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Transmission and drivetrainPart report

2012 Infiniti QX56 Transmission and drivetrain Problems

Complaints
4about this part
Share
7%of 57 total for the year
Median mileage
149,000miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2012 Infiniti QX56, 7% of the 57 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 149,000 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“My 2012 Infiniti seems to be having the same problem other Infiniti QX56 owners are having. Starts with a loud hissing/whistling sound which seems to go away after 10-20 minutes of driving and the car feels just fine. Today all my dashboard lights came on and my husband took the vehicle into the Infiniti dealer, just to have the mechanic return a few minutes later to inform us it is a timing chain issue. …”

NHTSA complaint #11219307, filed 2019-06, 158,000 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

“A whine or hiss when I start the vehicle and it goes away after about 10-15 minutes. It was determined to be a timing chain issue by my mechanic. There appears to be a safety recall notice for the 2012 QX56, but not for my specific VIN. I don't understand how the NHTSA allows a manufacturer to only include a portion of the 2012 model and not others. This is a safety recall! Does someone at the NHTSA reconcile the 2012 QX56 vehicles sold versus the vins eligible to be covered under this safety recall notice? Obviously, others are having the same problem! …”

NHTSA complaint #11322959, filed 2020-05, 171,000 miles

“The contact owns a 2012 Infiniti QX56. The contact stated that while attempting a turn at 55 MPH, the passenger's side front and driver's side rear wheels independently increased in rotation, causing the vehicle to erroneously turn. The contact also stated that the seat belt warning light intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure could not be diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 800.”

NHTSA complaint #10493463, filed 2013-01, 800 miles

Related service bulletins

Transmission and drivetrain: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
201339%
201247%
201145%
200848%
200679%
200556%
200444%

Other parts of the 2012 Infiniti QX56

Engine
24 complaintsElectrical system
9 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsAir bags
5 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsSuspension
4 complaintsBrakes
3 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2012 Infiniti QX56

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology