Turned the vehicle on, pulled out of parking spot and heard a noise from the front of the vehicle as steering wheel was turned. The steering was very tight and the vehicle was difficult to maneuver. As the speed increased, the steering loosened, and as the vehicle decelerated, the vehicle became nearly impossible to maneuver. The power steering fluid is full, and the vehicle appeared to be in…
2015 INFINITI Q50 steering problems
severe 25 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
25
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
3crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 25 steering complaints filed for the 2015 INFINITI Q50, 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
Owners have filed 25 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Steering accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 7 categories tracked.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2015 Infiniti Q50 shows a pattern of serious steering failures—power loss, unexpected pulls, and adaptive steering malfunctions that can occur suddenly at any speed. Multiple owners report issues unresolved by dealerships, and a 2016 recall for identical steering problems may not apply to 2015 model VINs despite shared defects.
Owners report widespread steering malfunctions across multiple failure modes. Power steering loss occurs suddenly—sometimes intermittent, sometimes persistent—affecting steering response and making wheels difficult to turn. Several incidents involve complete steering lockup or extreme stiffness requiring excessive force, particularly during low-speed maneuvers. Multiple owners describe the vehicle pulling hard to one side (left or right) without warning, sometimes with such force they struggle to keep the car straight; one owner reported this happening repeatedly within minutes of startup, then resolving on its own.
Adaptive steering (DAST—Dynamic All-Wheel Steering) failures are common: steering wheel jerks, clicks, or suddenly turns opposite the driver's input at highway speeds. One owner lost steering control entirely while turning at speed, with the wheel input producing opposite directional response. Intermittent electrical issues trigger related warnings—power steering, chassis control, traction control, and collision avoidance alerts illuminating together, sometimes with total power loss.
Diagnostic codes flagged include B2512 (4WAS signal issues), C1B90 (DAST system), C1138 (4WAS circuit), C1A04 (ABS/TCS/VDC), and C13D5/C13E9/C13EB (DAST control and angle processing). Owners mention a known recall for 2016 model-year Q50s for intermittent steering, yet some 2015 models with identical symptoms remain unrecalled per their VINs. Dealerships have struggled to replicate or diagnose the issue; one owner reported a service bulletin acknowledging the defect exists but no recall was issued.
Same INFINITI Q50 steering reports on nearby years: 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Power Steering Loss / Intermittent Failure
Power steering fails suddenly and intermittently, sometimes restoring after vehicle restart. Steering wheel becomes difficult or impossible to turn without excessive force. Owners report inability to steer when braking simultaneously.
When: Occurs at various speeds, parking lot operations, highway driving; can happen multiple times over months; one owner reported failure 30 miles after dealership service
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of power assist; Steering wheel difficult to turn; Power steering warning light illumination; Steering resumes after vehicle restart; Loss of steering control correlated with brake application
Codes mentioned: B2512, C1B90, C1138, C1A04
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership performed DAST calibration ($539.15 in one case); owners cite steering fluid exchanges, alignments, and battery replacement ($232.78 in one case), yet issues persisted
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service bulletin referenced for DAST calibration; one owner mentioned Infiniti lawsuit regarding adaptive steering; 2016 model-year recall exists for intermittent steering but 2015 models with identical symptoms not recalled per VIN check
Steering Pull / Unintended Directional Force
Vehicle pulls hard to one side (left or right) without driver input, requiring significant corrective force to keep straight. Pull can be sudden and occurs repeatedly, particularly in first few minutes after startup.
When: Occurs within minutes of startup, during highway and city driving, sometimes resolves after 2–5 minutes without intervention
Symptoms owners cite: Hard pull to left or right; Difficult to maintain straight line; Requires excessive steering force to correct; Intermittent—occurs repeatedly then stops; Occurs at low and highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership visited 6 times in one case; Infiniti manufacturer engineer unable to identify cause; another owner performed steering fluid exchange and multiple alignments without resolution
Adaptive Steering (DAST) Malfunction / Loss of Control
Adaptive steering system fails, causing steering wheel to jerk, click, turn opposite intended direction, or lose responsiveness entirely. At highway speeds, turning input produces opposite directional response. System may self-correct or require restart.
