2012 Infiniti QX56 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2012 Infiniti QX56 most often describe timing chain failures, noise or stalling, and many describe catalytic converters that failed or needed replacement. Other complaints describe recall coverage gaps, battery failures and drains, and passenger airbag faults. Mileage varies widely, with some complaints at very low mileage and the highest listed near 175,000 miles.

1. 1
   Engine

   Timing chain failure, noise or stalling

   • 20 complaints (35%)
   • median 86,278 mi at 7.4 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe a timing chain that stretched, rattled or failed, often with a whine or hiss at startup that fades after a few minutes. Some say the engine would run and sputter, lose power at speed, or stall, and some describe a high-pressure fuel pump problem that came before the chain failure. Several say a dealer or independent mechanic recommended a timing chain replacement, and some say the repair was not covered because the vehicle was out of warranty. Mileage in these complaints varies widely, with several describing failures at roughly 80,000 to 90,000 miles and the highest listed near 175,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask the dealer whether the timing chain has been inspected, including any startup whine, rattle or code such as P0011. Ask for service records showing any timing chain or related repair, since several complaints describe repair costs that were not covered.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Had no prior issues, driving down the hwyat 65 miles per hr.. Car failed. Costed to side of road made it to repair shop and the fuel pump went out, which affected the timming chain and broke the teeth, which has affected the motor. This is a design defect that hundred other folks are having. I could have lost my life with this vehicle”

   NHTSA complaint #11403384, filed 2021-03, 130 miles

   “Vehicle dropped speed on the highway and started flashing the service engine soon light. The speed drop was severe and placed me in a dangerous situation on the highway. It also had a whining noise at start when I left . Took it to the dealer, they informed me the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle only had 83k in miles and was just 10k out of warranty. Dealer charged $4000 for the repair”

   NHTSA complaint #10808059, filed 2015-12, 85,556 miles
2. 2
   Engine

   Catalytic converter failures or replacements

   • 12 complaints (21%)
   • median 97,000 mi at 6.4 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2016–2022

   Owners describe check engine lights tied to catalytic converter codes, with both converters often said to need replacement. Some say a converter was replaced and the light came back, or that the converters failed again after an earlier replacement. Several say the manufacturer would not help, that the replacement was not covered by warranty or extended warranty, and that the dealer called it a known issue. Some owners ask why the problem is not covered by a recall. Complaints that list mileage describe converter problems from about 70,000 to 134,000 miles, with the check engine light usually reported.

   What to check: Ask whether the catalytic converters have been checked for the P0430 code and whether any converter was replaced under warranty, and request the repair records. Some complaints describe costly converter replacements that were not covered, so ask about warranty or recall coverage in writing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I took my 2012 QX56 Infiniti to Infiniti in austin texas and they told me both of my catalytic converter or out this need to be a recall issue want me to spend over $4,000 for both to replace.”

   NHTSA complaint #11323433, filed 2020-05, 97,000 miles

   “We have had problems with the battery since we bought the QX56. Suv's completely dies after a glove box light, radio has been played for 20 to 30 minutes, car cannot be jumped by typical cables, every time we either had to have a heavy duty jump done by tow company or battery was replaced by Infiniti. Timing chain and both catalytic converters need to be replaced, with engine issues. Infiniti had SUV for almost a month to fix engine and timing chain. Engine light still coming on then we where told the converters needed to be replaced. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10924936, filed 2016-11, 70,000 miles
3. 3
   Other or unknown

   Recall coverage gaps, missing parts or failed fixes

   • 17 complaints (30%)
   • median 114,000 mi at 7.4 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2015–2026

   Owners describe recall notices for a fuel pressure sensor recall and for timing chain campaigns that did not apply to their VIN, or were told the recall was not for their vehicle. Some say replacement parts were unavailable, and one says the dealer may have reported the recall as complete while the car was not repaired. Others say the recall repair did not stop the failure, and one describes a fuel odor that a VIN search showed as not covered. Mileage in these complaints ranges from about 19,000 to 171,000 miles, and recall coverage questions come up both early and late in ownership.

