EVAP LEAK DTC P0442, P0455, P0456 INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2014 INFINITI QX60 engine problems
severe 19 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
19
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1fire
What stands out
Of the 6 model years of INFINITI QX60 we track for engine problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 19.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 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 engine 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.
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 ↗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full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005-2015 INFINITI VEHICLES; ECM REPROGRAMMING SERVICE INFORMATION This bulletin is no longer active. Please discard previous versions of ITB15-024.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗REMOTE ENGINE START NOT WORKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report serious, recurring problems across the 2014 QX60 fleet. The most common complaint is jerking and hesitation at acceleration, especially at stops and in traffic. Multiple hybrid owners tied this to NHTSA Campaign 21V774000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Hybrid Propulsion System), but recall parts have remained unavailable for months or longer—some dealers initially dismissed the jerking as normal hybrid operation.
Transmission failures are widespread, occurring around 87,000 miles and higher. Owners describe violent shuddering, hard shifts, and inability to maintain speed. One owner reported four successive CVT transmission replacements, all of which failed. Fluid changes and flushes haven't resolved the issue.
Beyond the transmission, owners report loss of power while driving, violent vibrations requiring engine restart, and excessive engine knock with check engine lights. A MAF sensor failed twice in five months on one vehicle. One owner experienced a fan harness fire while parked, just four months after the harness had been replaced.
Less common but serious: unintended hard braking when using adaptive cruise control, and catalytic converter failures occurring alongside transmission problems. Most concerning is that many of these failures happen at moderate mileage (80,000–113,000 miles) while owners still expect reliability, and some have experienced repeat failures even after dealer repair attempts.
Same INFINITI QX60 engine reports on nearby years: 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Hesitation/Jerking on Acceleration
Vehicle hesitates, jerks, or fails to accelerate smoothly from a stop or during normal driving. Owners report the car will not move past low speeds or requires multiple attempts to resume acceleration after stopping. Some dealers initially dismissed this as normal hybrid behavior, but multiple owners tied it to NHTSA Campaign 21V774000.
When: 80,000–120,000 miles; occurs at stop-and-go traffic, hills, and during normal acceleration
Symptoms owners cite: Hesitation without warning upon depression of accelerator pedal; Jerking upon acceleration at complete stops; Vehicle won't accelerate past 20 mph; Hard acceleration and jerking randomly; Hesitation when stepping on the gas, 'bangs' into gear when it finally changes
Codes mentioned: P17F0
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement attempted multiple times in some cases; recall parts unavailable for extended periods. One owner reported 4 successive CVT transmission replacements, all of which failed with same or different problems.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 21V774000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Hybrid Propulsion System); parts distribution delays of months or longer; no additional assistance offered in multiple cases despite repeated complaints
Transmission Shuddering and Jerking
Vehicle shakes, shudders, or jerks violently while driving. Owners report abnormal knocking sounds and violent vibrations. Some received transmission replacements; problem recurred in at least one case. Dangerous when occurring during traffic or lane changes.
When: 80,000–113,000 miles; occurs during acceleration, gear changes, and stop-and-go traffic
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shook and jerked violently with abnormal knocking noise; Violent vibrations requiring driver to coast to roadside; Shuddering problem requiring transmission replacement, then recurring; Hard jerking during gear changes, feels like 'bangs' into gear; Car jerks and shudders during acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement performed in multiple cases; CVT fluid flushes and changes attempted without resolution; one owner had transmission replaced in 2016, catalytic converter in 2018, AC compressor in 2020, then shuddering reoccurred by 9/2020
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Transmission replacements covered under warranty in some cases; no recalls specifically for non-hybrid models; recall 21V774000 applied to hybrid variants
Loss of Motive Power
Engine or hybrid system loses power while driving, forcing vehicle to coast. Vehicle Stability Assist and brake system warning lights illuminate. No failure found at dealer on first visit, but problem recurred.
When: 80,700 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of motive power while driving at undisclosed speed; Vehicle Stability Assist warning light illuminated; Brake system failure warning light illuminated; Intermittent failure—no warning indicators on restart
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified; no recall applied to this complaint
Violent Vibration and Engine Shutdown
Vehicle vibrates violently while driving. In one case, engine shook so severely driver coasted to roadside and restarted. Another case reported hybrid and regular engine failure during stop-and-start traffic on a hill with burning smell and hybrid system overheating warning.
