2013 INFINITI QX56 Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

ENGINE

13 complaints

The contact owns a 2013 Infiniti QX56. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the vehicle made an abnormally loud ticking sound. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the timing chain had failed, and the failure was related to Infiniti Campaign Number: P6305. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the campaign had expired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

Aug 09, 2023

Started car in the morning and it started misfiring very badly. Flashing check engine light. Immediately pulled over and shut engine off. Had it towed to my shop I use they hooked it up to computer and it was diagnosed as a loose timing chain. Basically timing chain replacement This is rediculous only has 129k miles. They claim timing chain and components are good til 300k with regular maintenance. This suv since new has had synthetic mobile 1 oil changed every 3500 miles. There was a voluntary recall on this issue. Why was it ever taken down Now I’m paying the car payment on a car I cannot drive. Till I spend $5000 to have all that replaced

Mar 27, 2023

Our Infiniti QX56 started misfiring and shaking when driving. We took it in to the Infiniti dealership and was informed it is a bad timing chain. Upon research, we realized there was a recall for this issue on 2013 Infiniti QX56 models just like ours. However, our VIN did not show on the recall list. Our car has been meticulously maintained. Our research revealed that timing chains in well maintained cars should last up to 300,000 miles. Our car has 105,000 miles. We feel this repair should be covered by Infiniti. We did not pay for a luxury car to have this type of issue. The car is undrivable due to safety concerns and we would like this addressed immediately.

Sep 13, 2022

The timing chain needs to be replaced on my vehicle with under 80,000 miles. Researching the issue i found that this is a very common problem with this specific engine. This is an $80,000+ car brand new and it did not last 80,000 miles. This is an obvious part malfunction due to the design of the vehicle. Infiniti should do something. It is a costly repair.

Mar 01, 2022

The contact owns a 2013 Infiniti QX56. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the vehicle made abnormal rattling sounds. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that the failure was occurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the timing chain guide and the timing chain needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they could not assist because the VIN was not included in a recall related to the failure. The contact referenced service bulletin #P6305. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.

Nov 03, 2021

+ 8 more complaints for this component

SUSPENSION

4 complaints

Control arm failure

Apr 26, 2023

The contact owns a 2013 Infiniti QX56. The contact stated that intermittently while parked, and while driving at various speeds, the rear of the vehicle was sagging. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the air shocks and compressor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and the contact was informed that the warranty had expired. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000. The contact stated that the air suspension system on the vehicle never properly worked. There was an attempt to make repairs but that did not fix the problem.

Feb 27, 2023

While my wife was driving our QX56 during normal conditions at approximately 40MPH, QX56 begun to swerve repeatedly left to right in a dangerous manner and she had to apply brakes rapidly. Looking under the vehicle, the lower control arm was badly cracked and the cause of the swerving. I towed to my local shop (not Infiniti dealership) for repair and they confirmed the right control arm was cracked. They stated the left control arm was also severely rusted / damaged and wasn't too far from cracking either. Fortunately, my wife was only going 40mph and was able to control the swerving. If going 70 or 75MPH on the highway, I'm not sure that would have been possible. Pictures are attached, both of broken right control arm which caused swerving and left control arm that is near cracking. With both control arms going out at same time, I feel this is a dangerous, quality control issue from Infiniti. I spoke with Seth at Infiniti Consumer affairs who stated they wouldn't reimburse the repair at a non-Infiniti repair show and didn't appear to plan to pass on the seriousness of the problem.

Jan 19, 2022

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 INFINITI QX56. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WAS SAGGING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUSPENSION AIR BAG ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE EXPLODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

May 12, 2017

POWER TRAIN

2 complaints

The contact owns a 2013 Infiniti QX56. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment while accelerating. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the timing chain. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Infiniti Service Campaign: ITB16-015a (Power Train). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 131,000.

