2016 Infiniti Q50 Safety Report
2016 INFINITI Q50 Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2016 Infiniti Q50
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2016 Infiniti Q50. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | High (4) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (34) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 1 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Engine | Compare engine issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2020 | Compare against the 2020 Infiniti Q50 with 2 complaints and 0 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2015 | Check the 2015 Infiniti Q50 before buying across this generation. |
Infiniti Q50 Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Infiniti Q50 years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Infiniti Q50 | 59 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2015 Infiniti Q50 | 118 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2018 Infiniti Q50 | 39 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Infiniti Q50 | 24 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2020 Infiniti Q50 | 2 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Infiniti Q50 | 4 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
2016 Infiniti Q50 Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2016 Infiniti Q50, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Engine
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Infiniti onlyAir Bags
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Infiniti onlySteering
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Steering issues Infiniti onlyElectrical System
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Infiniti onlyStructure
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Structure issues Infiniti onlyPower Train
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Infiniti onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2016 Infiniti Q50
Reliability Score
The 2016 Infiniti Q50 receives a reliability score of 5 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates below-average reliability. Significant issues have been reported by owners and should be carefully evaluated before purchase.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2016 Infiniti Q50
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2016 Infiniti Q50
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2016 Infiniti Q50:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Coolant Mixing With Oil Engine block porosity leading to coolant mixing with oil, causing bearing failure in vehicles with less than 60,000 miles. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Airbag Sensor Malfunction Airbag sensor issues causing the airbag light to come on without a recent accident, affecting multiple vehicles. |
Medium | Rare | 80k-120k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2016 Infiniti Q50:
Engine check light came on, indicating potential coolant mixing with oil.
Passenger airbag light came on without a recent accident.
Recall Details for the 2016 Infiniti Q50
The following 4 recalls have been issued for the 2016 Infiniti Q50 by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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.
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrec...
Consequence: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Inter...
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2016 Infiniti Q50
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2016 Infiniti Q50 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes. 1 reported injuries or fatalities.
* the passenger airbag light came on July 2025. I was not in a accident the light just came on. * 7/29/2025 I took my car in for service at Infinity of Las Vegas (the only Infinity dealership in Las Vegas) I asked to check why the airbag light was on. I was told the occupant sensor unit was abnormal. Sensor and module internally shorted out. Recommend to replace passenger front seat frame assemb...
I’m reporting a safety issue with my 2016 Infiniti Q50. Last Friday [XXX], my the car wouldn’t crank and there was minimal dashboard power, but the engine wouldn’t start. After receiving a jump, I had the battery replaced assuming it was the issue. However, six days later, while driving, the vehicle suddenly lost all electrical power mid-drive with no warning or dashboard alerts. The engine shut ...
The engine check light came. I also received a letter from infinti for recall. The power of the vehicle declined.
Then engine light came on. And the vehicle decline in power. It moves very slow.
Engine manufactured with porous block causing coolant to mix with oil resulting in bearing failure. Vehicle has less than 60k miles and I have seen numerous reports on Infiniti Q50/Q60 forums with people having the exact same issue. Some vehicles have had multiple engine replacements. Vehicle out of warranty due to age. Have not been able to drive vehicle for over a year and was told I should repo...
Passenger seat light remain on for 4 months the went away. Then the airbag light came on. Took it to Infiniti of Tampa where they supposedly done diagnostics. They cause additional lights to appear on my dashboard to include the steering hard to turn. When I purchased the vehicle in October 2016 I was unaware of any recalls. I found out about a month ago there approximately four recalls for 201...
The hood of my vehicle is raised on the upper right side. It was a small opening but now it has gotten bigger. I'm afraid that the entire hood may come off at a high speed. I also have rust spots on the top of my car close to the sunroof. I use Infiniti of the Palm Beaches for all of my services and have reported both concerns and was told it was normal wear and tear. I have owned many cars and ne...
The car has only 50,000 miles and the valve body of the car just burnt out. I’ve done all the mandatory/ recommended maintenance and with the history of the brand I expected better quality of their product. Would greatly appreciate the accountability on this issue and some effort to fix this for the population.
The contact owns a 2016 Infiniti Q50. The contact stated upon attempting to drive from a complete stop, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that upon attempting to drive the vehicle 30 minutes later, the vehicle responded as needed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the vehicle was diagnosed that the valve body had...
My vehicle has been having issues for several months now. I have taken it to Nissan, an auto shop, and Infiniti and no one has been able to find out what’s wrong with it, why it stalls to start on a cold start. Infiniti has had my car for a month now because they believe it’s the fuel pressure sensor and they are waiting on the part, for which they have no estimated time of arrival, but they are n...
Internal engine mechanical issues, infiniti of bridgewater diagnosis. The engine cut off midway while driving on the highway. Vehicle received an engine replacement 1-2 years ago from Infiniti of edison (ray catena) who were shut down after the replacement. There was absolutely no warnings or problems before hand.
