Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age, so 48.4% land after the 4-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Electrical System, with 26 complaints, typically at 3.6 years.
Infiniti QX80 years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 8 | 8 | too new | |
| 2021 | 7 | 5 | too new | |
| 2020 | 6 | 5 | yes | |
| 2019 | 20 | 13 | yes | |
| 2018 | 9 | 7 | yes | |
| 2017 | 16 | 12 | yes | |
| 2016 | 15 | 11 | yes | |
| 2015 | 18 | 12 | yes | |
| 2014 | 19 | 16 | yes |
Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2019 QX80 asks a median $18,500, against $18,500 for a 2020, the next model year: about the same, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.
Among the 4 Infiniti QX80 years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2019, 2015, 2017; the three worth hunting are 2014, 2017, 2015.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 13.9% | covered | |
| 1 year | 32.8% | covered | |
| 2 years | 41.8% | covered | |
| 3 years | 51.6% | covered | |
| 4 years | 56.6% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 64.8% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 76.2% | you pay | |
| 7 years | 81.1% | you pay | |
| 8 years | 88.5% | you pay | |
| 9 years | 95.9% | you pay | |
| 10 years | 97.5% | you pay | |
| 11 years | 99.2% | you pay | |
| 12 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 4 years / 50,000 miles. Only 51.6% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 48.4% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (6 years / 70,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 14% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Infiniti QX80, the early trouble is Electrical System and Unknown Or Other — reported at around 3.6 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Engine at 5.1 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3.6 yrs | — | — | |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 yrs | — | — | |
| Engine | 5.1 yrs | — | — | |
| Air Bags | 5.1 yrs | 3 | — | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4.6 yrs | — | — | |
| Service Brakes | 3 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1.1 yrs | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 3.4 yrs | — | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the QX80's vehicle class. Per production run, the Toyota Highlander draws 2.94, the Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.34 and the Ford Explorer 5.04, against 1.31 for the QX80. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the QX80 | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Highlander | 128 | 2001–2026 | |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | 335 | 1993–2026 | |
| Ford Explorer | 390 | 1991–2026 | |
| BMW X5 | 198 | 2000–2026 | |
| Cadillac Escalade | 129 | 1999–2026 | |
| Hyundai Palisade | 33 | 2020–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Infiniti QX80 reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.31 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 3 class rivals we compared.
Which QX80 years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2019, 2015, 2017. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2014, 2017, 2015. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do QX80 problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age. The most reported system is Electrical System, typically at 3.6 years, followed by Unknown Or Other.
Will the warranty cover QX80 problems?
Mostly yes: basic cover is 4 years / 50,000 miles, and 51.6% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 14% of the complaints here.
Is the QX80 more reliable than the Toyota Highlander?
Yes: 1.31 complaints per production run for the QX80 against 2.94 for the Toyota Highlander.
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