Infiniti Q50 V37 — Problems & Common Faults
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
The Infiniti Q50 (2014-2025) replaced the G37 and split into two completely different cars at the 2016 model year: pre-2016 cars ran the carryover VQ37VHR naturally-aspirated V6, everything after got the all-new twin-turbo VR30DDTT. Shopping this generation means picking an engine era first, everything else second.
2014-2015 cars with the VQ37VHR are the cheapest Q50s on the market and mechanically the known quantity — the same 3.7L V6 that powered the G37 for years. Oil gallery gasket wear behind the timing cover remains the thing to check (P0011/P0021 codes are the tell), but the bigger issue on these early cars is electronic, not mechanical: Direct Adaptive Steering (DAS), Infiniti's steer-by-wire system with no mechanical steering column backup, could lose power assist under cold temps or voltage drops. Nissan recalled 60,000 units (NHTSA campaign 16V-430) to reflash the steering ECU. Add prematurely warped brake rotors from as early as 30,000 miles (TSB ITB15-018 points to undersized brake caliper bolts on Sport trims) and a transmission control module that causes shudder and hard shifts on 2014-2015 automatics — a roughly $2,500 fix.
From 2016 on, the VR30DDTT takes over — 300 hp in base 3.0t trim, 400 hp in Red Sport form, genuinely quick, and genuinely risky. The oil pressure control solenoid can fail stuck open with zero warning, starving the main and rod bearings at higher rpm right up until the oil light comes on — by then the damage is done. Early blocks have also shown porosity that lets coolant migrate into the oil galleys (check for milky residue under the oil cap). Turbo center bearing seals start weeping past 60,000 miles; Infiniti extended the emissions warranty to 120,000 miles on affected 2016-2018 turbo oil-leak cars — worth asking about at purchase. Whatever the mileage, 5,000-mile oil changes on the VR30 aren't optional.
Electronics gremlins run across both engine eras: the InTouch dual-screen system freezes and needs a hard reboot, sunroof drain tubes clog and dump water into the footwells (a defective drain valve, part 74816-JU40B, is the usual culprit), and window regulators give out past 80,000 miles. RWD Q50s picked up one more recall in 2024: the rear driveshaft can fracture at the ball-joint press-fit without warning (NHTSA 24V-470) — free dealer fix, worth confirming by VIN before buying.
Test-drive checklist: Full-lock the steering cold in both directions — any hesitation or heaviness means checking the DAS recall history. Scan for P0011/P0021 on VQ37 cars, watch oil pressure at idle and 3,000 rpm on VR30 cars. Check the oil for a milky sheen. Brake hard from 50 mph cold — pedal pulsation means warped rotors. On 2014-2015 automatics, watch for shudder in stop-and-go traffic.
2026 market: 2014-2015 VQ37VHR cars from $11,000-15,000 — the cheapest entry, but verify DAS recall completion and rotor condition. 2016-2019 3.0t from $13,000-19,000. Red Sport 400 (2016+) starts around $18,000, with clean later examples running well above that.
Insider pick: a 2019-2020 3.0t with documented 5,000-mile oil changes — most VR30 teething problems are well-understood and partly TSB-addressed by this point, the DAS software is mature, and the twin-turbo delivers real sport-sedan pace for a fraction of an M3's price.
400 PS
Q50 Red Sport 400 · Benzin
Q50 Red Sport 400 — the fast Infiniti with a reputation
Legendary!405 PS
3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 Benzin
10 weaknesses
Stay Away!Engine Overview
The Infiniti Q50 V37 is available with 4 engine variants — from 208 to 400 hp.
Evolved four-cylinder turbo with direct injection and piezo injectors. Significantly less prone to timing chain problems than the M271, but not immune. Electric thermostat tends to fail early — always replace as complete OEM unit. Early DE20 LA units (2015–2016) have a piston pin manufacturing tolerance issue — short block replacement required if symptom arises. Camshaft solenoids (Y49/1, Y49/2, pre-2014) prone to leaks. Oil changes every 10,000 km with MB 229.5 recommended.
- !! High-Pressure Pump Faulty or Noisy from 120,000 km
The high-pressure fuel pump on the M274 is driven by a lobe on the intake camshaft. Wear on the drive lobe or pump follower leads to pressure drop.
Symptoms: Metallic ticking from engine area, starting problems or extended cranking, power loss, fault code P0087 - !! Camshaft Adjuster Leaks — Oil in Wiring Harness from 100,000 km
On the M274 too, the camshaft adjuster solenoids develop leaks. Oil penetrates the wiring harness by capillary action and can damage the engine ECU.
Symptoms: Fault code P0010, CEL, oil traces at camshaft connectors, lambda sensor failure, in severe cases ECU failure - !! Piston Pin Knock (2015–2016 units) from 60,000 km
Early M274 DE20 LA units (2015–2016) have a manufacturing tolerance issue with excessive piston pin clearance. Blue smoke and oil consumption up to requiring short-block replacement.