The contact owns a 2016 Infiniti Q50. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and the vehicle failed to accelerate and stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of fuel even when the vehicle was driven a short distance. The contact stated that the rear driver’s and passenger’s side door latches were inoperable and failed to...
The contact owns a 2016 Infiniti Q50. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer for an oil change. The contact stated while driving to the residence, the RPMs and the speedometer were intermittently dim, and the daytime running lights were intermittently inoperable. Additionally, the contact stated that the front passenger's side seat belt light indicated that the seat belt was n...
Airbag sensor light stays on instrument panel due to an issue with passenger airbag sensor under passenger seat.
The contact owns a 2016 Infiniti Q50. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V244000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approx...
this car is being sold at nice car inc and they have erased codes from car air bags wont deploy if and accident occurs 1 turbo on car doesnt work and the car smokes runs hot the and will shut off or wont Accelerate over 10 miles per hr I was not aware of this until after purchase and i had car checked out that is dangerous and hazardous they also have called using my name pretending to be me and...
The contact owns the 2016 Infiniti Q50. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle would shake and decelerate independently. The check engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact diagnosed the failure as a stuck open fuel injector. Additionally, there was a fuel odor present. The vehicle was repaired by the contact. The manufacturer was no...
On 12/11/21 my vehicle had limited turning (left or right) capability. The vehicle has < than 23K miles, was purchased at Bommarito Infiniti, and has been serviced at the same dealership since I purchased it. I bought the vehicle new and drove it over the last 5 years as a back-up vehicle to a Chevy Cruze (w/greater than 180K miles on it and no faulty parts). I did not purchase the extended warran...
The contact owns a 2016 Infiniti Q50. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the center display control unit would glitch inadvertently and constantly restart, which led to the rearview camera and GPS failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the display control unit failed and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the center display control unit ha...
SEAT SENSOR PROBLEM ON PASSENGER SIDE, SEAT BELT LIGHT ON WITHOUT PERSON SEAT IN, FIX MANY TIME STILL COME BACK.
Showing 20 of 34 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2016 Infiniti Q50
Has the 2016 INFINITI Q50 been recalled?
Yes, the 2016 INFINITI Q50 has 4 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2016 INFINITI Q50 have?
The 2016 INFINITI Q50 has 34 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 1 involved crashes. 1 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2016 INFINITI Q50?
The 2016 INFINITI Q50 does not have an NHTSA safety rating on file. This can happen for newer model years, specialty vehicles, or models that have not been crash-tested.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 INFINITI Q50?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2016 INFINITI Q50 involve engine (4 complaints), air bags (3 complaints), steering (3 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system, structure, power train.
How many crash reports does the 2016 INFINITI Q50 have?
There are 1 crash reports associated with the 2016 INFINITI Q50 out of 34 total complaints (2.9% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2016 INFINITI Q50 have?
There are no fire reports for the 2016 INFINITI Q50 in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2016 INFINITI Q50?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 INFINITI Q50.
How many injuries are reported for the 2016 INFINITI Q50?
1 injury has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 INFINITI Q50. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2016 INFINITI Q50?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 INFINITI Q50 is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 34 complaints, 4 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2016 INFINITI Q50?
The components with the most failures on the 2016 INFINITI Q50 are: 1. ENGINE (4 complaints), 2. AIR BAGS (3 complaints), 3. STEERING (3 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (2 complaints), 5. STRUCTURE (2 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 4 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2016 INFINITI Q50?
Be cautious of engine coolant mixing with oil and airbag sensor malfunctions, especially in vehicles with less than 60,000 miles. The 2016 INFINITI Q50 has 34 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record.
How reliable is the 2016 INFINITI Q50?
The 2016 INFINITI Q50 receives a reliability score of 5/100, indicating below-average reliability. This is based on 34 owner complaints, 4 recalls, and 1 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Engine Coolant Mixing with Oil and Airbag Sensor Malfunction.
What are the known issues with the 2016 INFINITI Q50?
Known issues with the 2016 INFINITI Q50 include: Engine Coolant Mixing with Oil, Airbag Sensor Malfunction. These are based on patterns found across 34 NHTSA complaints. 4 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the common issues with the 2016 INFINITI Q50?
Common issues include engine coolant mixing with oil and airbag sensor malfunctions.
How can I check for coolant mixing with oil?
Check for oil contamination in the coolant reservoir or coolant contamination in the oil.
What should I do if the airbag light comes on without an accident?
Take your vehicle to a certified dealer for a diagnostic check.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of engine coolant mixing with oil and airbag sensor malfunctions, especially in vehicles with less than 60,000 miles.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2016 Infiniti Q50
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2016 Infiniti Q50. The data includes 34 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 4 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 reported crashes, 1 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16