Problems · NHTSA complaints

2011 Infiniti M56 problems

Owners filed 18 complaints about the 2011 Infiniti M56 with NHTSA between Jan 2011 and Sep 2023. The most-cited component is power train (8).

Complaints
18
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train8
  2. Engine4
  3. Air bags3
  4. Electrical system3
  5. Steering2
  6. Service brakes1
  7. Suspension1
  8. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  9. Seat belts1
  10. Visibility1
  11. Other / unknown1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20114
20121
20130
20143
20152
20160
20171
20181
20192
20200
20213
20220
20231

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

8 reports2 related recalls
“The contact owns a 2011 Infiniti M56. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V755000 (Power Train) however, the dealer informed the contact that the parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that while making a left turn from a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle drove 2 MPH and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that as he released the accelerator pedal and depressed it again, he was able to drive the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and advised the contact that they would follow up with the dealer. The contact was awaiting a call back from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 95,000. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 3, 2021Power trainODI 11442591

Engine

4 reports
“I love this vehicle but it's suddenly started having a rough idle and with a scan tool detects multiple misfires and several codes due to timing, in which case the timing chain has been worn out call the dealership to see if the timing chain recall for the m56 was done to my car they said it was VIN specific now I am stuck with a vehicle that is very dangerous to be driven.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 30, 2021Power train, EngineODI 11438773

Air bags

3 reports
“Front passenger airbag occupancy sensor fails leading to inactivation of front passenger airbag. Dealership says that a repair solution is not available.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 9, 2023Air bagsODI 11543567

Electrical system

3 reports
“ISSUE: PASSENGER SEAT BELT LIGHT CONTINUES TO REMAIN ON AFTER THE PASSENGER IS NO LONGER SITTING ON THE SEAT. ROOT CAUSE FROM DEALER: DEFECTIVE PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR. ONLY WAY TO TURN OFF THE SEAT BELT LIGHT IS TO EITHER PUT THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT ON OR TURN ON AND OFF THE CAR. I NOTICED WHEN I PURCHASED THE INFINITI 2011 M56 THE SEAT BELT LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ON AFTER A PASSENGER HAS BEEN SITTING ON THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT AND EXITS THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER JUST NEEDS TO SIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FOR A FEW MINUTES TO EXHIBIT THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS I DON'T KNOW IF THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY PROPERLY AS THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR IS FALSELY TRIGGERING A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATOR WILL SOMETIMES BE ON OR OFF WHEN THE SEAT BELT LIGHT COMES ON. AFTER TAKING THE CAR BACK AND FORTH ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND TO MULTIPLE INFINITI DEALERSHIPS, WAS FINALLY ABLE TO TO GET TO THE PROBLEM. ONE OF THE DEALERSHIP WAS FINALLY ABLE TO CONCLUDE IT WAS DUE TO THE FRONT PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSOR. EVEN HAD AN INFINITI ENGINEER FROM THE NORTHER CA REGION CONFIRM THE ISSUE WAS INDEED DUE TO THE OCCUPANCY SENSOR. THIS ISSUE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2015Electrical system, Air bags, Seat beltsODI 10785191

Steering

2 reports
“4WAS AND STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON WHEN DRIVING OVER ROUGH ASPHALT, OR TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT AND ROAD IS ROUGH. THE REAR OF THE CAR FEELS UNSTABLE AND STEERING WHEEL IS OFF-CENTER. THE LIGHTS ARE ON UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED ON AGAIN AND BEFORE THE WARNING SYMBOLS COME BACK ON, THE STEERING WHEEL IS CENTERED AND CAR DRIVES FINE. INFINITI HAS RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE HICAS ACTUATOR. THIS HAS NOT RESOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR INFINITI OWNERS AND ARE THEN RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE 4WAS CONTROL BOX. REPLACING THE CONTROL BOX ALSO DOES NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. I HAVE READ AND JOINED A NISSAN/INFINITI FORUM WHERE OWNERS THAT HAVE THIS EXACT PROBLEM HAVE FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE NISSAN AND INFINITI DEALERSHIP AND STILL HAVE THE WARNING LIGHTS ON. I CONTACTED INFINITI CORPORATE OFFICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, BUT WAS INFORMED THEY DO NOT TRACK THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION. THE 4WAS AND STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ISSUE IS HAPPENING TO BOTH NISSAN AND INFINITI MODELS AND THROUGHOUT VARIOUS YEARS. THE CONCERN IS THAT INFINITI'S RECOMMENDATION IT TO REPLACE THE HICAS ACTUATOR AND SPEND $6K (PART COST $5,500 AND LABOR $400,…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 9, 2017Steering, Suspension, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11044907

Service brakes

1 report
“WHEN YOU GO TO APPLY THE BRAKE IT OFTEN LOCKS UP AND STOPS IMMEDIATELY. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT COMES AND GOES. IT ALSO AT THE SAME TIME IT IS STOPPING ABRUPTLY WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE COMPLETELY IT WILL DO THE OPPOSITE AND THE BRAKE WILL DEFLATE ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR BEFORE STOPPING. WHILE STOP IT WILL LOSE PRESSURE AND THE BRAKE WILL SLOWLY GO TO THE FLOOR. HAVE TAKEN IT SEVERAL PLACES AND THEY CAN NOT FIX. HAVE HAD ALMOST ALL BRAKE PARTS REPLACED AND OR CHECKED. THIS HAPPENS EVER TIME BRAKES ARE APPLIED FOR A WEEK OR SO THEN GOES AWAY THEN COMES BACK PERIODICALLY. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A YEAR. MECHANICS HAVE ENCOIUNTERED THE ISSUE AND CAN NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS CAUSING IT, INCLUDING INFINITI.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 11, 2018Service brakesODI 11128778
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.