Selling a dead or damaged Infiniti Q50
Steering is the Q50's story, and most of it is the first year. Owners have filed 96 steering complaints with NHTSA across every Q50 year as of October 10, 2026, and 70 of them are on the 2014. The 2014 is also covered by both Direct Adaptive Steering recalls: 13V588 for early 2014 cars and 16V430 for 2014-2016 cars.
- Model years (EPA)
- 2014-2024
- Complaints to NHTSA
- 512
- Year with the most complaints
- 2014 (189)
- Recall campaigns
- 14
- Engines
- 2.0 four (turbo); 3.0 V6 (twin-turbo); 3.5 V6 hybrid
- Hybrid offered
- Through the 2018 model year
- Discontinued
- August 2024
If your Q50 has stopped running or been in a crash, you can sell it without fixing it. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, and the truck comes to you with free pickup anywhere in the US.
The Q50 in brief
EPA lists the Q50 from 2014 to 2024, as a sedan with rear- or all-wheel drive, in Hybrid, Red Sport and S versions. Wikipedia lists it as built in Kaminokawa, Tochigi, Japan, from May 14, 2013, with three engines over the run:
- a 2.0-liter Mercedes-Benz M274 turbo four, built at Nissan's Decherd plant in Tennessee from June 26, 2014
- a 3.0-liter VR30DDTT twin-turbo V6
- a 3.5-liter VQ35HR V6 with an electric motor in the Hybrid, dropped after the 2018 model year
The automatic is a 7-speed. In August 2024 Infiniti discontinued the Q50 for poor sales, which left the brand selling only SUVs.
What owners reported, by stretch of years
Wikipedia covers the Q50 sedan (2013-2024), the Q50 Hybrid (2014-2018) and the longer-wheelbase Q50L, so this page groups the EPA years by era.
2014-2015: the launch years (319 complaints)
On the 2014, 70 of 189 complaints are filed under steering, 28 under electrical system and 18 under air bags. Recall 13V588 covered just 23 early 2014 cars with Direct Adaptive Steering: they had received a power steering software version that prompted the recall. Owners were told not to drive them, and the cars were towed to a retailer. Recall 16V430 then reprogrammed the steering ECU on 28,182 2014-2016 Q50s and Q50 Hybrids.
The 2014 has 8 recall campaigns, more than any other year. Three are for the hybrid alone, each shared with the Q70 hybrid or M35 hybrid: motor inverter software (14V581, 5,412 vehicles), transmissions to be inspected for cracks and replaced if found (14V582, 817 vehicles), and engine computer reprogramming for the accelerator (14V583, 6,562 vehicles). If the hybrid system has quit, our hybrid battery guide covers how to weigh it.
On the 2015, power train leads with 30 of 130 complaints, ahead of steering and air bags at 19 each.
2016-2019: engine complaints take over (175 complaints)
Engine is the top component on the 2016 (7), 2017 (13), 2018 (13) and 2019 (10). Recalls in these years:
- 17V476 (2016-2018, 2.0-liter): incorrect fuel pump control module software may affect the fuel level in the main tank; dealers reprogram the module. The 14,192 vehicles include the 2017 Q60.
- 17V571 (2017): a driver's air bag inflator that may have been improperly welded. 814 cars, Q50 and Q50 Hybrid only.
- 24V470 (2014-2018, two-wheel drive): the driveshaft can fatigue and break. 7,222 vehicles, including the M56, M35 Hybrid and Q70.
2020-2024: the last cars (18 complaints)
Only 18 complaints cover these five years, and none is on file for the 2024. As the last Q50s built, they have had the shortest time on the road. The 2021 has three recalls: engine computer software that may cut power after rapid acceleration (21V234, 12,943 vehicles with the Q60), the front steering knuckle or rear axle housing (21V402, 14,276 vehicles across five models), and a rearview camera screen that may go dark (21V599, 3,569 vehicles with the Q60 and QX80).
Complaints and recalls by model year
We added up the Q50 complaints in NHTSA's public file on October 10, 2026. A recall campaign often reaches across several Q50 years.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes reported | Recall campaigns | Top component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 189 | 14 | 8 | Steering (70) |
| 2015 | 130 | 17 | 3 | Power train (30) |
| 2016 | 39 | 1 | 4 | Engine (7) |
| 2017 | 62 | 3 | 4 | Engine (13) |
| 2018 | 44 | 1 | 3 | Engine (13) |
| 2019 | 30 | 3 | 1 | Engine (10) |
| 2020 | 3 | 0 | 0 | Brakes, engine, power train (1 each) |
| 2021 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 1 each, three components |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 | 0 | Unknown or other (1) |
| 2023 | 8 | 2 | 0 | Steering (3) |
Fix or sell?
In short, once a Q50 shop bill gets near the price of a healthy Q50 from your year, letting it go as it sits makes more sense.
- Check open recalls by VIN at NHTSA. On a 2014-2016, confirm the steering software update was done; on a two-wheel-drive 2014-2018, ask about the driveshaft.
- Twin-turbo trouble? Our failed turbo guide explains how to weigh a turbo repair.
- Crash damage? See wrecked or totaled for selling a car the insurer has written off.
Selling your Q50 whole
- Collect the VIN, the mileage, the trim (Hybrid, Red Sport or standard) and the drive type.
- Get an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
- Tell us the spot: street, driveway, garage or body shop lot. Say if it rolls.
- Don't strip the Q50. Its wheels, seats and catalytic converters stay on, and tell us about any missing parts.
- When the truck shows up, have the Q50's title and a photo ID ready. For plates and insurance, see after you sell.
Related sedans: the G37 before it, the larger Q70, the Q40, or every Infiniti we cover.
Questions people ask
- Which Q50 year has the most NHTSA complaints?
- The 2014 Q50 leads with 189 of 512 as of October 10, 2026. The 2015 follows at 130. The 2020-2023 Q50s share 18 in total. Being the latest, they've had the shortest time on the road.
- What are the Q50 Direct Adaptive Steering recalls?
- Recall 13V588 covered 23 early 2014 Q50s with Direct Adaptive Steering; owners were told not to drive them and the cars were towed to a retailer. Recall 16V430 reprogrammed the steering software on 28,182 2014-2016 Q50s and Q50 Hybrids.
- Is there a Q50 driveshaft recall?
- Yes. Recall 24V470 is for 2014-2018 Q50s with two-wheel drive, where the driveshaft can weaken and snap. A dealer swaps in a new one. The 7,222-vehicle campaign also includes the M56, M35 Hybrid and Q70.
- Will you buy a Q50 that won't start?
- Yes. We buy whole non-running and junk cars, with free pickup anywhere in the US. Tell us which engine it has if you know, and whether it rolls.
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from one of these. Checked October 11, 2026.
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaints flat file (FLAT_CMPL.zip), downloaded October 10, 2026 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 13V588: Direct Adaptive Steering, 2014 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 14V581: hybrid motor inverter software, 2014 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 14V582: hybrid transmission, 2014 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 14V583: hybrid accelerator ECM, 2014 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 16V430: Direct Adaptive Steering software, 2014-2016 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 17V476: fuel pump control module, 2016-2018 2.0L nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 17V571: driver air bag inflator, 2017 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 21V234: ECM software, 2021 nhtsa.gov
- NHTSA recall 24V470: driveshaft, 2014-2018 nhtsa.gov
- EPA fuel economy data (model years and variants) fueleconomy.gov
- Wikipedia: Infiniti Q50 (engines, hybrid, plants) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia: Infiniti (Q50 discontinued August 2024) en.wikipedia.org