Problems · NHTSA complaints
2006 Infiniti QX56 problems
Owners filed 80 complaints about the 2006 Infiniti QX56 with NHTSA between Jun 2006 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is service brakes (46).
Complaints
80
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes46
- Service brakes, hydraulic11
- Electrical system9
- Power train7
- Engine6
- Exterior lighting4
- Fuel system, other4
- Fuel/propulsion system2
- Suspension2
- Electronic stability control (esc)2
- Air bags1
- Equipment adaptive/mobility1
- Equipment1
- Service brakes, electric1
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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
0
0
0
10
6
4
13
10
2
5
3
8
6
7
1
1
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 13 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Service brakes
46 reports
“Brake Failure. The brake fails occasionally while driving on the streets or on the Highways without Waring. The brake pedal goes down to the floor, and grinding/hitting metal to metal sound is heard and vehicle brake control is lost. Experiences were traumatic; you swing left or right to avoid hitting another vehicle from behind or running a red light. The vehicle has been inspected by an independent mechanic, and the brake components: rotors, pads, drum, and fluid levels were ok, each time it occurs. The brake lights come off and on and each time, the mechanic finds no issues with the brake components. One dangerous aspect of these occurrences is that after the vehicle sits for a while, like 30 minutes to one hour, and you go back to driving the vehicle, it appears that the brakes readjust and starts working normally; it continues to work normally about a month, and out of nowhere without warning it fails again and readjusts later. I was about to take my daughter to college out of County, and she has a lot of luggage as she lives in the dormitory; we would not use this Infinity which is a large SUV that could have accommodated me, my daughter and my wife,…”
Service brakes, hydraulic
11 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 INFINITI QX56. INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE TRACTION LIGHT AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD AND THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000. UPDATED 11/18/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED SHE HAD NO BRAKING ABILITY. THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. UPDATED 12/031/5.*JB”
Electrical system
9 reports
“The contact owns a 2006 Infiniti QX56. The contact stated that while 5 MPH and making a turn at an intersection on three separate occasions, the vehicle unexpectedly shut off and restarted independently after several seconds. Additionally, the check engine warning light and a sensor warning light were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that an Intelligent Cruise Control (ICC) distance sensor malfunction might have caused the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 249,000.”
Power train
7 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND DECELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE RADIATOR FAILED WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO MIX WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.”
Engine
6 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 INFINITI QX56. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED, JERKED, LOST POWER, AND STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. PEARSON INFINITI (11701 MIDLOTHIAN TURNPIKE, MIDLOTHIAN, VA 23113, (804) 527-0300) INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V517000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.”
Exterior lighting
4 reports
“I CURRENTLY OWN A 2006 INFINITI QX56 THAT I AM CURRENTLY EXPERIENCING SAFETY ISSUES WITH THAT I WILL ARTICULATE IN THE MESSAGE BELOW. THE 2006 INFINITI QX56 CONTAINS SERIOUS DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING DEFECTS WITH THEIR HEADLIGHTS THAT CAUSES THEM TO BE HIGHLY PRONE TO CONDENSATION OR MOISTURE. AS A RESULT OF THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS, INCLUDING DEFECTS IN THE HEADLAMP HOUSING, WATER AND MOISTURE ARE ABLE TO ENTER THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND DAMAGE THE ELECTRICAL LIGHTING COMPONENTS. THIS CAN LEAD TO SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARDS SUCH AS LOSS OF ILLUMINATION FROM ONE OR BOTH HEADLAMPS AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES, EXPOSING DRIVERS AND THOSE WHO THEY SHARE THE ROAD WITH A SIGNIFICANT AND UNREASONABLE DANGER, INCLUDING TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS THAT CAN RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH. VISION IS IMPAIRED DUE TO THE MOISTURE SUBSTANTIALLY CLOUDING THE ILLUMINATION WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. SAFETY ISSUES ARE EVEN MORE SUBSTANTIAL WHEN THERE IS COMPLETE LIGHTING FAILURE DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS SHORTING OUT AS A RESULT OF THE WATER AND MOISTURE BUILDUP. ***SEE ATTACHED FOR MORE DETAILS***”
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.