INFINITI Q50

COMMON PROBLEMS: InTouch Infotainment Glitches, Carbon Buildup, Turbo Wear, Coolant Leaks, Brake Wear, Adaptive Steering Faults

The Q50 sells on its blend of comfort and a V6 that actually moves, and the twin-turbo VR30 versions are quick. The dual-screen InTouch system is the complaint owners’ voice first. It freezes, reboots, and lags, and a software issue can mimic a hardware one, so it pays to know the difference. The direct-injection engines build carbon on the intake valves over the miles, which shows up as rough running and lost pep. Turbo components wear and can leak or drop boost. Coolant leaks turn up at the hoses and housings. Brake wear on the heavier trims. The Direct Adaptive Steering can throw faults that need a proper read.

INFINITI QX60

COMMON PROBLEMS: CVT Failure, Timing Chain Wear, Transmission Overheating, Brake Wear, Sunroof Rattles, Oil Leaks

The QX60 hauls three rows in comfort and shares its bones with the Nissan Pathfinder, which means it also shares the CVT. That transmission is the headline issue. The JATCO unit can shudder, hesitate, and eventually fail, often after running hot under load, and towing or grades push it harder. Catching the early shudder matters before the whole unit goes. The VQ timing chain components wear on higher-mileage cars. Transmission overheating speeds the CVT’s decline. The brakes wear on a vehicle this heavy. Sunroofs rattle and can leak. The engine seeps oil from the seals with age. We read the transmission honestly instead of jumping straight to a replacement.

INFINITI QX80

COMMON PROBLEMS: Brake Wear, Suspension and Ride Control Faults, Timing Chain Wear, Battery Drain, AC Compressor Failure, Oil Leaks

The QX80 is a full-size V8 SUV built to carry the whole family and tow on top of it. All that weight is hard on brakes, so pads and rotors wear faster than owners expect. The hydraulic ride control system that smooths the body motion can leak, and fault, and that repair takes a careful diagnosis. The 5.6 V8 timing chain guides wear with miles. A parasitic battery drain shows up on these and leaves you with a dead start some mornings. The AC compressor can fail and leave a big cabin warm. The engine leaks oil from the usual seals as it ages.

INFINITI QX50

COMMON PROBLEMS: VC-Turbo Oil Consumption, CVT Wear, Carbon Buildup, Coolant Leaks, Infotainment Glitches, Brake Wear

The QX50 went its own way with the VC-Turbo variable compression engine, a clever design that asks for an experienced hand when something goes wrong. That engine can consume oil, so the level is worth watching between changes. It pairs with a CVT, which shares the wear and shudder tendencies found across the lineup. Carbon collects on the direct-injection valves over time. Coolant leaks appear at the hoses and connections. The infotainment can freeze and lag like the rest of the Infiniti screens. Brakes wear with use.

INFINITI Q60

COMMON PROBLEMS: Carbon Buildup, Turbo Wear, InTouch Infotainment Glitches, Coolant Leaks, Brake Wear, Oil Leaks

The Q60 is the coupe in the lineup, and the people who buy them want the looks and the twin-turbo V6 that backs them up. It runs the same VR30 engine as the Q50, so the carbon buildup on the intake valves carries straight over and dulls the throttle as it accumulates. Turbochargers wear and can leak or lose boost on a car driven the way a coupe invites. The InTouch dual-screen system freezes and reboots as it does on the sedan. Coolant leaks show at the housings. Brakes wear on the harder-driven examples. The engine seeps oil from its seals with age. We keep the Q60 pulling the way it should.