NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The driveshaft can develop fatigue cracks and break, potentially causing loss of power to the wheels.
What the fix does
The driveshaft will be replaced at no cost to you.
This page covers 4 recalls, 124 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2015 Infiniti Q50.
22–31 mpg combined
7.6–10.7 L/100km
Compact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 4 tested variants for this model year.
The 2014 to 2015 Infiniti Q50 received an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA crash testing for US-market vehicles. The sedan earned 4 stars in frontal crash protection and 5 stars in side crash, rollover, and side pole crash tests. NHTSA applies this rating across model years until a significant redesign occurs, so these results represent the entire 2014 to 2015 range tested.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2015 Q50 draws the heaviest complaint volume around the powertrain and steering systems. On the transmission side, owners frequently report the valve body failing, with symptoms including stuck or sluggish gear shifts, sudden loss of acceleration at highway speeds, and the check engine light coming on. Several owners describe the transmission getting trapped in a lower gear, which leaves the car unable to keep pace with traffic. Some report needing the valve body replaced more than once. Steering complaints are the second-largest group, with owners describing unexpected behavior from the electric power steering system, including loss of assist or erratic feel during normal driving. The vehicle speed control category also draws notable complaints, often tied to hesitation or failure to accelerate as commanded, which owners say is most noticeable when merging or maintaining highway speed. A single report describes the driver's door lock becoming completely inoperable, preventing the door from opening by any method.
124
Total Complaints
17
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
9
With Injuries
By System
The 2015 Infiniti Q50 has 4 recalls, the most serious being an unintended acceleration risk on hybrid models where the throttle can reopen on its own and cause the vehicle to gradually speed up without driver input.
On the drivetrain side, the driveshaft can develop metal fatigue and break, which may cut off drive power while moving or allow the vehicle to roll away when parked without the parking brake engaged. The steering system carries its own concern: the Direct Adaptive Steering system can encounter an error at startup that alters how the wheel responds and changes the vehicle's effective turning radius, meaning the car may not turn the way the driver expects. There is also a passenger safety equipment issue where the front passenger seat sensor may not correctly classify the occupant, causing the frontal airbag to either deploy with the wrong force or not deploy at all in a crash, leaving the passenger without proper protection. Note that the acceleration and driveshaft recalls apply specifically to hybrid-equipped models.
At a glance
What can fail
The driveshaft can develop fatigue cracks and break, potentially causing loss of power to the wheels.
What the fix does
The driveshaft will be replaced at no cost to you.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Direct Adaptive Steering system may malfunction at startup, causing the steering to respond unpredictably and affecting how sharply the vehicle turns.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the steering system's computer software at no cost to restore normal steering function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger seat's occupant detection system may incorrectly identify an adult as a child or miss an occupied seat. This can cause the passenger airbag to stay off during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram or replace the occupant detection and airbag control units to ensure proper airbag operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error in the engine control module causes the throttle to partially close if a throttle position sensor signal is lost. If the signal returns, the throttle may open unexpectedly regardless of the actual sensor position.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the engine control module at no cost to fix the software error.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.