Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 125 complaints with NHTSA about the 2015 Infiniti Q50, and it carries 3 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 21 | 17% |
| Steering | 15 | 12% |
| Air bags | 12 | 10% |
| Service brakes | 8 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 7 | 6% |
| Power train | 5 | 4% |
| Power train | 4 | 3% |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 2% |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
While operating the vehicle, the transmission suffered an abrupt failure resulting in Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0720 (Output Speed Sensor Circuit). Further diagnostic inspection revealed a complete internal failure
NHTSA complaint: Power train
After starting the car the steering wheel jumps off center and the steering is all over the place. have to start the car again and the steering wheel jumps the other direction. I strongly suggest this is exactly what the
NHTSA complaint: Steering
DIRECT ADAPTIVE STEERING EXPERIENCEING AT START UP ALTERING THE VEHICLES STEERING AND RESPONSIVENESS AND TURNING RADIUS DOES NOT WORK AND IS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE IS A RECALL 16V4300
NHTSA complaint: Steering
While driving my 2015 Infiniti Q50s, the transmission suddenly suffered a catastrophic electronic failure, causing the vehicle to immediately drop into "limp mode." This resulted in a sudden and dangerous loss of acceler
NHTSA complaint: Power train
DAS issue that I have been dealing with for two months now, issue is still not resolved even after taking out a personal loan for 6k to fix the modules at Douglas Infiniti, waited weeks for the modules, they replaced the
NHTSA complaint: Steering
The valve body on these cars are useless. Driving down a highway and cant shift out of 3rd gear almost had a car re-end me. Today I am driving and the ECU is not responding I see the check engine light on then I'm like n
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The transmission speed sensor has failed needs a new valve body. It seems like a very common problem with this car and it’s a $3000 fix according to my mechanic. I think there needs to be a recall issued considering ever
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The contact owns a 2015 Infiniti Q50. While driving at various speeds, the transmission was slow to shift. The vehicle failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the check engine warning li
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2015 Infiniti Q50. 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 North America, Inc.'s (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Infiniti Q50 vehicles manufactured December 26, 2012, to December 11, 2015, and Infiniti Q50 Hybrid vehicles manufactured December 10, 2012, to December 17, 2015. The Direct Adaptive Steering system may experience an er
Risk: If the vehicle does not steer as the driver anticipates, there is an increased the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Direct Adaptive Steering ECU software, free of charge. The recall began on August 12, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano
Risk: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Fix: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Alti
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
| Reliability raw | 70 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 73 | good |
| Maintenance | 75 | good |
| Depreciation | 61 | average |
| Performance | 64 | average |
| Efficiency | 40 | below average |
| Safety | 100 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 125 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 21 of them (17%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 70/100 (good) 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 73/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2015 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. 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.