Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 10 | 24% |
| Air bags | 4 | 10% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 10% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 5% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 5% |
| Wheels | 2 | 5% |
| Air bags | 1 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 2% |
| Power train | 1 | 2% |
| Unknown or other | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2018 Infiniti Q50. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the front pa
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
The contact owns a 2018 Infiniti Q50. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) sensor became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer,
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I am submitting this complaint regarding a safety defect in my 2018 Infiniti Q50, which was manufactured prior to May 1, 2018. Despite matching the make, model, and production timeframe associated with an existing Infini
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Infiniti Q50. It was discovered that there were three separate mileage discrepancies. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 50,370; h
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
Filing this complaint regarding a safety-related defect involving the turbocharger system on my 2018 INFINITI Q50. The vehicle has approximately 46,000 miles and is 8 years old. INFINITI/Nissan has acknowledged through i
NHTSA complaint: Power train
Leak in the turbo causing oil to burn and create smoke from the exhaust
NHTSA complaint: Engine
The serpentine belt on my 2018 Infiniti Q50 Sport became contaminated with oil immediately after dealer turbo replacement at the end of August 2025, causing the belt to slip, shred, and be pulled into the engine. This re
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
The contact's son owns a 2018 Infiniti Q50. The contact stated that soon after purchasing the vehicle, there was an abnormal screeching sound coming from the brakes while depressing the brake pedal. There was no warning
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2018 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. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additio
Risk: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Infiniti Q50 and 2017 Infiniti Q60 vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. Incorrect Fuel Pump Control Module (FPCM) software may allow the fuel level in the main tank to be too low to supply fuel to the engine, causing the engine to
Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Nissan will notify owners, and Infiniti dealers will reprogram the Fuel Pump Control Module (FPCM) with corrected software, free of charge. The recall began August 29, 2017. Owners may contact Infin
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 | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 75 | good |
| Maintenance | 75 | good |
| Depreciation | 60 | average |
| Performance | 67 | good |
| Efficiency | 39 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 42 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine is the most reported area with 10 of them (24%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (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 75/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2018 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 71/100. 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.