   Recall 14V683000

   What to check: Check the VIN on the NHTSA recall lookup and ask the dealer whether recall 14V683000 has been applied, since some complaints say the VIN was excluded or parts were unavailable. Ask for the repair order, because one complaint says a recall may have been recorded as complete while the car was not repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My 2012 Infiniti QX56 needs a new timing chain and inifiniti said there was a recall but not on my particular VIN number. It seems odd that I have the year and make of the car with the exact repairs needed as the recall but they aren't covering it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11306305, filed 2020-01, 64,000 miles

   “I have issues with air compressor and timing chain that just randomly went out, I was told there was a recall or campaign for it with Infiniti I called Infiniti and sent it to the dealership they stated it was not for my actual VIN number but for same car with different VIN number, I asked the question since I am having the same issue that has a recall on another VIN same vehicle shouldn't your company fix all of that year vehicles make and model. I was told no.”

   NHTSA complaint #11190228, filed 2019-03, 140,000 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Battery failures, drains and repeated replacements

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 6.7 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2016–2020

   Owners describe batteries that failed prematurely or left the vehicle dead after it was parked, requiring jump starts. Some say the battery was replaced several times, and one says a diagnostic found no failure code, with a parasitic drain or relay failure suggested as possibilities. Others say the battery problems appeared alongside catalytic converter issues. Complaints that list mileage report battery problems from about 83,000 to 108,000 miles, and one describes a dead vehicle after parking.

   What to check: Ask for a battery load test and a parasitic drain test, and request records of any battery replacement. A battery that goes dead after parking can point to a drain or charging fault, so ask the dealer to check for stored electrical codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On more than one occasion after driving to a store or appt. And park . Go out to a completely dead vehicle. Jump start to get going may go for a month or so and it will happen again with no warning.”

   NHTSA complaint #11307996, filed 2020-02

   “The contact owns a 2012 Infiniti QX56. The contact stated that the battery failed prematurely. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, and an independent mechanic, to have a diagnostic performed. The diagnostic test was unable to locate a failure code therefore, the battery was replaced several times. The vehicle was taken back to the unknown dealer and the contact was informed that the battery failure could be caused by parasitic drain or a relay failure. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was not repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11323919, filed 2020-05, 83,000 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag faults and cover cracking

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • median 46,000 mi at 5.2 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2021

   Owners describe a passenger airbag light that came on, with the dealer finding a past code and recommending a diagnostics module replacement before diagnosis could continue. One owner says the front passenger seat did not engage the airbags for a lighter adult, and another reports a cracked passenger airbag cover with concern that the airbag could deploy without warning. The dealer offered no assistance in one case, and a recall-related airbag repair was reported as having parts unavailable in another. The complaints that list mileage report about 100 and 80,000 miles, so the reports cover both very early and later ownership.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask the dealer to scan for stored airbag codes, including any occupant detection code, and check whether the passenger airbag cover is cracked. Request written records of any airbag repair, since one owner was told the diagnostics module would need replacement before diagnosis could start.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My air bag light was on. I took my vehicle to the dealership to find out what was the problem. The issue that they reported to me was past code for air bag passenger side: will need to replace diagnostics module to begin diagnosis.”

   NHTSA complaint #11398451, filed 2021-03

   “Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Infiniti QX56. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14v683000 (air bags). The dealer indicated that they may be able to schedule the repair in mid february. When the contact attempted to schedule the repair, the parts were unavailable. The dealer may have reported to the manufacturer that the recall repair was completed, but the vehicle was not repaired. The contact had not experienced a failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #10956726, filed 2017-02

Buying note. For this model year, ask for proof that recall work has been applied to the specific VIN, and check for timing chain noise and battery condition during a pre-purchase inspection. Given how often timing chain and catalytic converter complaints appear, a cold-start test and a scan for stored codes are practical.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 54 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.