The Infiniti QX60 is a marvel in the world of crossover SUVs; with its powerful V6 engine that churns out a decent number of horses and its accommodating 3-row seats. However, when it comes to certain pet problems, the QX60 falls prey to quite a few common issues. No need to worry though, since we’re here to define all the important problems and their respective solutions. Hence, sit tight as we start with a brief answer and later explain these faults in detail.
The most common problems in Infiniti QX60 are those related to its transmission. The 2014-2017 models had several transmission issues. The 2014-16 models dealt with hybrid propulsion system failure and faulty airbags while the 2017-19 had faulty forward collision advanced system and ABS issues. Back camera malfunction and cracking sunroof are common in 2018-19 models.
Now that you have an idea about the kind of problems you can expect in a QX60, it’s time to go over their details. We’ve also highlighted their solutions along with the pressure they’ll apply on your pocket.
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1. Faulty Airbags
Airbags are a necessary safety feature that come standard on every new vehicle being sold in the US. The number of airbags offered in a particular vehicle depend upon the trim level and price. In case of an airbag malfunction, an accidental situation can quickly escalate into being life threatening.
Fortunately, in most cases, the main culprit is a faulty passenger airbag light, as reported by the owners of various 2014-2016 QX60s. The light goes on and off intermittently while being occupied by a passenger. In rather exceptional cases, it refuses to turn on, even when the seat is occupied.
Talking about extremes, there have been instances where airbags of the vehicle deployed while driving around at average speeds. This happened without the occurrence of an accident and visible vehicular damage. Airbags, if deployed randomly, can seriously injure a person since they expand at a very high velocity.
A recall was issued by Nissan for the faulty airbag light. The issue turns out to be a problem with the Occupant Classification System (OCS). The NHTSA campaign ID for this recall is 14V138000. We’d recommend that you check in at NHTSA’s website to ensure that your vehicle doesn’t have a faulty sensor. If in case your vehicle is recalled, pay a visit to your local dealership on an urgent basis since the airbag may fail to deploy during emergency situations.
If you’re in the market for a used Infiniti, we’d suggest that you check the vehicle identification number for possible recalls.
2. Hybrid Propulsion System Failure
An issue that impacts the propulsion system of various Infiniti QX60s from the model years 2014-2016 is that the propulsion system ceases to function. What basically happens is that the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module (HPCM) software shuts down the hybrid system and engine of the car under certain cases. This results in loss of power to the vehicle’s wheels.
A loss in power can prove to be critically dangerous for the occupants of a vehicle. When traveling under rocky or mountainous terrains, lack of power to no power can result in the vehicle getting out of control. When driving around in plains, loss in power can result in failure to overtake or a stop in the middle of the road.
The good news is that Nissan is reprogramming the HPCM on the affected vehicles free of cost. This is happening under NHTSA’s campaign number 21V-774. The owners of these vehicles are requested to tend to this recall at their earliest.
Also read: The Types Of Gas A Infiniti QX60 Takes (Explained)
3. Forward Collision Avoidance System
An issue with the collision avoidance system that plagues the 2019 Infiniti QX-60 is that the system kicks in sometimes with no apparent obstacle in front of the vehicle. As a result, beeping is heard by the driver, followed by the vehicle automatically applying brakes.
This can be pretty violent in situations where tight overtaking is taking place. It can even prove to be fatal in case of rush hour traffic on the highways where a single vehicle coming to a halt could produce a domino effect on the entire lane behind it.
In alternate cases, drivers were annoyed with constant warning lights of the system. The occurrence of these lights disabled the driving assist features, which is itself a very concerning issue.
Unfortunately, Infiniti hasn’t been able to trace the problem as of yet. In case your vehicle is facing these issues, it would be best to replace the system altogether. Checking in with your local dealer might help in diagnosing the exact part causing this issue. If it comes down to replacing the whole system, you could be looking at several thousand dollars of expenditure.
4. ABS Issue
The ABS issue that infects the 2017-2019 model years of the Infiniti QX60 isn’t all about the Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS). Rather, the issue has to do with a potential fire hazard. This hazard is caused due to leakage of braking fluid onto the electrical circuit board.
