2018 Infiniti Q50 Safety Report
2018 INFINITI Q50 Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2018 Infiniti Q50
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2018 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 (3) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (39) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 2 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 Infiniti Q50 | 24 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2017 Infiniti Q50 | 59 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Infiniti Q50 | 2 | 0 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2016 Infiniti Q50 | 34 | 4 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2021 Infiniti Q50 | 4 | 3 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2015 Infiniti Q50 | 118 | 3 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2018 Infiniti Q50 Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2018 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
10 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Infiniti onlyUnknown Or Other
4 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Infiniti onlyAir Bags
3 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Air Bags issues Infiniti onlyFuel/Propulsion System
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Fuel/Propulsion System issues Infiniti onlyWheels
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Wheels issues Infiniti onlyElectrical System
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Infiniti onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2018 Infiniti Q50
Reliability Score
The 2018 Infiniti Q50 receives a reliability score of 82 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates above-average reliability relative to comparable vehicles.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2018 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 2018 Infiniti Q50
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2018 Infiniti Q50:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driveshaft Recall Nissan North America, Inc. is recalling certain 2011-2013 M56, 2012-2013 M35 Hybrid, and 2014 models for driveshaft issues. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Fuel Pump Recall Nissan North America, Inc. is recalling certain 2016-2018 Infiniti Q50 and 2017 Infiniti Q60 for fuel pump defects. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Airbag Malfunction The airbag light frequently turns on, with multiple reports of this issue. |
High | Common | 0-100k miles |
| Turbocharger System Defect A defect in the turbocharger system has been reported, causing oil to burn and smoke from the exhaust. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2018 Infiniti Q50:
Recalled for driveshaft issues in certain models.
Recalled for fuel pump defects in certain models.
Airbag light frequently turns on.
Defects in the turbocharger system have been reported.
Recall Details for the 2018 Infiniti Q50
The following 3 recalls have been issued for the 2018 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 2018-2019 Nissan Altima, Armada, Frontier, Kicks, Leaf, Maxima, Murano, NV, NV200, Pathfinder, Rogue, Rogue Sport, Sentra, Titan, Titan Diesel, Versa Note and Versa Sedan vehicles, as well as Infiniti Q50, Q60, QX30 and QX80 vehicles. Additionally included are 2019 Nissan GT-R and Taxi and Infiniti QX50, QX60, Q70, Q70L vehicles. The back-up camera and display settings can be adjusted such that the rear view image is no longer visible an...
Consequence: The lack of an image in the back-up camera display increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners in phases, having dealers update the back-up camera settings software, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2019 and all affected VINs should be activated. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669 or INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
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.
NHTSA Complaint Summaries for the 2018 Infiniti Q50
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2018 Infiniti Q50 with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes. 1 involved fires.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Infiniti Q50. It was discovered that there were three separate mileage discrepancies. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 50,370; however, at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage had been rolled back from 54,000 to 28,630 miles. The mileage before the vehicle was purchased was 47,650.
Filing this complaint regarding a safety-related defect involving the turbocharger system on my 2018 INFINITI Q50. The vehicle has approximately 46,000 miles and is 8 years old. INFINITI/Nissan has acknowledged through its own Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) that turbocharger failure on 2016–2018 Q50 3.0T vehicles is a known defect. Nissan’s documentation identifies issues such as turbo oil sea...
Leak in the turbo causing oil to burn and create smoke from the exhaust
The serpentine belt on my 2018 Infiniti Q50 Sport became contaminated with oil immediately after dealer turbo replacement at the end of August 2025, causing the belt to slip, shred, and be pulled into the engine. This resulted in sudden loss of essential engine functions and poses a significant safety hazard. This failure was caused by improper repair at the dealership.”
The contact's son owns a 2018 Infiniti Q50. The contact stated that soon after purchasing the vehicle, there was an abnormal screeching sound coming from the brakes while depressing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's son took the vehicle to an independent mechanic to have the brake pads and rotors replaced. However, less than one month after the replacement of t...
The airbag/srs light is on. I've read on multiple forums that this is a common occurrence with this model and year of Infiniti. It did not come on as a result of any accident/incident.
Airbag light turn on, on my dashboard, I checked it with a professional OBD2 scanner and shows a code which indicates a fault in the Occupant Detection System (ODS), which the scanner says it is very common for my vehicle. This puts my passengers at risk due to an airbag system fault. My vehicle has not been in an accident, nor has my passenger seat been messed with. I have spoken to other individ...
Within one month of purchase, the airbag warning light illuminated and has remained on continuously. A separate dealership later confirmed the airbag system is defective and may not deploy in an accident. This is a serious safety defect that was not disclosed to me at the time of sale. Additional Issues: •On July 14, 2025, I dropped the car off for prolonged starting issues. I was told the vehicl...
My car wouldnt start and when it did, it would start shaking and every time I accelerate, The speed wasnt going any faster but only the RPMs were
I was driving down the highway leaving the barbershop and my car wouldnt go over more than like 55 mph and I got a flashing green symbol beside my check engine light which had just came on when the AUTO (Stop/Start) light did. once I got home turned it off and turned it back on the for a second the light doesn’t come on but once you drive it maybe a quarter of a mile or less it come back on and th...
