FLUID LEAK CAUSED BY TRANSFER ASSEMBLY RIGHT SIDE DRIVE SHAFT OIL SEAL This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2019 INFINITI QX50 powertrain problems
moderate 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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.
TRANSFER ASSEMBLY SEAL REPLACEMENT FOR AWD FRONT DRIVE SHAFT REMOVAL This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗DRIVE SHAFT BOOT SERVICE INFORMATION SERVICE INFORMATION If a Drive Shaft (Axle Shaft) Boot on an APPLIED VEHICLE is found to be leaking grease, AND There is no abnormal noise or obvious CV Joint risk due to water intrusion and/or complete grease loss, check for REPAIR KIT-DUST BOOT (cv Joint Boot Kit) availability. ï· If there is a REPAIR KIT-DUST BOOT (CV Joint Boot Kit) available for the vehicle being repaired, do NOT replace the axle. Install a new boot kit following the procedure in the ESM. o Refer to the ESM: TRANSMISSION & DRIVELINE > FRONT AXLE > REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION > FRONT DRIVE SHAFT BOOT o If the complete axle (drive shaft) is replaced when only a new boot is required, the
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗ABNORMAL NOISE, VIBRATION AND/OR BINDING FEELING FROM REAR DIFFERENTIAL This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CLICKING NOISE FROM FRONT OR REAR AXLE DURING TAKE-OFF/ACCELERATION 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 the VC-Turbo engine in the 2019 QX50 seizing suddenly while driving with no prior warning lights or sounds. One owner's engine seized on the highway after an Infiniti dealership allegedly performed an incomplete recall inspection for bearing defects (NHTSA Recall 25V-437). Another found bearing material and copper particulates in the transmission oil pan at 40,000 miles. A third experienced blown engine requiring replacement at 31,830 miles under recall, then transmission failure roughly 18,600 miles later.
CVT transmission problems appear frequently—vehicles shift unexpectedly to Neutral while driving, refuse to engage gear, or stall at traffic lights. One owner required a turbo replacement after initial misdiagnosis as serpentine belt noise; afterward the vehicle smoked and burned oil despite dealership assurance it was normal, eventually losing all oil without visible leaks.
Multiple owners describe being stranded—one left immobilized in a highway median with police assistance. One dealership returned a vehicle to the lot without inspection after the owner reported power loss during test drive. Owners report visiting dealerships multiple times with unresolved issues; one was charged $1,700 for starter replacement (a secondary failure from repeated restart attempts) after engine seizure. Warranty denial is common: one owner's transmission claim was rejected because the powertrain warranty had expired, despite the transmission failure occurring after a recall engine replacement. One owner experienced two engine replacements, two turbo replacements, and one transmission replacement, spending over a year in repair shops.
Failure modes owners describe
Engine Seizure / Bearing Failure
Engine seizes suddenly while driving, leaving vehicle unable to restart. Multiple owners report catastrophic engine failure despite maintenance and recall inspections. One owner's engine failed at highway speeds after dealership allegedly performed incomplete recall inspection; another had bearing material and copper particulates found in oil pan; a third experienced blown engine at 31,830 miles requiring replacement under recall.
When: Various mileages: 31,830 miles (owner #4, recall replacement); 40,000 miles (owner #3); unreported high mileage incidents (owner #1, #5, #7)
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden engine seizure while driving; Engine will not restart after failure; Low whiney noise when accelerating before failure (owner #3); Bearing material and copper particulates in oil pan; No prior warning lights or indicators
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Recall Campaign No. 25V-437 (engine bearing defect)
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required; one owner charged $1,700 for starter replacement (burnt out from repeated restart attempts during initial seizure); another owner had engine replaced under recall at 31,830 miles in August 2023
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Recall Campaign No. 25V-437 issued for VC-Turbo engine bearing defects in 2019–2022 Infiniti QX50; dealership in owner #1's case performed incomplete recall inspection and declared vehicle safe; warranty declined for owner #4 after transmission failure following recall engine replacement (powertrain warranty expired February 28, 2025)
CVT Transmission Failure
CVT transmission fails or exhibits severe malfunction symptoms including loss of acceleration, hesitation, and erratic gear engagement. Owner #4 experienced CVT failure approximately 18,633 miles after recall engine replacement; owner #3 found bearing material in transmission pan at ~40,000 miles; owner #5 required one complete transmission replacement among multiple failures.
