2005 Infiniti QX56 Problems
- Complaints
- 80filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 92,000miles, 71 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 3campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 14 mpgcombined, 5.6L 8-cyl RWD · 12 city / 18 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2005 Infiniti QX56 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often describe two patterns: intermittent loss of brake assist in which the pedal goes soft or to the floor, the brake light comes on and a grinding noise appears, and a fuel gauge that reads a quarter to half tank when the tank is empty, letting the vehicle stall. Most complaints in the sample were filed between roughly 90,000 and 160,000 miles, though the brake symptom is also reported on much lower-mileage vehicles.
- Brakes
Intermittent loss of brake assist, soft pedal, grinding
Mentioned in 22 of 60 sampled complaints
Owners describe the brake light and sometimes the slip or ABS light coming on while driving, followed by a soft or pulsing pedal that can drop toward the floor and a grinding or chattering noise from the front brakes. Several say the vehicle is then hard to stop and that cycling the ignition off and back on restores normal braking until it happens again. Some had pads, rotors, calipers or ABS parts replaced without the symptom going away, while dealers reportedly told some owners the ABS computer needed reprogramming or that they could not reproduce the problem. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few thousand miles up to about 216,000, often during repeated stop-and-go driving or at low speed.
What to check: During a test drive, brake firmly several times at low speed and watch for a brake or VDC light, pedal pulsation or grinding. Ask whether the ABS/VDC module has been scanned for stored codes.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“When applying the brakes, the brake pedal was soft and the front tires had grinding and chattering noises like a ABS brake system malfunction. The care would not stop very well. The vehicle was going slow on dry pavement so there was not reason for ABS to activate. Continued to have this problem each of the dozen times I applied the brakes until I pulled into a costco parking lot. …”
NHTSA complaint #10621268, filed 2014-08, 150,387 miles“Driving 30 MPH in manhattan new york came to a red light pressed brake pedal felt no brakes pumped brakes felt like there was little to no braking ABS light came on so did brake light ran through the red thank god no cars where I front of me ,eventually stopped pulled aside then turned vehicle off and then on the brakes worked fine took it to straight to mechanic because I didn't feel safe driving the truck . …”
NHTSA complaint #11349108, filed 2020-08, 5 miles - Fuel system
Fuel gauge reads higher than actual level, causing stall
- 20 complaints (25%)
- median 127,000 mi at 9.5 yrs old (20 state mileage)
- filed 2010–2022
Owners report the fuel gauge stopping at about a quarter to half tank and then the engine losing power and stalling with the tank actually empty; the low-fuel warning may not come on. After refueling, the vehicle restarts normally. Several owners say they were told their vehicle was not covered by the fuel gauge recall, and some had the fuel sending unit replaced at their own cost; others were told the fuel pump relay system failed. Mostly filed between roughly 40,000 and 195,000 miles, often on the highway at speed.
Recall 10V0740001 related service bulletin
What to check: Check the VIN against recall 10V074000, and compare the gauge reading with actual fuel added over a few fill-ups. Ask whether the fuel sending unit has ever been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I am having an issue with the fuel gauge on my 2005 Infiniti QX56. The fuel gauge is not reading correctly. It stops reading correctly once it reaches about half a tank of gas. I was driving on the freeway at night and I ran out of gas. This was a very scary situation because I had my kids in the car with me and at the time I had no idea why the vehicle completely shut off because my meter was showing that I had half a tank of gas. …”
NHTSA complaint #11029931, filed 2017-09, 144,600 miles“I am having brake issues with my 2005 Infiniti QX56. The brake light keeps coming on and it makes a grinding noise. It is also very hard to get it to come to a stop. Just yesterday, I almost could not get the vehicle to stop at a red light. I am also having an issue with the fuel gauge. I have run out of fuel 3 times and each time the the gauge is showing between 1/2 and 1/4 full. Back in september of 2017 we were on a major highway. All of a sudden we lost power and we were going 70 miles an hour. …”
NHTSA complaint #11129522, filed 2018-09, 182,000 miles - Electrical system
Stalling, no-start and gauge/electrical dropouts
Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints
Owners describe the engine shutting off while driving, sometimes failing to idle afterward, along with instrument cluster gauges that cut in and out, a tachometer that reads incorrectly or sticks, and occasional no-start or hard-start behavior. Some complaints link these symptoms to the IPDM/ECM relay area; dealers reportedly had difficulty diagnosing them. Reported from about 85,000 to 270,000 miles, often at highway speed.
