YearToAvoid

2013 Infiniti QX56 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

25/100

#7 most-complained of 9 QX56 years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2013 Infiniti QX56 has a complaint index of 25, ranking 7th out of 9 model years, and carries a Good verdict. Engine problems dominate at 63% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 110,000, and the vehicle has 3 recalls covering fuel pressure sensors, airbags, and wheel labeling.

Complaints
32
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16
14 city / 20 hwy

Top 2013 Infiniti QX56 problems

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

  1. Engine20 (63%)
  2. Brakes4 (13%)
  3. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (13%)
  4. Electrical System3 (9%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain3 (9%)
  6. Fuel System2 (6%)
  7. Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (3%)
  8. Other1 (3%)
  9. Seat Belts1 (3%)
  10. Steering1 (3%)

What owners report

  • Engine loses acceleration power intermittently at low speeds without a clear diagnosis from dealer technicians.
  • Owners describe a bank catalytic converter failure accompanied by a service engine light, sometimes followed by a second converter failing later.
  • A loud whistling or whining noise from the engine at startup, paired with power loss going up inclines, often tied to timing chain and catalytic converter wear.
  • Brake pedal reportedly sinks completely to the floor with little warning, sometimes while stopped or coming to a stop.
  • Vehicle stalls unexpectedly while accelerating into traffic, raising safety concerns during lane changes.
  • Suspension air bag on the rear of the vehicle reportedly bursts, causing the rear end to sag after a loud noise and shaking while driving.
2013 Infiniti QX56 complaints: complaints filed per month5Feb 2013May 2017Oct 2019Oct 2020Sep 2021Sep 2022Jun 2023
42 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2013 to Aug 2023; peak Mar 2020 (5).

2013 Infiniti QX56 recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V455000Jul 15, 2026Other168,149 vehicles

    Equipment:other:labels

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Nissan Armada, 2011-2013 Infiniti QX56, and 2014-2027 QX80 vehicles equipped with 22" wheels. The Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) listed on the certification label is incorrect, which can allow the vehicle to be overloaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

    Risk: An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will install new labels, free of charge. Additionally, Nissan will mail replacement labels to owners. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed September 2, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated Fall 2026. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669. Nissan's numbers for this recall are R26B1 and P6A13/4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.

  2. NHTSA 14V683000Nov 28, 2014Fuel System133,592 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Nissan Juke, 2012-2013 Infiniti M56, QX56, and 2014-2015 Infiniti Q70 (V8 engine vehicles only), and QX80 vehicles. The fuel pressure sensors may not have been sufficiently tightened during production. As a result, the fuel pressure sensor may loosen with vehicle usage and cause a fuel leak.

    Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could cause a vehicle fire.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will re-torque the fuel pressure sensors free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2015. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

  3. NHTSA 14V668000Oct 24, 2014Airbags1,848 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module

    Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2013 Infiniti QX56 vehicles manufactured September 1, 2012, to April 26, 2013, and 2014 Infiniti QX80 vehicles manufactured June 18, 2013, to February 11, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the driver's frontal air bag inflator may have been manufactured with an incorrect part.

    Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's air bag, the incorrect part may block the flow of propellant to the air bag and the air bag's inflator may rupture. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike and potentially seriously injure the vehicle occupants.

    Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2014. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.

2013 Infiniti QX56 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
20 MPG
Combined
16 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$5,000
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.

2013 compared with other QX56 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100200520062007200820092010201120122013
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2011Avoid10078216
2012Caution6357316
2013Good2532316

All Infiniti QX56 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Infiniti QX56 reliable?
Compared to other QX56 model years, 2013 ranks 7th out of 9 with a complaint index of 25 and a Good verdict. Engine complaints are the largest category, making up 63% of reports, with a median failure mileage of 110,000.
What are the most common problems with the 2013 Infiniti QX56?
Engine issues account for 63% of complaints, followed by brakes and suspension/wheels/tires at 13% each. NHTSA also lists electrical system, transmission, fuel system, and other smaller categories.
Does the 2013 Infiniti QX56 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2013 QX56: a fuel pressure sensor re-torque, a front driver air bag inflator replacement, and a wheel GAWR labeling correction. None are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2013 QX56 compare to other years?
With a complaint index of 25, the 2013 QX56 ranks better than years like 2011 (index 100, Avoid) and 2005 (index 88, Avoid), but not as clean as 2009 (index 0, Good) or 2007 (index 13, Good).
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Infiniti QX56?
EPA rates the 2013 QX56 at 16 mpg combined (14 city / 20 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,000.

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.