When: ~40,000 miles (owner #3); ~50,463 miles post-engine-replacement (owner #4, approximately 18,633 miles after August 2023 recall repair); unreported timing (owner #5)
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of acceleration response and hesitation; Vehicle stuck in first gear or unable to shift out of Drive; Vehicle will not engage gear or shifts to Neutral unexpectedly (owners #3, #9); Transmission stall and inability to shift to Neutral; Drivability instability and unsafe operating behavior
Codes mentioned: Bad VCR (Variable Compression Ratio / transmission component) diagnosed by dealership (owner #3)
Repairs/costs cited: VCR replacement at 38,000 miles (owner #3, did not resolve subsequent bearing failure); full transmission replacement required (owner #5); independent mechanic and dealership both confirmed transmission failure in owner #4
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Infiniti declined warranty coverage for transmission failure in owner #4 after engine replacement, citing expired powertrain warranty (February 28, 2025); no extended coverage offered despite known recurring CVT failures following engine defects in this model
Turbocharger Failure
Turbo fails prematurely, requiring replacement. Owner #2 had turbo replaced after initial misdiagnosis as serpentine belt and tensioner issues; owner #5 required two turbocharger replacements among repeated failures.
When: Timing not specified; appears early in vehicle life (owner #2); unreported (owner #5)
Symptoms owners cite: Car squealing initially misdiagnosed as belt/tensioner noise; Smoking and burning smell after turbo replacement; Inability to accelerate; Vehicle sounds like it will 'blow up'
Repairs/costs cited: Turbo replacement; Infiniti advised owner #2 to expect oil burn-off smell for 100–150 miles, but smoking and burning persisted well beyond that; owner also required rear coupler replacement
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Infiniti service advised burning smell and smoke were normal and would dissipate; dealership claimed fluids were good after repair; no recall issued for turbo failure
Unexpected Gear Shifts / Neutral Engagement
Vehicle shifts from Drive to Neutral unexpectedly while driving or at stop, leaving driver unable to accelerate or move vehicle. Can occur at intersections or during normal driving.
When: Unreported mileage; owner #3 at ~38,000 miles (first incident) and ~40,000 miles (second incident); owner #9 reported multiple occasions including March 2, 2019
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shifts to Neutral without driver input while driving; Vehicle unable to engage Drive gear at traffic lights; Vehicle unable to shift out of Neutral or into gear; No emergency Neutral feature accessible to drivers or emergency responders
Repairs/costs cited: Bearings found in transmission pan (owner #3); unclear resolution in other cases
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or TSBs cited for this issue; emergency Neutral position unknown to Infiniti mechanics and multiple emergency responders (owner #3)
Loss of Power While Driving / Stalling
Vehicle suddenly loses power, stalls, or will not accelerate while in Drive, leaving driver stranded. Occurs unexpectedly without warning lights or indicators.
When: Various; owner #7 at unreported mileage with vehicle maintained since February 2020 and inspected in October 2024; owner #8 occurred during test drive or shortly after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of all power while driving; Vehicle will not accelerate despite being in Drive; Vehicle stalls at traffic light; No warning lights or prior indicators
Repairs/costs cited: Owner #7 required engine replacement; owner #8 dealership returned vehicle to lot without inspection
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner #7's October 2024 dealership inspection (immediately before failure) reported no concerns, timing belt showed no wear, no leaks
Difficulty Shifting to Neutral
Transmission resists or makes it difficult to shift into Neutral, creating safety and operational concerns.
When: Unreported mileage and timing
Symptoms owners cite: Great difficulty or inability to shift to Neutral; Problem encountered during carwash entry (owner #11)
Rear Coupler Failure
Rear coupler requires replacement, typically after turbo work. Purpose and failure mode not detailed in narrative.
When: Unreported; owner #2 required replacement concurrent with turbo replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Identified by dealership as needing replacement after turbo failure
Repairs/costs cited: Rear coupler replaced by Infiniti
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Turbo, Rear-Coupler, Engine, Actuator Car was squealing and I was told that the serpentine belt needed to be replaced. Replaced this. Car still squealing and took it back. They replaced the belt, again.. Still squealing, now I am told its the tensioner that needs to be replaced but only Infiniti can do this (belt done at Firestone). At Infiniti - they look at the car and the tensioner is fine.…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2019 INFINITI QX50?
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 powertrain problem on the 2019 INFINITI QX50?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, powertrain issues most often appear around 39,048 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2019/INFINITI/QX50.
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.