Summary
The INFINITI QX56 has 9 recalls spanning the 2005–2015 production run, with the most serious being a driver's airbag inflator defect on 2011 and 2013 models that can rupture during deployment and send metal fragments toward the driver and front passenger.
The 2011 and 2013 model years each have their own driver airbag inflator recall: on both, the inflator can burst rather than deploy normally, either projecting fragments into the cabin or failing to inflate the bag at all. The fuel system also draws recalls across multiple years. On 2012–2015 models with the V8 engine, the fuel pressure sensor on the engine's fuel rail can loosen over time and allow fuel to leak, which creates a fire risk near any ignition source. A separate fuel pressure sensor issue affects 2011 models in the same way, where a loose connection between the sensor and the rail can let fuel escape past the gasket. On 2008–2010 models, a brake pedal pivot pin that was not correctly formed during assembly can slide out of position, causing the pedal to partially separate from its bracket. The driver would feel unusual looseness in the pedal and a significant reduction in stopping power. There is also a side curtain airbag compliance issue on certain 2008 models built during a one-week window in early 2007, where the curtain may not inflate correctly in a crash. Going back to earlier production, 2005–2009 models have a fuel gauge sender whose contacts can wear and contaminate the sender unit, causing the gauge to read roughly a quarter tank when the tank is actually empty. This can lead to an unexpected stall on the highway.