When: Occurs during both low-speed parking maneuvers and highway driving (45+ mph); intermittent across owner's driving span
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel jerks or clicks; Wheel input produces opposite direction response; Sudden uncontrolled steering at highway speed; Loss of adaptive steering assist; Steering twitches during test drive (before purchase)
Codes mentioned: C13D5-00, C13E9-00, C13EB-00
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports entire DAST system replacement at dealership; another dealership declined warranty claim despite customer video evidence showing steering angle mismatch during malfunction
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued for 2016 Q50 (June 2016) for intermittent steering; 2015 models with identical symptoms show no recall on VIN despite service bulletins acknowledging the defect
Steering Stiffness / Tight Steering Response
Steering becomes stiff or unresponsive, requiring excessive force to turn. Stiffness worsens at low speeds and during deceleration, improving at highway speeds. One owner reports power steering light and chassis control warnings accompanying the issue.
When: Occurs at low speeds (parking, city driving), worsens during deceleration; one owner reports ongoing issue over 1 year
Symptoms owners cite: Steering tight and difficult to turn; Vehicle nearly impossible to maneuver at low speed; Stiffness worsens during deceleration; Loosens at highway speed; Power steering light illuminated; Audible noise from front of vehicle when turning
Repairs/costs cited: One owner performed steering wheel fluid exchange and multiple alignments without resolution; power steering fluid level confirmed full in another case
Electrical / Chassis Control System Failure with Steering Impact
Vehicle experiences total or partial power loss accompanied by steering and chassis control system failures. Steering becomes inoperable when electrical systems fail. Multiple warning lights illuminate (steering, traction control, collision avoidance, chassis control).
When: Occurs at various speeds and driving conditions; one incident triggered by pulling into driveway; another during parking; can recur shortly after dealership service
Symptoms owners cite: Total power loss—ignition, lights, windows, steering unresponsive; Multiple dashboard warning lights; Steering wheel locks or becomes immobile; Vehicle stalls mid-drive or during parking maneuver; Power restores after door closure or battery cable adjustment
Codes mentioned: C1B90-00, C13D5-00, C13E9-00, C13EB-00
Repairs/costs cited: Battery replaced ($232.78); dealership noted incorrect battery size installed previously; one owner managed temporary restart by adjusting battery cables
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership states battery was replaced by them on 2/28/22, yet same battery passed multi-point inspection 2 days before failure
Unintended Activation of Driver Assistance Systems
Forward collision braking, lane departure warning, and backup braking systems activate without driver input or environmental hazard. Systems engage during normal driving and highway speeds, causing unwanted steering correction, braking, throttle reduction, and audible alerts.
When: Occurs at various speeds including highway (30–45+ mph); one owner reports activation after hitting pothole; issues began 6 months into ownership after 4.5 years of ownership without incident
Symptoms owners cite: Unexpected braking and steering intervention; Throttle response deadening; Audible alerts without hazard present; Systems disengage temporarily after vehicle restart; Safety systems disable themselves intermittently
Repairs/costs cited: Owner disabled all systems to avoid dangerous situations; dealership blamed EZ Pass transponder placement—dismissed by owner as unrelated
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Infiniti customer care declined assistance
Synthesized from 25 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
My vehicle has an optional tech package that provides forward braking, lane departure and backup braking. Apparently when I hit a pothole, these safety features occasionally turn off. Iv'e had these car for 4 1/2 years and became aware of this problem about 6 months ago. I'm have become dependent on these safety enhancements and no-longer feel comfortable when driving. I have complained the…
Sitting in parking lot when a malfunction warning popped up with the dashboard lit up. Steering wheel, traction control, front and rear collision control and chassis system control system error. Had car towed to the dealership to find out it was DAST Steering control units. EPS/DAST 3 DTC C13D5-00 Control module, Chassis Control DTC C1B90-00 DAST System, DAST 1 DTC C13E9-00 Booting Angle…
Car pulls to the left on its own , happens pretty often. The force is so bad that I can berely keep the car on the road. Have taken the car to dealer 6 times they called Infiniti manufacturer engineer and he said they could not find the problem I have several videos I am afraid to drive this car. The car does that few mins after starting the car it pulls to the left with a hard force for like 2-3…
There are time when I go to turn my steering wheel I am giving more force to turn the car and my car shows no mechanical damage or anything but when I turn the wheel it stiffens up a lot and it is not smooth to turn especially when I am making turns I see this and it is when I'm in the city mostly.
On numerous occasions while in motion at various speeds the vehicle will audibly alert, brake, steer, and deaden throttle response. These are related to enhanced safety features of the vehicle. The problem is that these occur when there is nothing to avoid or any danger present. These have occurred at high speeds and in situations where they could have caused an accident. My local dealership…
Had steering trouble with your 2015 INFINITI Q50?
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 steering problem on the 2015 INFINITI Q50?
It's a meaningful issue. 25 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 3,400 and 46,000 miles, with the median around 17,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 3,400; a quarter make it past 46,000. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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/2015/INFINITI/Q50.
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.