Jun 14, 2023

TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT NEEDED AFTER 80000 MILES

Nov 10, 2018

SERVICE BRAKES

2 complaints

4/14/15 VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM CARMAX. PROBLEM: BRAKES DO NOT WORK WHEN PUSHED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR FIRST BRAKE FAILURE (4/15/15) TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASE, BRAKES FAILED AT APPROX. 6PM UNDER CLEAR WEATHER/GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS, WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON VERMONT AVE. IN GARDENA, CA AT APPROX. 10 MPH. THE QX56 HIT A DODGE STRATUS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE STRATUS DRIVER WAS INJURED AND SUBSEQUENTLY REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE QX56 WAS RETURNED TO CARMAX FOR REPAIR, BUT CARMAX SAID THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE BRAKE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO INFINITI AND AN ENGINEER WAS SENT OUT TO PULL THE BLACK (RECORDER) BOX. TO DATE, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE REPORT OF FINDINGS. INFINITI SAID THEY CHECKED THE BRAKES AND THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT BRAKE FAILURES (5/16/15) BRAKES FAILED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE TRAVELING WEST ON THE 10 FWY AND SOUTH ON THE 605 FWY FROM WEST COVINA TO CERRITOS, CA. IN TRAFFIC AT APPROX. 40-45 MPH UNDER CLEAR WEATHER/GOOD ROAD CONDITIONS AT 1:15P.M., 1:35 P.M., ETC. 4 ADULTS WERE IN THE CAR. IMPACT WAS AVOIDED WITH THE CAR IN FRONT BY PULLING THE INFINITI ONTO THE FREEWAY SHOULDER AFTER OCCURRENCE, THE QX56 WAS DRIVEN DIRECTLY TO INFINITI CERRITOS (11011 E. SOUTH STREET, CERRITOS, CA 90703). THE BRAKE CONDITION IS BEING ANALYZED. THE CONTACT PERSON IS [XXX] ANOTHER QX56 VEHICLE COMPLAINT FOR THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, MODEL, AND IDENTICAL BRAKE FAILURE PROBLEMS WAS REPORTED ON CARCOMPLAINTS.COM AT CAN BE FOUND AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/INFINITI/QX56/2013/BRAKES/BRAKE_PEDAL_GOES_ALL_THE_WAY_TO_THE_FLOOR.SHTM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

May 18, 2015

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN TWO DAYS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, I WAS ALREADY AT A COMPLETE STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN IT SUDDENLY COLLAPSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IN THE SECOND INSTANCE, AS SOON AS I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAKE PEDAL COLLAPSED ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, FOR FEAR IT WILL OCCUR AGAIN WHEN I AM NOT COMPLETELY STOPPED, AND I WILL HAVE NO BRAKING ABILITY. THE INFINITI DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE CAR, CLAIMS NOTHING IS WRONG, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AT THE DEALER FOR OVER A WEEK AWAITING AN INSPECTION BY A REPRESENTATIVE FROM INFINITI CONSUMER AFFAIRS. THE PROBLEM SEEMS VERY SIMILAR TO A PROBLEM EXPERIENCED ON EARLIER MODEL YEARS, WHEN THE BOOSTER CYLINDER MALFUNCTIONED. CLEARLY, THERE IS SOME SORT OF PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE HYDRAULICS...

Dec 20, 2014

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

Timing Chain

Sep 17, 2021

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

1 complaint

SUV WOULD NOT START SO HAD TO GET A JUMP. 1 WEEK LATER SAME THING. HAD BATTERY TESTED BUT WAS NOT BAD AND IT HAD JUST BEEN REPLACED BY DEALER IN 2019. 1 WEEK LATER AGAIN SUV WOULD NOT START. GOT A JUMP AND TOOK TO JBA INFINITI IN ELLICOTT CITY, MD WHO CHARGED THE BATTERY FOR 2 HOURS. 2 WEEKS LATER, SUV IS HESITATING TO START. I REFUSE TO PAY ANOTHER $186 FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE AND THEN RECHARGE THE BATTERY AGAIN. AFTER SOME RESEARCH IT LOOKS LIKE OTHERS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. NEXT, CATALYTIC CONVERTERS. SUV IS 8 YEARS OLD AND JBA INFINITI IS TELLING ME I NEED TO REPLACE THEM @ A COST OF $7500. THIS IS RIDICULOUS.....I DON'T HAVE LOSS OF POWER BUT I SO GET THE "ROTTEN EGG" SMELL SOMETIMES. I WOULD THINK THIS PART WOULD BE COVERED UNDER EMISSION WARRANTY FOR AT LEAST 15 YEARS. I HAVE 142000 MILES ON IT.

