This car wasn’t ready to be released and you’re using us as beta testers. You’ve lost me as a customer.”
Infiniti isn’t clueless about this situation. The company even issued Service Bulletin #ITB19-026 which tells technicians to replace the EVAP canister filter vent hose, unless there is an obvious fuel leak. It’s unlikely that the high-end Infiniti customers are pleased with driving a luxury vehicle that smells like a garage. Furthermore, a potential fuel leak could easily lead to a fire, thereby putting owners at risk. It’s difficult to feel empowered when living in fear.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | |
| Engine | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | |
| Power Train | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | |
| Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking |
The electrical system of a vehicle runs just about everything. Aside from that, electrical power is also needed to run the various features and accessories. In a luxury-minded SUV, the amenities must work correctly for the owners to remain happy, but that’s not the case with the QX50.
An NHTSA complaint illustrates this by saying, “My wife opened the rear liftgate using the outside electronic door switch on the liftgate. The liftgate electrically fully opened. My wife started to load items into the rear of the SUV. The door electrically closed on its own. The door struck the back of my wife’s head before she could get out of the way. The door did not stop or open automatically, or detect an object in its path. She tried to reopen the liftgate using the switch, and it raised about 5 inches and then immediately shut.”
This Infiniti model is attempting to knock sense into the drivers with this defective part. Plus, there was a massive recall related to the back-up camera as well. NHTSA Campaign Number 19V654000 was issued for more than one million vehicles. It appears that the camera can be adjusted so the rearview image is no longer visible, which poses a major safety concern. To repair it, technicians must issue a software update. What’s worse – not being able to see what’s behind the vehicle or getting beaten up by the tailgate in the rear? The verdict is still out, but owners shouldn’t have to deal with either.
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One of the most basic functions of a vehicle is the braking system. Today’s technology is supposed to make the system work even better, but this Infiniti makes it worse.
One Edmunds user says, “I’ve had my car for a little over 4 months now and I’m terrified to drive it. Let me start off with I am a big Infiniti fan and have never had any issues with my previous cars. The driver-assist controls/ Emergency braking have been malfunctioning to where I’ll be going down the road at 30-40 miles per hour and it will automatically break. It’s not a slow break, it’s a full on from 30 to 0. I have been very lucky that the few times it has happened no one was behind me. It’s a very scary and dangerous situation. It’s currently in the shop, but they have already called saying everything is checking out fine. Be cautious with buying this model!”
Infiniti doesn’t seem to have a desire to discuss this further as there are no communications regarding the problem. At this point, the company might figure it should invoke its right to remain silent. Yet, the owners aren’t. The internet is filled with complaints about nearly every system in this vehicle. If the automaker planned to empower anything, it sure did help the drivers find a voice.
Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes Infiniti pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.
Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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I’ve owned my car for 8 months. After having an issue with it slipping, I contacted the dealership and made an appointment to bring it in. They called me back a few days later telling me that my turbocharger was gone and it was going to cost $10,000 because the car was out of warranty. I was not in any way offered an extended warranty but I was under the impression that was because the salesman told me there was a six year manufacturer’s warranty on the vehicle. Which is why I brought it all the way back to the dealership to begin with. I brought it to my local mechanic he changed the spark plugs and it drove like a dream for the next 2 months. Then I was on my way to work and it broke down on the highway. I brought it back to my local mechanic and he told me it needs an entire engine! So for a vehicle that I’ve owned for 8 months I am not paying for but I cannot drive it. Infinity Consumer Affairs offered me nothing to assist and all of the warranty paperwork from the dealership has me and my significant others names forged saying we declined coverage. It’s such a clusterf** and in order for me to get what I deserve I would have to sue the dealership which I intend to do because they’re not getting away with forging people’s names on legal documents.
I have a 2019 qx 50 I experienced my car stalling on the freeway and a red symbol flashed on the dash screen. It was so fast and disappeared, I didn’t know what it said. I took it back to dealer and of course they found no issues. It did it again today on the freeway. For sure the car is unsafe. Not sure what to do at this point. Infiniti needs to see what’s going on before someone gets hurts.
From the moment, I drove my Infiniti QX50 2019 off the lot, I have had problems. The navigation system stopped working on its own. It started flashing and automatically starting a route that I did not input. I couldn’t cancel. I was told it was damaged, but no on could tell me what was in fact damaged or how it got damaged. I was simply told it would cost me $1200 to repair since it was out of warranty. The car stops without warning. It happened on the freeway and I thought I was going to be rear-ended. I was so scared. I steered the SUV into the service lane until I could get my bearings. Turned the vehicle off and restarted the car. I called Infiniti Service and was told they had never heard of such a thing. I was loading groceries into the back of the vehicle and the liftgate started closing and hit me in the head. Now, I can’t use the touch screen at all. It does not respond.
I am currently trying to purchase a new car and I’ve owned 3 Infiniti’s in the past–since 1995. I won’t buy another one. Trust me this car is dangerous.
Yes liftgate has mind of it’s own. Specially when battery is low, or car was not driven for a while (2-3 days). Sometimes I am a liftgate on my QX50 since power does go away. But I love my car. Paint does chip easily. Otherwise car is stellar.
isue with infinity
At the end of the day, finally I was ready to go home after a long day of work and I opened passenger door to put my handbag and lunch bag and tried to open the door from driver’s side and I was locked out of my car. I had to call the locksmith to open the door and it costs me $100. I contacted the dealership and explained the situation and they said they could not do anything.
And then recently, I was loading the groceries in the trunk and liftgate closed on me . I was panicked and it hit me on my head.
And 3 times, I was driving and all of a sudden there was automatic break on even though there was no car in front or behind me.