This leakage can be caused by a pump seal that may deteriorate over time and cause the brake fluid to leak. In the exceptional case that this brake fluid comes into contact with an electrical circuit, it can cause a short circuit to take place. We can all guess how this ends, with certain vehicles falling prey to electrical fire and resultantly getting burned to the ground. A pointer to notice before this happens is that the ABS light turns on.
Until now, Nissan hasn’t issued a recall for the problem. Your best bet may be to replace the faulty seal, or the complete pump altogether. While the seal would cost you around $30 to replace, the pump can drain a lot more money at around $500 to $600.
5. Back Camera Malfunction
Imagine a life without rear view cameras in vehicles. Backing up would be both troublesome and risky. Vehicle cameras are indeed a great invention that have made travel both safe and easy. The 2018-2019 Infiniti QX60s are host to a problem whereby the back camera ceases to display on the infotainment system screen.
Due to a bug in the system, the settings can be adjusted in such a way that the rear view of the vehicle is no longer visible on the screen. Similarly to other models, like the Infiniti QX80 and Infinity Q50, this can cause accidents while backing up the car and increase the number of blind spots around the vehicle.
Thankfully enough, Infiniti has a solution for this problem. The good news is, it’s absolutely free as well. They plan on updating the system software in order to eradicate this problem with the help of a recall.
NHTSA Campaign ID for this recall is 19V654000.
6. Cracking of Sunroof
There have been reports of the sunroof glass shattering in multiple model years of the QX60. Some of the more notable years include 2014-2015, 2017, and 2020. According to the drivers, the sunroof glass fitted in their vehicles exploded out of nowhere when carrying out routine driving activities.
Some were lucky enough to have the sunroof shade covering the glass, and hence made it out without injuries. Others weren’t, and sustained minor injuries due to thousands of glass fragments hitting them all over. In some incidents, minor occupants were also present in the vehicles.
There is no general fix for this problem, since this can happen in any vehicle with a sunroof due to a variety of reasons. We’d recommend that you keep an eye out for potential cracks, crevices, chips, and scratches on your roof’s glass to avoid calamity. Keeping the shade covered during extreme weather conditions can also serve as a preventive measure. If, in case, the glass decides to shatter on you, your best bet would be to get the glass inspected and replaced. This replacement could cost you around $800 to $1100.
A class action law suit has been filed against Nissan because of this issue in the panoramic sunroof which includes the model years 2014-2020 of Infiniti QX60 among other vehicles.
7. Transmission Problems
Some common transmission issues that have been reported regarding the 2014-2015 and 2017 Infiniti QX60 are shuttering and jerks. The CVT on the QX60 seems to be doing not so well when it comes to providing a smooth and responsive ride.
According to the owners, the crossover starts to vibrate when idle or cruising at low speeds. Some have even noticed that the shudder increases with acceleration.
If your Infiniti or the one that you plan on owning still has its warranty period intact, this won’t be an issue for you since you can always claim a transmission swap. If that is not the case, we’d strongly advise that you take your vehicle to the nearest dealership and get it checked for probable causes to the problem.
Some were lucky enough to escape a total transmission change, since their problem was solved with reboots and updates of software. Others managed to survive with changes in minor transmission parts. In case you don’t turn out to be either of the lucky ones, you might be looking at an expenditure of around $1500.
Also read: Infiniti QX60 Towing Capacity: Can It Tow A Trailer, Boat, Or Jet Ski?
What’s The Worst Year Of The Infiniti QX60?
An Infiniti QX60 will last you a good 120,000-150,000 miles if maintained properly. This AWD crossover is known for its powerful engine and luxurious interior. Infiniti QX60 is an overall reliable car – Still, there are some years that you should avoid – if you want to keep your repair bill to a minimum.
The worst years for the Infiniti QX60 are the 2014-16 model years. These models were ridden with difficult-to-manage problems such as hybrid propulsion system failure and faulty airbags. These years also had several recalls to rectify recurring problems. The transmission issues with this model were common, and usually cost thousands of dollars to fix.
The best year for QX60 is the 2020 model year. The pure neon LED lights, automated emergency braking, blind spot monitoring and other improved safety features make it the most reliable car till date.
His interests in cars, motorcycles, and machines led him to the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore where he is currently a mechanical engineering sophomore.
His future aims include the development of an energy-efficient prototype vehicle for the Shell Eco-Marathon competition and getting a Master’s Degree in Automotive Engineering from Germany.