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Infiniti Q50Model year report

2015 Infiniti Q50 Problems

Compared with other Infiniti Q50 years

More complaints than typical for this model

92/100 2.6× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2016, 2017, 2018

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
126filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
26,614miles, 54 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall, 2 rated versions
EPA fuel economy
23 mpgcombined, 3.7L 6-cyl RWD · 20 city / 29 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2015 Infiniti Q50 (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2015 Q50 most often write about the transmission — a valve body and speed-sensor failure that limits the car to third gear or brings a sudden loss of acceleration, typically at highway speeds. A second large group describes the Direct Adaptive Steering system pulling hard to one side, often right after start-up and frequently at very low mileage. Air bag warning lights, brake-pedal complaints and sunroof glass breakage also recur in the sample.

  1. Transmission and drivetrain

    Transmission valve body / speed sensor failure (stuck in

    • 34 complaints (27%)
    • median 74,000 mi at 8.6 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
    • owner-quoted repair $3,000 (median of 9 quotes)
    • filed 2019–2026

    Owners describe the car suddenly refusing to shift out of third gear, revving without accelerating, or dropping speed sharply on the freeway, usually with the check engine light appearing at the same moment. Some say there was no warning beforehand. Complaints report diagnosis of a failed valve body, output speed sensor or TCM, with the dealer or an independent shop quoting a valve body or full transmission replacement; a few owners say the part failed again after repair and that the car was out of warranty. Mostly reported between roughly 56,000 and 106,000 miles, at highway or mixed speeds and often with the check engine light coming on only after the event.

    2 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the valve body, output speed sensor or TCM has been replaced, and have the car scanned for stored code P0720. On a test drive, confirm clean upshifts and steady acceleration onto a highway.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “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 not again. This would be the 3rd valve body I replaced. First I replaced the whole transmission thinking that is what I needed and advised that the valve body and the transmission are one. Yet no they come in parts. Anyways today I am waiting to get home, but the car is not reading my key fob why? …”

    NHTSA complaint #11737881, filed 2026-05

    “The car just slowed down super fast on freeway almost got rear ended. It would not go past 3rd gear. Poor acceleration. Could have caused a huge accident. I got it diagnosed and they said it is valve body/speed sensor/tcm and they said this is a COMMON problem for 2015 Q50. I replaced this part 2 years ago and here we go again. Shop diagnosed and said this tcm (transmission control module which is in the transmission) but they have to change whole transmission. Everything happened all the sudden then check engine light came on.”

    NHTSA complaint #11683201, filed 2025-08
  2. Steering

    Steering pulls hard to one side after start-up

    • 21 complaints (17%)
    • median 8,700 mi at 1.7 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2015–2026

    Owners report the steering wheel jumping off center or the car pulling strongly to the right, sometimes immediately after starting the vehicle and sometimes while driving at speed, with the wheel returning to center when the car is restarted. Several say the dealer described it as normal behavior or could not reproduce it, and some link it to the Direct Adaptive Steering system. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 60,000 miles; frequently noted right after start-up or at low speed, but also at highway speed.

    Recall 16V4300005 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask whether recall 16V430000 and any Direct Adaptive Steering calibration or reprogramming was completed. Start the car several times and note whether the wheel sits centered, and check the steering feel at low and highway speed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The vehicle suddenly pulls very hard to the right requiring force to keep in a straight line. The vehicle did not experience any alignment altering potholes or road bumps. This is a dangerous software malfunction with the das. I am very lucky this occurred at low speed and without my children in the car.”

    NHTSA complaint #10781354, filed 2015-10, 2,300 miles

    “There are time when I go to turn my steering wheel I am giving more force to turn the car and my car shows no mechanical damage or anything but when I turn the wheel it stiffens up a lot and it is not smooth to turn especially when I am making turns I see this and it is when I'm in the city mostly.”

    NHTSA complaint #11278135, filed 2019-11, 23,000 miles
  3. Air bags

    Air bag warning light on / passenger air bag shown off

    • 13 complaints (10%)
    • median 29,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2015–2025

    Owners describe the air bag warning light staying illuminated, or the passenger air bag system message indicating the air bag is turned off even with a passenger seated. Some say the dealer performed the occupant classification recall repair and the light returned shortly afterward, and a few mention air bags not deploying in a collision. Reported across a wide mileage range, commonly under about 50,000 miles, and often noticed from start-up with no other symptoms.

    Recall 16V2440008 related service bulletins

    What to check: With the ignition on, check that the air bag light goes out and that the passenger air bag status reads ON with someone seated in that seat. Ask for documentation that recall 16V244000 and the occupant classification system work were completed.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “When I bought my 2014 Infiniti Q50 I put it on the road and then I started receiving recalls. I also had several lights on. I brought it back to dealership they did something like clearing the lights without even looking at it. 45 days after I bought this vehicle I was in a serious motor vehicle accident. I almost died and I lost my spleen. One of the airbags didn't deploy which was the reasoning for losing my spleen. I believe my steering locked up and ended up hitting guardrail. Total loss. …”

    NHTSA complaint #11408475, filed 2021-04, 70,000 miles

    “Passenger airbag warning light on when my wife (145lbs) is in the passenger seat. This happens from the moment the car is turned on and persists the entire time while driving. Was told if the warning light was on that the airbag would most likely not deploy in an accident. This occurs each and ever time my wife is in the vehicle over the course of the past nine months. There have been recalls on many nissan/Infiniti vehicles in 2013 and 2014, and it seems that this safety issue is present in the 2015 models as well. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10806752, filed 2015-11, 5,300 miles
  4. Brakes

    Brake pedal or braking assist does not hold the car

    • 18 complaints (14%)
    • median 9,000 mi at 1.4 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
    • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2015–2025

