Common Infiniti Q50 Faults: Reliability, Breakdowns And Problems!
The Infiniti Q50 is a luxury sports sedan that competes with the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class models. The Q50 is a very good vehicle with a powerful engine and spacious seats. You cannot forget that it is also necessary to know the common faults of the Infiniti Q50 , to prevent any of these faults from taking you off guard.
The Q50’s good reputation allows it to maintain its value in the used car market. It is expected to depreciate 49% after five years. For a luxury sports saloon, that’s fine.
The Infiniti Q50 has only been in production since 2013. In this article, we’re going to discuss common problems that the Q50 encounters and give you an impression of its overall reliability.
How good is the Infiniti Q50?
The Infiniti Q50 has been given a reliability score of 4.0 out of 5.0, which is above average. The BMW 3 Series, which is arguably its main competitor , only scored 3.0 out of 5.0.
This means Q50 owners will spend less on annual repairs compared to most luxury sedan owners. They will also be less likely to need major repairs during unscheduled visits to the mechanic. The Q50 ranks 10th out of 31 luxury midsize cars that users have rated.
Common failures of the Infiniti Q50
The Infiniti Q50, incredibly, has no common problems according to some users. However, it has some known issues according to different websites.
1- Brake master cylinder failure
The brake master cylinder on the 2014 Infiniti Q50 tends to fail prematurely. The brake master cylinder is the component responsible for converting the force exerted on the brake pedal into hydraulic pressure that is sent to the brakes.
The main symptom Q50 owners have experienced is a spongy feeling brake pedal. This is because the gaskets inside the master cylinder deteriorate sooner than expected, leading to leaks.
After some time, the leaks build up the pressure required to produce the braking power needed to stop the car. The stopping distance of your Q50 will be longer, which can increase the risk of being involved in a rear-end collision. One owner has reported that this problem caused damage to the front end of his vehicle. Fortunately, no one was hurt.
The problem can be fixed simply by replacing the faulty master cylinder.
2- Brake wear problems
The Q50’s brake pads tend to wear out very quickly. Brake pads typically last between 25,000 and 80,000 miles, depending on driving habits and the vehicle. But many Q50 owners have reported that their brake pads have worn out in as little as 5,000 miles.
Worn brake pads can cause brake squealing noises , longer stopping distances, and brake pedal throbbing. If this is not taken into account, the brake pads wear out completely and cause the brake caliper to bite directly into the brake disc, damaging both components in the process.
One owner has reported that his Q50 brake pads had to be replaced three times after just 18,000 miles. This issue seems to occur on the 2015 model of the Q50 most, but it seems evident on the 2014 and 2016 models as well.
In their frustration, two Q50 owners have filed a lawsuit against Infiniti. The lawsuit alleges that Infiniti knows the braking system is faulty but hides the fact so the automaker can continue to sell vehicles.
The suit also alleges that dealers tell owners that there is nothing wrong with the brakes, even after owners have replaced the pads multiple times. As for the cause of the brake problems, the lawsuit alleges that the Q50 uses pads that are easily damaged by heat when the pads come into contact with the rotors. There doesn’t seem to be a final resolution so far.
3- Inconvenience of tire wear
The tires that come from the factory on some Infiniti Q50s are apparently substandard. Owners have reported that the original tires don’t even last 10,000 miles when the tires are supposed to last around 50,000 miles. Additionally, these tires also tend to split at the rim, which can cause a blowout at highway speeds.
One owner also reported that these tires are so poor that they developed flat spots after leaving the vehicle parked, which caused vibrations for 15-20 minutes until the tires warmed up and leveled out.
Owners are frustrated that for a luxury and performance-oriented brand, Infiniti gave the Q50 subpar tires out of the dealership. Only the Q50 2015 model has this problem. It’s nice that the tires can be easily replaced with ones that are made of a stronger compound.
4- Steering problems
Several owners have also reported that their power assist system was malfunctioning, causing the car to not steer straight or difficult to turn. These issues have resulted in several owners telling stories of accidents they barely avoided, while some have resulted in accidents.
When reporting the incidents to Infiniti, one owner was told his wheel alignment just needed to be fixed, while most owners were told there was nothing wrong with their vehicle. This problem seems to be recurring and the cause of the problem is still unclear, at least based on the owners’ discussions on the forums. Q50 models from 2014 to 2016 are affected by this problem.
In general, it’s a good thing that the Infiniti Q50 doesn’t have a major issue related to the engine or transmission, which are the most problematic and expensive to repair. Of course, it has the problem of acceleration of the brake pads, which until now has plagued the owners.
In conclusion
If you’re unsure about purchasing an Infiniti Q50, we hope knowing these common Infiniti Q50 failures will help you make an informed decision. All cars have common problems, but some of them are more serious than others. Learning from the experience of other drivers can help you decide if the car is worth it or not.
