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The 2008 INFINITI QX56 has 52 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 active recall campaigns on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.
The 2008 INFINITI QX56 has 52 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is brakes at 19 complaints, typically surfacing around 93,556 miles (~$450 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 QX56 | 80 | 4 |
| 2006 QX56 | 79 | 4 |
| 2007 QX56 | 21 | 2 |
| 2008 QX56 (this page) | 52 | 4 |
| 2009 QX56 | 7 | 3 |
| 2010 QX56 | 25 | 3 |
| 2011 QX56 | 78 | 2 |
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.
⚠ The one to take seriously: brakes is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 93,556 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 4 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.4/10 model. The priciest documented failure is fuel system (~$1,200) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.
We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.
See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.
Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Infiniti qx56. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the passenger side headlight failed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the passenger side headlight was replaced. In addition, the driver side headlight failed. The…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Infiniti qx56. The contact stated that the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the air bag system software was restarted however, the failure was not corrected. The vehicle was taken back to dealer where it was…
Multiple incidents (3) of braking issues where vehicle loses braking ability however, it feels as though the ABS brakes are engaging. All three times the vehicle is moving at or about 40 MPH or less and decelerating so I have been able to come to a safe stop. However, I do…
Apparently as all other complaints are similar with the brake light coming on and as I apply pressure to the brake to stop the scrubbing and scraping sound is unbearable, I've been told it's the brake booster is bad for Infiniti qx56. Fix the problem if everyone is having the…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Incorrect inflation of the side curtain air bag may increase the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant in the event of a crash requiring deployment of that air bag.
If the collar weld separates, the vehicle handling will deteriorate, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
This could cause the vehicle to run out of gas and stall on the highway, which could cause a crash.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2008 Infiniti QX56 is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
The 2008 INFINITI QX56 is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average; 4 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
Inspect the brakes first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 19 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 93,556 miles. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.
It scores 7.4 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 52 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is brakes. Typical failure occurs around 93,556 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is brakes, with 19 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 93,556 miles. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop.
The brakes is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $450 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 93,556 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 52 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $450, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.