    Owners report the car creeping forward with the brake pedal firmly pressed at a stop, the pedal going soft or a long travel before the car slows, and in some cases the brakes working normally again after the engine is restarted. A few describe brake and pedal work at the dealer and being told the condition was normal. Mostly reported under about 10,000 miles in this sample, typically at low speed at stoplights or while parking.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: At a standstill in gear, hold firm pressure on the pedal and confirm the car does not creep. Ask whether brake fluid level checks, ABS control unit programming or any brake-related service bulletin work was done.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “I was driving on the fwy traffic was slow; my speed was between 20-25 miles ph brakes didn't respond when I applied the brakes I end up hitting the vehicle in front of me luckily nothing happens to the vehicle in front of me I have to leave went to small mechanic shop they said the brake peddle is bend because when I hit the brakes hard to stop.”

    NHTSA complaint #10821770, filed 2016-01, 9,000 miles

    “Recently I was sitting at a stoplight about 3rd in line behind a ford explorer. I live in atlanta so stoplights are extraordinarily long. I had the car in drive obviously and my foot firmly on the brake. About 5 minutes into the red light my car starts to slowly move forward while my foot was still firmly on the brake. The movement was similar to if the brake had been released and the car was coasting in drive. …”

    NHTSA complaint #10750334, filed 2015-08, 3,800 miles

Buying note. A 2015 Q50 is worth a careful pre-purchase inspection, especially a transmission scan and a highway test drive, and confirmation that the steering and occupant classification recalls were performed. Service records showing valve body, sensor or TCM work help judge how the car has been maintained.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 126 consumer complaints for the 2015 Infiniti Q50. 54 of the complaints include a mileage, and 67% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 26,614 miles. Of all complaints, 16 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 10 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 204 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 5 Infiniti Q50 model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 92 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Seat belts (3), Seats (3), Electronic stability control (2), Body and structure (2), Tires (2), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (2), Wheels (2), Engine cooling (1), Forward collision avoidance (1).

Example complaints

Transmission and drivetrain: “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 everybody on this website is reporting the same problems.”

NHTSA complaint #11731441, filed 2026-04

Steering: “Loss of steering control after start of car, steering pulls hard to one side. Has happened at least 4 times. It is my understanding that other q 50 have been recalled for this intermittent steering problem. I do have video of the last occurrence, but it exceeds 5mb.”

NHTSA complaint #11322128, filed 2020-04, 41,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “Was driving my Infiniti Q50 on a normal dry day when all of a sudden it down shifted or felt like I was driving a standard model vs automatic... I pull over my engine light comes on.. I turned off all sensors associated with the intellitouch system thinking it was not judging the distance correctly between cars because it will automatically slow your car down... Continued driving and I'm noticing as I try to accelerate my car is not shifting into 3rd gear... …”

NHTSA complaint #11355542, filed 2020-09, 106,000 miles

Air bags: “Your form doesn't work for me. All systems were affected. I totaled my car while driving up a hill, in cruise control, and I hit a puddle. The car accelerated into the median. I was no longer a driver; I was a passenger.”

NHTSA complaint #10903580, filed 2016-09, 36,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

67% of the 54 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 8,000 and 62,000 miles.

30%0–1020%10–2517%25–5019%50–7513%75–1002%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (54 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 26,614 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

20162018202020222024182026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2015 Infiniti Q50. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Q50 · sedan AWD★★★★★4 / 3555 · 9.7% risk
Q50 · sedan RWD★★★★★4 / 3555 · 9.7% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2015 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2014: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2015 Infiniti Q50 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Q50 RWD3.7L 6-cyl7-speed automatic202923$3,550
Q50 AWD3.7L 6-cyl7-speed automatic192722$3,750
Q50a RWD3.7L 6-cyl7-speed automatic202923$3,550
Q50a AWD3.7L 6-cyl7-speed automatic192722$3,750
Q50S Hybrid RWD3.5L 6-cyl · hybrid7-speed automatic283330$2,750
Q50S Hybrid AWD3.5L 6-cyl · hybrid7-speed automatic273028$2,950

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2015 Infiniti Q50 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 204 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 204 bulletins →

Other model years of the Infiniti Q50

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20238—0—23—Too new
2021644,0003—23—Not enough data
2019303,0001—2328 · FewerFalling
20184424,4003—2348 · TypicalRising
20176329,0004—2352 · TypicalRising
20163933,5004—2338 · TypicalRising
201512626,614352392 · MoreRising
20141707,4905523100 · MoreStable

All Infiniti Q50 model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2015 Infiniti Q50?

Owners of the 2015 Q50 most often write about the transmission — a valve body and speed-sensor failure that limits the car to third gear or brings a sudden loss of acceleration, typically at highway speeds. The issues reported most often: Transmission valve body / speed sensor failure (stuck in; Steering pulls hard to one side after start-up; Air bag warning light on / passenger air bag shown off.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2015 Infiniti Q50 have?

NHTSA recorded 126 consumer complaints for the 2015 Infiniti Q50 as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2015 Infiniti Q50 is reported most often?

Transmission and drivetrain is named most often, in 39 complaints (31% of the total), followed by steering with 28.

Has the 2015 Infiniti Q50 been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2015 Infiniti Q50 do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2015 Infiniti Q50 5 out of 5 stars overall, across 2 rated versions (body style and drive). Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2015 Infiniti Q50 get?

The EPA rates the 2015 Infiniti Q50 (Q50, 3.7L 6-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 20 city and 29 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2015 Infiniti Q50 reported?

Among the 54 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 26,614 miles and the middle half falls between 8,000 and 62,000 miles; 67% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.