Car has white smoke coming from the exhaust and the oil level keeps decreasing. Car stalls and takes time to accelerate P0106 code pops up from engine. There’s a rattle and whine noise coming from the engine bay. Also the gas was stuck accelerating. Had to switch the car to neutral so it does continue accelerating. After switching to neutral I was able to decrease power to the wheels and had ...
The contact owns a 2018 Infiniti Q50. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Low Oil Pressure - STOP", message was displayed, and the contact stopped driving the vehicle. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the engine was abnormally loud. The contact stated that the low oil pressure warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent ...
Turbos are starting to work and car is starting to consume anti freeze
I was driving down the highway and my car started to shut down and started to make a knocking sound inside the engine bay, putting at risk other drivers, so i turned on my hazards and pulled to the shoulder of the road,the car wouldn’t turn on so i called a tow truck. Took the car to dealer and stated engine is seized
I was in my car waiting my for complex security gate to open when I heard a loud noise. I got out of my car to see what it was and turns out my sunroof exploded. For no reason. No rock or item hit my car nor was the car in motion. It was also not from the heat as it was 60 degrees outside. I called my warranty and they refuse to cover it because it is glass. I am reading many others with this same...
The airbag passenger light is illuminated causing air bag system to remain off until resolve. The vehicle was taken in for inspection and dealer confirmed diagnostic results found Occupant sensor malfunctioning. Under warranty, the sensor was covered, but after installation the system also found that wasn’t the only thing to replace. It’s a handful of sensors and harness that is integrated within ...
I went to Evo Motors to find a car and found a car filled out an application and had to return to the next day because they were closing There was already talk about a down payment but no credit transaction was happening yet. I didn’t even have an offer on the credit yet so I came back the following day and on the way there I got a phone call that the bank was requesting a down payment in the a...
The Air bag system on a 2018 Infiniti Q50 AWD is malfunctioning. I’d like to get it checked out especially if this could be a tentative recall issue for myself and other owners of the same vehicle. I feel very unsafe for my family and I because the system was never tampered with, yet the light used to go away randomly. Currently, the light is permanently on, and passenger airbag light states the ...
The contact owns a 2018 Infiniti Q50. The contact stated that the back-up camera was flickering while in use. The contact stated that over time, the back-up camera screen had gone blank and failed to operate as needed. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V654000 (Back Over Prevention) which she linked to the failure. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The...
My coolant reservoir kept on going empty, I took to dealer for service they replaced the radiator fan module and told me my engine was not porous. I was driving and my engine ended up stalling, turned off while I was driving in the freeway at a high speed cause me to almost lose control of my vehicle because everything stopped working. It looks like an inner rod failed possibly because of the cool...
Showing 20 of 39 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2018 Infiniti Q50
Has the 2018 INFINITI Q50 been recalled?
Yes, the 2018 INFINITI Q50 has 3 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2018 INFINITI Q50 have?
The 2018 INFINITI Q50 has 39 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 1 involved crashes. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2018 INFINITI Q50?
The 2018 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 2018 INFINITI Q50?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2018 INFINITI Q50 involve engine (10 complaints), unknown or other (4 complaints), air bags (3 complaints). Other affected components include fuel/propulsion system, wheels, electrical system.
How many crash reports does the 2018 INFINITI Q50 have?
There are 1 crash reports associated with the 2018 INFINITI Q50 out of 39 total complaints (2.6% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2018 INFINITI Q50 have?
There are 1 fire reports for the 2018 INFINITI Q50 out of 39 total complaints. Fire reports are among the most serious safety concerns tracked by NHTSA.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2018 INFINITI Q50?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 INFINITI Q50.
How many injuries are reported for the 2018 INFINITI Q50?
No injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2018 INFINITI Q50.
Should I buy a 2018 INFINITI Q50?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2018 INFINITI Q50 is research thoroughly before purchasing. It has 39 complaints, 3 recalls. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2018 INFINITI Q50?
The components with the most failures on the 2018 INFINITI Q50 are: 1. ENGINE (10 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (4 complaints), 3. AIR BAGS (3 complaints), 4. FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (2 complaints), 5. WHEELS (2 complaints). ENGINE is the single most-reported problem area with 10 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2018 INFINITI Q50?
Be cautious of potential recalls for driveshafts and fuel pumps, and check for airbag malfunctions. The 2018 INFINITI Q50 has 39 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record.
How reliable is the 2018 INFINITI Q50?
The 2018 INFINITI Q50 receives a reliability score of 82/100, indicating above-average reliability. This is based on 39 owner complaints, 3 recalls, and 2 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Driveshaft Recall and Fuel Pump Recall.
What are the known issues with the 2018 INFINITI Q50?
Known issues with the 2018 INFINITI Q50 include: Driveshaft Recall, Fuel Pump Recall, Airbag Malfunction, Turbocharger System Defect. These are based on patterns found across 39 NHTSA complaints. 3 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any recalls for the 2018 INFINITI Q50?
Yes, there are recalls for driveshafts and fuel pumps in certain models.
What are the common issues with the airbags?
The airbag light frequently turns on, and it's a common issue with this model.
What should I do if I notice white smoke from the exhaust?
Check for fuel pump defects, as this could be a sign of a problem.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of potential recalls for driveshafts and fuel pumps, and check for airbag malfunctions.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2018 Infiniti Q50
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2018 Infiniti Q50. The data includes 39 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 3 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 reported crashes, 1 fire incidents, 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