Executive muscle the German brands forgot to stop
The Infiniti Q50 was Nissan's luxury brand bid to challenge the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class in the UK, sold from 2014 until Infiniti withdrew from Europe in 2020. With the brand now absent, used Q50s offer a huge amount of car for the money — generous standard equipment, Mercedes-sourced engines, and rear-wheel-drive dynamics at prices well below equivalent German rivals. The trade-off is limited dealer support and uncertain long-term parts supply.
We track 5 known issues across the Infiniti Q50 range, with 4 classified as significant. Knowing which variants and configurations to approach with caution can save you from expensive surprises after purchase.
Found a Infiniti Q50? Enter the reg to see which of our 5 known issues apply to that exact car, plus full MOT history and mileage checks.
V37 (2013–2020) — Petrol options included the 2.0T, 3.5 V6, with 2.1d on the diesel side. We track 5 known issues on this generation, with 4 classified as significant. The most significant concern is Suspension component excessive wear (£300–£800 to address).
The failure pattern suggests premature wear of bushes, ball joints, or suspension arms rather than normal age-related deterioration. This high failure rate is specific to the diesel variant and represents the most significant documented reliability issue on this model.
Worn suspension components affect handling precision and braking stability, potentially compromising safety. Advanced wear can cause MOT failures and may lead to tyre damage from poor wheel alignment. Replacement typically involves multiple components as wear patterns often affect interconnected parts.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
MOT testers record this as leaks severe enough to pose environmental or safety risks, indicating significant seepage rather than minor weeping. The pattern suggests issues with engine or transmission seals developing relatively early in the vehicle's life.
Significant fluid leaks lead to component damage if oil or transmission fluid levels drop. Engine oil leaks can cause fire risk if oil contacts hot exhaust components. Transmission fluid leaks lead to poor shifting performance and eventual transmission failure if levels become critically low.
Check the oil level before the engine is started. Ask the seller how often they top up the oil between services. After a test drive, check the level again and look behind the car for blue or grey exhaust smoke under acceleration.
This suggests either aggressive pad compound, binding calipers, or design issues causing accelerated pad consumption. The failure pattern affects all mileage ranges, indicating a systematic rather than age-related problem.
Pads worn below 1.5mm thickness will cause MOT failure and risk damage to brake discs if not replaced promptly. Completely worn pads lead to metal-to-metal contact, causing disc scoring and potential brake system failure. Early pad replacement prevents more expensive disc replacement.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
The 2.1-litre diesel Q50 shows wheel bearing play failures at 3.0 times the national fleet average, concentrated in the 60,000-100,000 mile range. Excessive bearing play indicates worn internal components that compromise wheel location and can lead to bearing collapse. This failure rate suggests the bearings may be undersized for the vehicle weight or subjected to higher loads than typical passenger cars.
Worn wheel bearings affect steering precision and can cause vibration through the steering wheel. Advanced wear leads to complete bearing failure, causing wheel instability and potential loss of control. Failed bearings require immediate replacement and may damage the hub assembly if neglected.
Listen for knocking, clunking or rattling over bumps during the test drive. Inspect the underside for corroded or cracked suspension components. Check the MOT history for suspension-related advisories, which often predict future failures.
The 2.1-litre diesel Q50 shows brake disc wear at 2.1 times the national fleet average, concentrated around 60,000-80,000 miles. This correlates with the premature brake pad wear issue documented on the same variant, suggesting either aggressive braking characteristics or brake system design factors that accelerate wear of both pads and discs.
Excessively worn discs cause poor braking performance and pedal vibration. Discs worn beyond minimum thickness limits will cause MOT failure. Severely worn discs may crack or fail completely under heavy braking, compromising vehicle safety.
Check brake disc condition for lipping or scoring. Test braking at moderate speed for pulling to one side or vibration through the steering wheel. Review MOT advisories for brake-related items.
For the full breakdown of all 5 tracked issues with repair costs, see the Infiniti Q50 common problems page.
Based on 14k real DVSA MOT tests, the Infiniti Q50 fails more often than average on several items. The biggest outlier is anti-roll bar links worn at 25x the fleet average, followed by parking brake inefficient (10x).
When viewing a specific car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories in these categories. See the full Infiniti Q50 MOT failure breakdown for data at every mileage point.
Routine servicing (oil and filter change every 10k miles) typically costs £80–£120 at an independent garage.
The bigger-ticket items to budget for include automatic transmission fluid (£200–£300).
See the full Infiniti Q50 service schedule for every interval and cost breakdown.
The Infiniti Q50 is a solid choice on the used market, though not without its quirks. The issues we track are well-understood and largely avoidable if you know what to look for. A thorough inspection and complete service history go a long way. 2019-2020 models are the most reliable in the lineup with the fewest reported issues, and benefit from the latest infotainment updates. Avoid 2014-2015 cars which have the worst reliability records. The 2.2d is the sensible UK choice; the 3.0t Red Sport is the enthusiast pick. Always test the brake feel thoroughly on any example.
Before committing, check the car's full MOT history, verify the service record is complete, and if possible arrange a specialist inspection. Enter any registration into our free report to see the complete picture.
Get Car Wise maintains a database of known mechanical issues for every popular car on UK roads, tracking the faults that owners, specialists and DVSA data reveal.
When you run a report on a specific Infiniti Q50, we cross-reference the exact variant, engine and age against our database of 5 known issues. Combined with full MOT history analysis, mileage verification and DVLA data, you get a complete picture before viewing.
Enter the registration for MOT history, mileage verification, known faults for that exact variant, and a Get Car Wise Score.
This guide was compiled from independent expert reviews, DVSA MOT data, specialist workshops and our own database of 5 known Infiniti Q50 issues. We are not affiliated with any source listed.