Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 106 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Infiniti QX56, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 28 | 26% |
| Service brakes | 25 | 24% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 7% |
| Air bags | 5 | 5% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 4% |
| Power train | 3 | 3% |
| Engine | 3 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 2% |
| Steering | 2 | 2% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
My wife was driving home from work, said brake is failing, makes loud grindy, rattling noise when brake is applied. Once the car is turn off and back on, everything is back to normal. When I got home, i took the wheels o
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
The contact owns a 2004 Infiniti QX56. The contact stated that the vehicle would fail to start up after multiple attempts with several unknown warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel. In addition, he stated th
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING MY FAMILY FROM TEXAS TO NORTH CAROLINA WHEN I RAN INTO RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC LONG THE WAY. I APPLIED THE BRAKE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN, THEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED SHAKING, THERE W
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
THE EMC RELAY IS BAD. I HAVE A LETTER SAYING IT WAS A RECALL.. AS I WAS DRIVING THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. IF YOU WAITED A LITTLE WHILE IT WOULD START UP AGAIN BUT IT SEEMED THAT WHEN IT GOT HOT IT WOULD SHUT DOWN AGAIN. IT
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
TAKATA RECALL PAINT IS FADING IN DIFFERENT PLACES CLEAR COAT HAS FADED AWAY THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER THE PASS COUPLE OF YEARS
NHTSA complaint: Structure
THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE WARNING LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. ROTORS ARE FINE. BRAKE FLUID LEVEL IS HIGH. YET, WHEN I APPLY MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND THERE IS ALSO A BAD SOUND ON THE FRONT WHEELS THAT SOU
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 INFINITI QX56. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE AND OTHER GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER DISPLAYED INACCURATE INFORMATION. THE VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING IN A DRY PARKING LOT AND APPLYING MY BRAKES, MY ABS BRAKES KICKED ON FOR NO REASON AND THE CAR WAS DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND STOP. THE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AND I HEARD
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2004 Infiniti QX56. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT AND REAR LOWER LINKS, P/NOS. 54501ZQ00A, 54500ZQ00A, 551A1ZQ00A, 551A0ZQ00A , 54501EA00A, 54500EA00A, 551A1EA500, 551A0EA500, 54501ZR00A, AND 54500ZR00A, SOLD BETWEEN NOVEMBER 25, 2009 AND MAY 14, 2010 AS REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 TITAN, ARM
Risk: IF THE COLLAR WELD SEPARATES, THE VEHICLE HANDLING WILL DETERIORATE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: NISSAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE ANY AFFECTED LOWER LINK FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
NISSAN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004-2006 ARMADA, TITAN, INFINITI QX56 AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 FRONTIER, PATHFINDER AND XTERRA VEHICLES. THE INTELLIGENT POWER DISTRIBUTION MODULE (IPDM) ASSEMBLY CONTAINS AN ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) RELAY THAT HAS A DIODE FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENT NOISE REDU
Risk: THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE STALLING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ECM RELAY INSIDE THE IPDM ASSEMBLY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 6, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261.
| Reliability raw | 80 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 60 | average |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 79 | good |
| Efficiency | 27 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 106 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 28 of them (26%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2004 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.