YearToAvoid

2016 Infiniti Q50 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

44/100

#6 most-complained of 10 Q50 years

The 2016 Infiniti Q50 ranks 6th out of 10 model years with a Complaint Index of 44 and a "Good" verdict. NHTSA lists 39 complaints, 4 recalls, and 1 crash for this year, with Engine problems as the top concern (13 complaints, 33% share).

Complaints
39
Recalls
4
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
25
22.5 city / 29 hwy

Top 2016 Infiniti Q50 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine13 (33%)
  2. Electrical System8 (21%)
  3. Steering6 (15%)
  4. Airbags5 (13%)
  5. Fuel System4 (10%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain4 (10%)
  7. Seat Belts3 (8%)
  8. Structure & Body3 (8%)
  9. Brakes2 (5%)
  10. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (5%)

What owners report

  • Owners describe the engine losing acceleration when steering sharply to a 90-degree angle, happening almost daily on some vehicles.
  • Some engines stalled or jerked at various speeds, with dealers eventually replacing the engine but the problem persisting afterward.
  • The stop-start system reportedly failed to restart the engine after stopping at a red light, showing a system failure message.
  • Steering wheel reportedly turned left on its own at 40 mph, causing a brief loss of control before the driver regained it.
  • The airbag warning light for the front passenger seat failed to illuminate even when the seat was occupied, tied to a recall.
  • Electrical system reportedly caused the vehicle to enter economy mode and shut off while stopped, triggering warning indicators.
2016 Infiniti Q50 complaints: complaints filed per month4Aug 2016Oct 2017Jun 2020Apr 2022Dec 2023Jan 2025May 2026
57 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2016 to Jul 2026; peak Mar 2018 (4).

2016 Infiniti Q50 recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 24V470000Jun 21, 2024Transmission & Powertrain7,222 vehicles

    Power train:driveline:driveshaft

    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.

    Remedy: 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 this recall are R24A5 and R24A7.

  2. NHTSA 17V476000Jul 27, 2017Electrical System14,192 vehicles

    Electrical system:software

    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 stall while driving.

    Risk: An engine stall can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: 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 Infiniti customer service at 1-800-662-6200.

  3. NHTSA 16V430000Jun 13, 2016Steering28,182 vehicles

    Steering:automated/adaptive steering

    Nissan North America, Inc.'s (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Infiniti Q50 vehicles manufactured December 26, 2012, to December 11, 2015, and Infiniti Q50 Hybrid vehicles manufactured December 10, 2012, to December 17, 2015. The Direct Adaptive Steering system may experience an error at vehicle start up altering the vehicle's steering responsiveness and turning radius.

    Risk: If the vehicle does not steer as the driver anticipates, there is an increased the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Direct Adaptive Steering ECU software, free of charge. The recall began on August 12, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

See all 4 recalls for the 2016 Infiniti Q50 →

2016 Infiniti Q50 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
22.5 MPG
Highway
29 MPG
Combined
25 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,175
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2016 compared with other Q50 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2014Avoid100169526.5
2015Avoid89126326.5
2016Good4439425
2017Avoid7862425
2018Caution6744323.5

All Infiniti Q50 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2016 Infiniti Q50 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2016 Q50 ranks 6th out of 10 model years with a Complaint Index of 44, giving it a "Good" verdict relative to other Q50 years.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Infiniti Q50?
NHTSA data shows Engine complaints lead at 13 (33% share), followed by Electrical System issues at 8 complaints (21% share) and Steering at 6 complaints (15% share).
Does the 2016 Infiniti Q50 have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2016 Q50, covering the driveshaft, Fuel Pump Control Module software, Direct Adaptive Steering ECU software, and airbags.
How does the 2016 Q50 compare to other model years?
The 2016 Q50's Complaint Index of 44 is lower than the 2014 (100), 2015 (89), and 2017 (78) model years, which are all rated "Avoid," making 2016 a comparatively better choice.
At what mileage do 2016 Q50 problems typically appear?
Median mileage at failure across all reported issues is 33,500 miles, with Engine problems specifically showing a median of 35,000 miles.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.