Sep 04, 2021

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,BACK OVER PREVENTION

1 complaint

THERE WAS CAR THAT PULLED UP BEHIND ME WHILE I WAS IDLE IN THE DRIVEWAY AND AS I PULLED OUT NO WARNING BEEP..AND NOW THE VEHICLE. WAS NOT CRANKING FOR SEVERAL HOURS AND NOTHING IS WRONG WITH BATTERY AND REMOTE IS FULLY CHARGED & HAVE BEEN STRANDED SEVAL TIMES BECAUSE IF OF IT...THIS HAS TO BE A RECALL

Apr 26, 2021

Crash: 1

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

DEAD BATTERY. REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY, VEHICLE IS DEAD EVERY 2-3 DAYS. MANY OTHERS REPORT THE SAME ISSUE. INFINITI HAS AN "INFOTAINMENT SOFTWARE UPDATE" TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT HAVE NO FIX FOR OLDER VEHICLES.

Oct 13, 2020

SEAT BELTS,SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

THE BRAKE PEDAL SEEMS SPONGY AND WHILE BRAKING AT SLOWER SPEEDS THE SEAT BELT PULLS BACK VIOLENTLY PINNING THE DRIVER BACK AGAINST THE SEAT. REAR BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID CHECK STILL NO DIFFERENT.

Aug 24, 2020

STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

1 complaint

DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 421 IN WILKESBORO, NC ON A 45 MPH SECTION OF THE HIGHWAY, MERGED OVER INTO THE TURNING LANE TO TURN LEFT ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC. WAITED FOR A BREAK IN TRAFFIC, UPON A BREAK IN TRAFFIC TRIED TO ACCELERATE TO CROSS TRAFFIC, AS VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE IT STALLED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. WIFE AND CHILDREN IN CAR STARTED SCREAMING. TRAFFIC NICE ENOUGH NOT TO RUN INTO US. HAD CAR TOWED TO LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP. FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE 5.6 LITTER NISSAN/ INFINITI ENGINE. ONE OF THE TIMING GEARS FOR THE LEFT BANK STOPPED ROTATING SOME HOW. THIS SIDE OF THE ENGINE TIMING SYSTEM ALSO POWERS THE FUEL PUMP SO THAT YOU CANNOT EVEN LIMP ACROSS THE ROAD ON HALF THE ENGINE. IT JUST STOPS RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE. YOU HAVE NO STEERING NO BREAKING AND NO PROPULSION. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESIGN AND LACK OF QUALITY OF THE ENGINE.

Mar 31, 2020

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

I WAS DRIVING ACROSS A BRIDGE IN TOWN GOING ABOUT 40MPH. NOTHING WAS OVER HEAD, DRIVING CONDITIONS WERE GOOD, WEATHER CLEAR AND ALL OF SUDDEN OUT OF NO WHERE I HEARD AN EXPLOSION. EXTREMELY LOUD, MADE MY EARS RING. I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT SOMETHING BLEW UP OR MY CAR HAD BEEN SHOT. I STARTED HEARING PIECES OF GLASS HIT MY SUNROOF COVER AND PULLED UP TO FIND MY GLASS HAD EXPLODED AND LEFT A HUGE HOLE IN MY SUNROOF. THE GLASS EXPLODED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE INFINITI DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR BRAND NEW. THEY AGREED THAT IT HAD EXPLODED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AND SAID THEY HAD SEEN THIS BEFORE. I WAS ASKED TO PAY $1261 TO REPLACE THE GLASS SINCE MY CAR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY.

Feb 27, 2020

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

CATALYST PROBLEM P0420 P0420. SEEN SAME VEHICLES BEING RECALLED.

Feb 03, 2020

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN SHE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. ALSO, THE VEHICLE SHOOK WHEN STOPPING AND HESITATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CHECKED THE VEHICLE, AFTER MULTIPLE INCIDENT HAPPEN THE NOISE GOT LOUDER AND THE STALLING GOT WORSE THE CONTACT STATED GOT TIMING CHAIN REPAIRED BUT FOUND NO FAILURES. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK IN IF THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. JOE MACHENS NISSAN (201 NEBRASKA AVE, COLUMBIA, MO 65203, (573) 503-4550) STATED THAT THEY DID NOT PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS AT THEIR FACILITY AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND REFERENCED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: 16-015; HOWEVER, IT EXPI*BFRED IN FEBRUARY OF 2018. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. *BF *TP

Oct 30, 2019

VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE

1 complaint

BACKING UP IN PARKING LOT SLOWLY (3MPH), UTILIZING ALL MIRRORS, GLANCING OVER BOTH SHOULDERS WHEN I BACKED INTO A VEHICLE'S BUMPER CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY BUMPER WHILE NONE TO THE OTHER CAR. THE INFINITI QX56 IS EQUIPPED WITH CAMERA AIDING CORNER SONAR AND MOD (MOVING OBJECT DETECTION). THE SONAR SYSTEM UTILIZES CAMERAS ON THE VEHICLE WHICH ARE DISPLAYED ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY SCREEN AS WELL AS AUDIBLE TONES WHICH INCREASE IN INTERMITTENT FREQUENCY UP TO CONTINUOUSLY, THE CLOSER THE OBJECT BECOMES. THE CORNER SONAR IS ADJUSTABLE TO HIGHER OR LOWER SENSITIVITY AND IS SET TO THE HIGHEST SETTING WHICH SOUNDS A TONE TO INFORM THE DRIVER OF OBSTACLES NEAR THE BUMPER - PER THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE MOD SYSTEM INFORMS THE DRIVER OF MOVING OBJECTS SURROUNDING THE VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING OUT OF GARAGES, MANEUVERING INTO PARKING LOTS AND IN OTHER SUCH INSTANCES AND IS AUTOMATICALLY TURNED ON WHEN THE SELECTOR LEVER IS IN THE R (REVERSE) POSITION. HOWEVER, THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATES THAT WHILE THE SONAR IS BEEPING, THE MOD SYSTEM DOES NOT CHIME.THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS VEHICLE'S SAFETY FEATURES HAVE NOT PERFORMED IN REVERSE WITH NO SONAR TONES NOR MOD CHIMES SOUNDING AN ALERT. I REPORTED THIS ISSUE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE TO ALERT WHICH RESULTED IN MINOR DAMAGE TO THIS VEHICLE'S BUMPER BY CONTACT WITH A STATIONARY SIGN POLE IN A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED WITH NO MALFUNCTIONS FOUND AND I WAS ADVISED (PER INFINITI'S DISCLAIMER'S) TO NOT JUST USE THESE TOOLS TO PREVENT ACCIDENTS, BUT TO USE THEM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR, SIDE-VIEW MIRRORS, AND LOOKING AND CHECKING TO MAKE SURE IT IS SAFE TO MOVE. THESE ADDITIONAL SAFETY FEATURES WERE VERY IMPORTANT TO OUR PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE AS I WANT TO FEEL SAFE IN A VEHICLE AND KNOW THAT THE VEHICLE'S FEATURES/OPTIONS OPERATE AS INTENDED AND IS RELIABLE. *TR

Aug 27, 2014

Crash: 1

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION POWER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. MAH UPDATED 06/26/2013 *JS

Feb 26, 2013

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4.6/5.0

41 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2013 INFINITI QX56 have?

The 2013 INFINITI QX56 currently has 32 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2013 INFINITI QX56?

The most common problems reported for the 2013 INFINITI QX56 are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2013 INFINITI QX56 problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2013 INFINITI QX56 comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.