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The 2012 INFINITI QX56 has 1 critical safety recall on file — the kind NHTSA opens when crashes, fires, or injuries are documented. 59 owner complaints alongside. Read those first.
The 2012 INFINITI QX56 has 59 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is engine at 21 complaints, typically surfacing around 100,717 miles (~$3,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 QX56 | 7 | 3 |
| 2010 QX56 | 25 | 3 |
| 2011 QX56 | 78 | 2 |
| 2012 QX56 (this page) | 59 | 3 |
| 2013 QX56 | 32 | 3 |
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: airbags is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 46,000 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.
Run the VIN from the listing — 3 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.
Verdict for buyers: 7.0/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — 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.
Vehicle dropped speed on the highway and started flashing the service engine soon light. The speed drop was severe and placed me in a dangerous situation on the highway. It also had a whining noise at start when I left . Took it to the dealer, they informed me the timing…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Infiniti qx56. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH and slightly applying the brakes, the brakes seized, causing the vehicle to stop instantly. The contact stated that once the vehicle came to a complete stop, the brakes released and the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Infiniti qx56. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was restarted after several attempts. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the…
We have had problems with the battery since we bought the qx56. SUV's completely dies after a glove box light, radio has been played for 20 to 30 minutes, car cannot be jumped by typical cables, every time we either had to have a heavy duty jump done by tow company or battery…
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
An overloaded vehicle can increase the risk of a crash.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source could cause a vehicle fire.
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.0 out of 10 based on 59 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 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 2012 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 7.0/10 — around the segment average; 3 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 engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 21 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 100,717 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 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 7.0 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 59 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Typical failure occurs around 100,717 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 engine, with 21 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 100,717 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.
The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 100,717 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 59 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, 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.