INFINITI; DTC P0456 CAUSED BY EVAP LEAK AT VENT CONTROL VALVE O-RING This bulletin has been amended. See Amendment History on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 INFINITI QX56 fuel system problems
moderate 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,200 · see fuel system across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,200
When does it fail?
Of the 13 fuel system complaints filed for the 2005 INFINITI QX56, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA fuel system complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 19 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering fuel system on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
INFINITI; FUEL TANK IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FILL The update below was sent out to Regions and Retailers in August of this year. We are re-circulating this update to make regional and retailer personnel aware that we are re-notifying clients at this time.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗INFINITI; FUEL TANK IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FILL This bulletin has been amended. Changes have been made throughout. It is necessary for you to read this revised procedure to properly perform this action. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗INFINITI; FUEL TANK IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO FILL IF CUSTOMER REPORTS: Customer routinely experiences difficulty fueling the vehicle at different fuel stations (filling nozzle shuts off every few seconds while filling at multiple stations and using multiple filling pumps). IMPORTANT: - If the customer does not report the above symptoms, this bulletin does not apply. - If the customer reports intermittent (but not consistent difficulty re-fueling), this bulletin does not apply. ACTION: Perform the Inspection Procedure in this bulletin, starting on page 4, only if the customer reports symptoms as described above. NOTE: Refer to the Repair Overview on page 2.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗INFINITI; FUEL TANK IS SLOW OR DIFFICULT TO FILL IF YOU CONFIRM The fuel tank is slow or difficult to fill (filling nozzle shuts off before tank is full). IMPORTANT: Make sure this incident has been duplicated at a gas station by dealer service staff. ACTION Perform the Service Procedure in this bulletin, starting on the next page.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Thirteen 2005 Infiniti QX56 owners report fuel system failures centered on gauge inaccuracy and unexpected stalling. The most common failure: the fuel gauge displays 1/4 tank or more while the vehicle stalls due to empty tank, occurring at highway speeds (40–75 mph) between 50,000 and 150,000 miles. One owner's wife nearly caused a multi-vehicle crash when the QX56 stalled accelerating onto Interstate 94 in front of a semi truck. A second owner lost power steering and brakes mid-stop-sign maneuver when the vehicle shut down.
Six complaints reference NHTSA Campaign 10V074000, which specifically addresses fuel gauge inaccuracy on this exact vehicle. Owners state Infiniti repeatedly denied their VINs were part of the recall despite matching year, make, and model identically. A dealer diagnosed fuel pump relay failure in one case; others identified a defective fuel sending unit as the root cause. One owner reported the gauge reading full when the tank was nearly empty, and another noted the low fuel warning light did not illuminate before stall. Repairs completed included sending unit replacement, though many owners report bearing costs themselves after manufacturer denial of coverage under the recall.
Failure modes owners describe
Fuel Gauge Reads Full When Tank Empty or Nearly Empty
The fuel gauge displays full (or artificially high readings) while the fuel tank is actually empty or nearly empty. This inaccuracy persists across filling cycles.
When: 50,000–90,000 miles reported; ongoing
Symptoms owners cite: Gauge indicates full or high level when tank is nearly empty or empty; Frequent, recurring inaccurate readings
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel sending unit replacement required per dealer diagnosis; owners report having to pay out-of-pocket
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 10V074000 addresses identical symptom (fuel gauge inaccuracy); however, manufacturers informed owners their VINs were not included in the recall
Fuel Gauge Reads Over 1/4 Tank While Tank Is Actually Empty
Vehicle stalls on highway due to fuel depletion while fuel gauge falsely indicates approximately 1/4 tank or more fuel remaining. This creates dangerous loss of propulsion at speed.
When: 50,000–150,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls on freeway/highway at speeds 40–75 mph; Fuel gauge displays 1/4 tank or 20+ miles remaining; No fuel actually present in tank; Power steering and power brakes lost upon stall, loss of vehicle control; Check engine light may illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: Adding fuel restarts vehicle; fuel pump relay system failure noted in one case; no repairs completed in most narratives
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 10V074000 describes this exact failure; owners' VINs repeatedly stated as not included in recall despite identical vehicle year/make/model match
Low Fuel Warning Light Fails to Illuminate
The low fuel warning indicator does not illuminate despite low or empty fuel condition, removing critical driver alert before stall.
When: 148,000 miles reported
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls due to low fuel at 65 mph; Low fuel warning light did not illuminate
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle refueled and restarted; no diagnosis or repair performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; no response recorded
Fuel Sending Unit Failure
The fuel sending unit (which feeds level data to the gauge and warning system) fails, resulting in erratic gauge readings and steering/lighting anomalies.
When: 73,900–85,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel seizes while driving at 60 mph; All interior lighting dims; Instrument panel lights illuminate and vehicle stalls at 40 mph; Defective fuel gauge providing inaccurate fuel level reading
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel sending unit replacement; repairs completed at dealer and independent mechanic
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 10V074000 recall noted; owner VINs stated as not included
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
When car stop on stop sign, ready to go, brief a moment it hold a car & then go. I have been taking to a dealer for fix ,they couldn't fix or they couldn't find a problem. Seems to me either the transmission or fuel relate problem. My car is Infiniti qx56. Please look in to this problem. *nm
The contact owns a 2005 Infiniti QX56. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was later towed to the residence where it was discovered that no fuel was present although the fuel gauge indicated that there was a quarter tank of fuel in the tank. After adding fuel, the vehicle was restarted, and the vehicle operated as…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Infiniti qx56. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle stalled due to lack of fuel and the check engine warning light illuminated. The fuel gauge however, stated that there was 98 miles remaining before empty. The contact mentioned the failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the failure was unable…
I have a 2005 infinity qx56 and recently the vehicle has stalled out while on the freeway because of the running out of gas when the fuel gauge is showing over a 1/4 tank still remaining. Contacted infinity and informed them of NHTSA campaign id number: 10v074000 which says "the instrument panel fuel gauge may inaccurately display that the vehicle still has some fuel, typically about one quarter…
Had fuel system trouble with your 2005 INFINITI QX56?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the fuel system problem on the 2005 INFINITI QX56?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,200 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the fuel system typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most fuel system failures cluster between 73,900 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 73,900; a quarter make it past 120,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,200 for fuel system repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to fuel system?
No active recalls currently cover fuel system issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/INFINITI/QX56.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.