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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes46
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic11
  3. Electrical system9
  4. Power train7
  5. Engine6
  6. Exterior lighting4
  7. Fuel system, other4
  8. Fuel/propulsion system2
  9. Suspension2
  10. Electronic stability control (esc)2
  11. Air bags1
  12. Equipment adaptive/mobility1
  13. Equipment1
  14. 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
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
20062
20070
20080
20090
201010
20116
20124
201313
201410
20152
20165
20173
20188
20196
20207
20211
20221
20231
20240
20250
20261

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

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,…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 14, 2022Service brakesODI 11484449

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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2015Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10775322

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2026Electrical systemODI 11772785

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 4, 2020Power train, EngineODI 11316095

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 26, 2018Power train, EngineODI 11163560

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***”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 16, 2017Exterior lightingODI 10966279
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.