Recall 10V5170003 related service bulletins
What to check: Check the VIN against recall 10V517000 for the IPDM/ECM relay, and during a drive watch whether gauges or warning lights flicker; ask whether the relay has been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My airbag light stays on constantly. There is a knocking sound that occurs as well when I'm driving. I'm concerned if I'm involved in a collision my airbags will not deploy. I contacted Infiniti and was told they need to reset it and will cost $800.00 and my extended warranty did not cover it and was not part of the recall list. …”
NHTSA complaint #10862514, filed 2016-05, 109,808 miles“My airbag light stays on constantly. There is a knocking sound that occurs as well when I'm driving. I'm concerned if I'm involved in a collision my airbags will not deploy. I contacted Infiniti and was told they need to reset it and will cost $800.00 and my extended warranty did not cover it and was not part of the recall list. …”
NHTSA complaint #11208379, filed 2019-05, 100 miles - Brakes
Brake shudder and premature rotor wear
- 14 complaints (18%)
- median 39,000 mi at 8.6 yrs old (12 state mileage)
- filed 2005–2020
Owners describe steering wheel shake or vibration when braking, sometimes within the first few thousand miles on a new vehicle and again shortly after rotors and pads were replaced. In several accounts a dealer replaced rotors under warranty, and some owners were told the brake design was undersized for the vehicle's weight. Appears from as little as 2,000 miles and again by around 36,000 to 94,000 miles, typically at 30-50 mph.
What to check: Brake from highway speed and feel for steering wheel shake; ask for service records showing when rotors and pads were last replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Brake shudder - severely reduced braking power. Brake light comes on dash. This is random. Happened twice more on way to work, approximately 50 MPH,on I-40 exit ramp and 30 MPH on a side road. Turning off vehicle and back on resets this. But it randomly happens again. I am fearful in this vehicle. I called dealer and they said they are unaware of issue. A google search reveals a class action lawsuit on this subject.”
NHTSA complaint #10928176, filed 2016-11, 106,000 miles“Dt: at approximately 2,000 miles there was an uncontrollable shaking when applying brake pressure. This problem got worse. The consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, who noted the need for new rotors. The rotors were replaced at 2,000 miles. About two months later, the problem returned and again took vehicle to the dealer. The dealer said there was a design flaw with the braking system, but the vehicle would be safe to drive. …”
NHTSA complaint #10137190, filed 2005-09, 2,000 miles
Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection focus on the brakes and the fuel gauge, since those two account for most of what owners report here, and confirm through a dealer which of the open recalls apply to the VIN. Service records showing recent brake work, a replaced fuel sending unit or a completed IPDM relay campaign are worth asking about.
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 80 consumer complaints for the 2005 Infiniti QX56. 71 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 92,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 6 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 98 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
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.
- Brakes34 43%
- Fuel system25 31%
- Electrical system7 8.8%
- Air bags5 6.3%
- Exterior lighting5 6.3%
- Steering4 5.0%
- Engine cooling3 3.8%
- Engine2 2.5%
- Equipment2 2.5%
Also reported: Other or unknown (2), Suspension (2), Latches, locks and linkages (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Brakes: “While driving ,I pressed on the brakes and the pedal dropped down and started making a weird noise kind of like loose metal parts and the truck wouldn't stop. The ABS light turned on. It felt like the brakes locked up . I managed to pull to the side of the road and shut the truck off. I turned it back on and it seemed to reset the system. Brake petal raised back up and the check engine light shut off.”
NHTSA complaint #11055880, filed 2017-12, 92,000 milesFuel system: “Fuel gauge indicate 1/4 tank during my drive down the freeway during slight rush hour. Car engine shut off while I was in the third lane of the freeway. An accident occurred from rubber necking. Infiniti of elk grove couldn't diagnose it right away and the car died 2 more times, once more on the freeway, and was lucky to glide off the freeway with no power steering. After having it towed 3 times to Infiniti, they finally diagnosed the fuel sensor after we researched the problem and told them what to check. …”
NHTSA complaint #10659842, filed 2014-11, 154,000 milesElectrical system: “While driving in residential/business area my vehicle completely lost power and turned off. I drifted to the side of the road without power steering. Tried to start vehicle again. Vehicle would start but would immediately die-would not idle. After resting approx 5 minutes I was able to start again and continue home. This has happened 3 times in the past 2 months. I am terrified to drive this vehicle again. I also cannot keep the drivers side headlight working. Bulbs constantly blow out at over 300.00 dollars each.”
