2012 Infiniti QX56: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
59 NHTSA owner complaints · 3 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Owner complaints: 59 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 4.21
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
While driving my vehicle with my family, I experienced a sudden and dangerous loss of control. I was able to safely maneuver the vehicle off the roadway without injury. After inspection, it was determined that the subframe had fractured due to severe rust, which was not previously identified. The failure occurred without warning and directly impacted the ability to control the vehicle, creating a significant safety h…
While driving at highway speed, rear of vehicle suddenly became uncontrolled and caused vehicle to swerve dangerously. If a vehicle would have been in the adjacent lane an accident would have occurred. Upon initial inspection, the left rear lower control arm failed catastrophically due to rust rendering the vehicle undrivable. Driver and passenger were put at risk as a result of this incident. Deeper inspectio…
I have an engine light on as a result of 2 bad catalytic converters that need to be replaced. The vehicle has been inspected the infinite dealer maintenance dept. This poses a safety risk of this vehicle shutting down in the midst of driving
Recalls: 3 campaigns (2 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 26V455000 | Equipment:Other:Labels | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Nissan Armada, 2011-2013 Infiniti QX56, and 2014-2027 QX80 vehicles equipped with 22" wheels. |
| 14V683000 | Fuel System, Gasoline | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Nissan Juke, 2012-2013 Infiniti M56, QX56, and 2014-2015 Infiniti Q70 (V8 engine vehicles only), and QX80 vehicles. |
| 20V188000 | Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module | Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2012-2017 NV Cargo and NV Passenger Van, 2013-2015 Titan and Armada and 2011-2012 Infiniti QX56 vehicles. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a large premium car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 16 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $4,750
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine24 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Electrical System9 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other7 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Fuel/Propulsion System7 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Air Bags5 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
- Suspension4 complaints · typical job: Struts, springs and control-arm bushings, one axle (4.0 h labour + parts)$780–$1,580
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2012 Infiniti QX56?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (24 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2012 Infiniti QX56 a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 77/100, computed from 59 NHTSA complaints and 3 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2012 Infiniti QX56's most common problem?
24 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2012 Infiniti QX56 sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2012 Infiniti QX56 cost to run per year?
About $7,249 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $36,248 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2012 Infiniti QX56 have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaign(s) for the 2012 Infiniti QX56, 2 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 15/07/2026. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other luxury larges of about the same age.
What will a 2012 Infiniti QX56 really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 59 complaints, 3 recalls on record
- 59 NHTSA complaints on record (4.2/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (3.3/yr)
- 3 recall campaigns, 2 touching safety-critical systems