When: 80,000–93,405 miles; occurs during normal driving and stop-and-start hill traffic
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle vibrated violently, coasted to roadside and restarted normally; Hybrid engine and regular engine failure multiple times during stop-and-start on hill; Burning smell detected during stop-and-start traffic; Hybrid system overheating warning, followed by engine shutdown
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replaced in one case; no repair completed in another (isolated vibration event)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Transmission replacement covered; recall 21V774000 issued for this issue after owner had already experienced failure
CVT Transmission Failure
CVT transmission fails at moderate mileage and does not respond reliably to repair attempts. Vehicle exhibits hard shifting, inability to maintain speed, loss of power delivery, and gear engagement problems. One owner reported 4 consecutive CVT replacement orders all failed to resolve the issue.
When: 87,000–113,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: CVT transmission failed; Gears jumped during acceleration; Vehicle won't accelerate past 20 mph; Transmission felt unstable when placed in park; Check engine light and codes appeared; Hard acceleration and jerking randomly
Codes mentioned: Check engine light/codes (unspecified)
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple CVT transmission replacements ordered; one owner had 4 replacements that all failed. Fluid flushes and changes attempted without success.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Transmissions replaced under warranty; no recalls specifically address CVT failures in complaints; owner complained manufacturer exceeded reasonable repair timeframe
Engine Control and Fuel System Issues
Engine produces excessive noise, runs rough, and exhibits poor acceleration. Check engine lights illuminate. One owner reported constant engine issues and codes; another reported MAF sensor failure twice in 5 months.
When: Unknown to 93,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine constantly having issues and codes causing poor acceleration; Check engine light illuminated with abnormal knocking noise; Excessive RPM noise between 2000–4000 with loud sound; MAF sensor failed twice in 5 months
Codes mentioned: Check engine light (unspecified codes)
Repairs/costs cited: MAF sensor replacement performed at least twice for one owner within 5 months
Fan Harness Failure and Engine Fire
Fan harness failed and caused vehicle to catch fire while parked in driveway. Harness had been replaced only 4 months prior, suggesting either defective replacement part or premature re-failure of original design.
When: 93,200 miles; fire occurred while parked
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle caught fire while parked in driveway; Fan harness failure diagnosed at dealer
Repairs/costs cited: Fan harness had been replaced 4 months prior to fire; fire extinguished by owner; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified; no recall issued
False Autonomous Emergency Braking
Adaptive cruise control or collision avoidance system triggers unintended hard braking, slamming brakes without warning. Dangerous when passing larger vehicles or in traffic.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: When using assisted cruise control, vehicle slams on brake causing all passengers to jolt forward; False automatic braking when passing a large vehicle
Catalytic Converter Failure
Both catalytic converters failed at the same time the transmission failed, suggesting either a manufacturing defect or damage from a related powertrain issue.
When: 87,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Both catalytic converters required replacement coinciding with CVT transmission failure
Repairs/costs cited: Both catalytic converters replaced; one case also had converter replaced in 2018
Recall Parts Availability Delays
NHTSA Campaign 21V774000 repair parts unavailable for months, preventing owners from addressing recall issue. Multiple owners report being told repeatedly that parts are not available, leading to extended downtime or unrepaired vehicles.
When: Ongoing as of complaint dates in 2021–2025
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received but parts unavailable; Parts availability delays lasting months; Dealer unable to complete recall service
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles left at dealer for extended periods; loaner vehicles provided in some cases; repairs delayed indefinitely
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 21V774000; manufacturer notified but no alternative assistance offered; VIN tool confirms parts not available
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The contact owns a 2014 Infiniti QX60 Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V774000 (Engine and Engine Cooling, Hybrid Propulsion System) however, the part to the recall repair was unavailable. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable…
Had engine trouble with your 2014 INFINITI QX60?
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 engine problem on the 2014 INFINITI QX60?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 80,000 and 93,405 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 80,000; a quarter make it past 93,405. 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 $3,100 for engine 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 engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine 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/2014/INFINITI/QX60.
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.