NHTSA complaint #11331118, filed 2020-06, 270,000 milesAir bags: “Repeated attempts to fix airbag after several hundred dollars of owner expenses have not resolved the problem. Latest estimate is another 1200 to fix a harness that was previously undiagnosed.”
NHTSA complaint #10456055, filed 2012-04, 72,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
20% of the 71 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 55,000 and 144,600 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2005 Infiniti QX56 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QX56 2WD | 5.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 12 | 18 | 14 | $4,800 |
| QX56 4WD | 5.6L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | 12 | 17 | 14 | $4,800 |
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
- 10V517000Oct 28, 2010Engine and engine coolingCovers: Infiniti QX56 2004–2006, Nissan Titan 2004–2006, Armada 2004–2006 +3 more
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…
- 10V074000Mar 3, 2010Fuel system, other › Storage › Fuel gauge systemCovers: Infiniti QX56 2005–2009, Nissan Armada 2005–2009, Titan 2005–2009
Nissan is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 titan, armada, and infiniti qx56 vehicles. The instrument panel fuel gauge may inaccurately display that the vehicle still has some fuel, typically about one quarter tank, when the fuel tank is empty.
- 08V284000Jun 27, 2008Equipment › Appliance › Air conditionerCovers: Infiniti QX56 2005–2006, Nissan Armada 2005–2006, Titan 2005–2006
Nissan is recalling 180,664 my 2005-2006 titan, armada and infinity qx56 vehicles manufactured after march 17, 2005, that are equipped with a visteon air conditioning condenser fan motor. The fan motor may not be properly sealed allowing excessive water…
Recall details for the 2005 Infiniti QX56 → · 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. 98 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11036439Aug 28, 2026Electrical system. VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN BODY CONTROL MODULE SUB-HARNESS Voluntary Service Campaign ID # P5235 is no longer active. · Repair orders opened after this bulletin’s published date are no longer…
- 11031720Apr 13, 2026Body and structure. CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT…
- 11002539May 20, 2024Electrical system. INTELLIGENT KEY NOT DETECTED / ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 11002537May 20, 2024Electrical system. CAN COMMUNICATION – NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 11001653May 20, 2024Electrical system. CAN COMMUNICATION CODES – DIAGNOSTIC TIPS AND GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 11001182Apr 30, 2024Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). WINDOW GLASS WARRANTY INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 11001179Apr 30, 2024Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 11001177Apr 29, 2024Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 10233611Mar 8, 2023Brakes. ABS/VDC CAN DIAGNOSIS INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
- 10232646Feb 27, 2023Body and structure, Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors). REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Other model years of the Infiniti QX56
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 32 | 102,500 | 3 | — | 16 | 29 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2012 | 57 | 84,278 | 3 | — | 16 | 51 · Typical | Falling |
| 2011 | 78 | 90,000 | 2 | — | 16 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2010 | 26 | 60,122 | 2 | — | 14 | 41 · Typical | Falling |
| 2009 | 7 | 133,096 | 2 | — | 14 | — | Not enough data |
| 2008 | 53 | 92,000 | 3 | — | 14 | 50 · Typical | Rising |
| 2007 | 21 | 94,500 | 1 | — | 14 | — | Stable |
| 2006 | 80 | 93,321 | 3 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 80 | 92,000 | 3 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 106 | 86,381 | 1 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
All Infiniti QX56 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Infiniti QX56?
Owners of this model year most often describe two patterns: intermittent loss of brake assist in which the pedal goes soft or to the floor, the brake light comes on and a grinding noise appears, and a fuel gauge that reads a quarter to half tank when the tank is empty, letting the vehicle stall. The issues reported most often: Intermittent loss of brake assist, soft pedal, grinding; Fuel gauge reads higher than actual level, causing stall; Stalling, no-start and gauge/electrical dropouts.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2005 Infiniti QX56 have?
NHTSA recorded 80 consumer complaints for the 2005 Infiniti QX56 as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2005 Infiniti QX56 is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 34 complaints (43% of the total), followed by fuel system with 25.
Has the 2005 Infiniti QX56 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2005 Infiniti QX56 get?
The EPA rates the 2005 Infiniti QX56 (QX56 2WD, 5.6L 8-cyl) at 14 mpg combined, 12 city and 18 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,800 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2005 Infiniti QX56 reported?
Among the 71 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 92,000 miles and the middle half falls between 55,000 and 144,600 miles; 20% 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. 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.