Symptoms: Metallic knocking from engine block, blue-grey exhaust smoke, increased oil consumption
+ 4 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
3.0L twin-turbo V6 — technically impressive but with documented reliability concerns. Oil pressure control solenoid can fail silently, causing bearing damage without any warning light. Turbos prone to seal failures from 60,000 miles. Porous block is a documented factory defect causing internal coolant loss at 70,000+ miles. Oil changes every 5,000 miles are a hard requirement, not a suggestion. Maintain it with discipline and you get strong, even boost-fed pull — the fundamentals are sound, the care makes the difference.
- !! Oil pressure solenoid failure — bearing damage without warning from 80,000 km
The oil pressure control solenoid can fail and prevent the engine from ever exceeding 30 psi oil pressure. The ECU does not log a fault code until oil pressure drops below 5 psi. Result: sudden bearing or engine failure without warning. Experienced technicians attribute 95% of VR30 bearing failures to this solenoid failing silently.
Symptoms: Sudden red oil pressure warning light followed immediately by engine failure — no prior warning codes - !! Turbocharger seal failure from 60,000 km
Turbocharger seals and bearings can fail from 60,000 miles. No blow-off valve system increases backpressure through the intercoolers. Dealers report replacing multiple turbos per week on twin-turbo models under warranty.
Symptoms: Whistling or whirring noise that grows louder, oil loss, blue exhaust smoke, power drop - !! Porous engine block — internal coolant loss from 128,000 km
Coolant leaks internally into the oil circuit — often from porous block areas near the exhaust valves, though diagnostics show cracked cylinder heads can cause the identical symptom. Out-of-warranty replacement runs $20,000–25,000.
Symptoms: Dropping coolant level with no visible external leak, sweet exhaust smell, white exhaust smoke
+ 7 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
3.0L twin-turbo V6 — technically impressive but with documented reliability concerns. Oil pressure control solenoid can fail silently, causing bearing damage without any warning light. Turbos prone to seal failures from 60,000 miles. Porous block is a documented factory defect causing internal coolant loss at 70,000+ miles. Oil changes every 5,000 miles are a hard requirement, not a suggestion. Maintain it with discipline and you get strong, even boost-fed pull — the fundamentals are sound, the care makes the difference.
- !! Oil pressure solenoid failure — bearing damage without warning from 80,000 km
The oil pressure control solenoid can fail and prevent the engine from ever exceeding 30 psi oil pressure. The ECU does not log a fault code until oil pressure drops below 5 psi. Result: sudden bearing or engine failure without warning. Experienced technicians attribute 95% of VR30 bearing failures to this solenoid failing silently.
Symptoms: Sudden red oil pressure warning light followed immediately by engine failure — no prior warning codes - !! Turbocharger seal failure from 60,000 km
Turbocharger seals and bearings can fail from 60,000 miles. No blow-off valve system increases backpressure through the intercoolers. Dealers report replacing multiple turbos per week on twin-turbo models under warranty.
Symptoms: Whistling or whirring noise that grows louder, oil loss, blue exhaust smoke, power drop - !! Porous engine block — internal coolant loss from 128,000 km
Coolant leaks internally into the oil circuit — often from porous block areas near the exhaust valves, though diagnostics show cracked cylinder heads can cause the identical symptom. Out-of-warranty replacement runs $20,000–25,000.
Symptoms: Dropping coolant level with no visible external leak, sweet exhaust smell, white exhaust smoke
+ 7 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
3.7L V6 with VVEL variable valve lift — a cultured, high-revving unit with a redline around 7,500 rpm and that classic VQ sound. Oil gallery gaskets behind the timing chain cover are the critical weak point: when they fail, oil pressure drops with no external leak visible. Pre-purchase inspection: always check for P0011/P0021 codes. ESCL steering lock issues on early 2009–2012 builds. Otherwise a rev-happy, characterful naturally aspirated engine that rewards clean oil care.
- !! Paper oil gallery gasket at the timing cover fails from 80,000 km
Through roughly 2012–2013, Nissan used a paper gasket sealing the oil gallery behind the rear timing chain cover. It can deteriorate and blow out, causing oil pressure loss with no visible external leak.
Symptoms: Low oil pressure at idle, P0011 or P0021 fault codes, increased VTC/camshaft rattle. - !! Electronic Steering Column Lock (ESCL) jams from 96,000 km
On early model years the electronic steering column lock (ESCL) module can jam, cutting off all electrical power to the car. Infiniti never issued a recall or extended warranty for this part.
Symptoms: Vehicle will not start, steering wheel stays locked, complete electrical shutdown. - !! Internal clutch slave cylinder (CSC) fails from 50,000 km
The concentric slave cylinder built into the transmission can fail as its internal seals wear out. Clutch hydraulic pressure is lost and the clutch can no longer be actuated.
Symptoms: Clutch pedal goes soft or drops to the floor, clutch no longer engages, gears become hard or impossible to select.
+ 9 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
3.7L V6 with VVEL variable valve lift — a cultured, high-revving unit with a redline around 7,500 rpm and that classic VQ sound. Oil gallery gaskets behind the timing chain cover are the critical weak point: when they fail, oil pressure drops with no external leak visible. Pre-purchase inspection: always check for P0011/P0021 codes. ESCL steering lock issues on early 2009–2012 builds. Otherwise a rev-happy, characterful naturally aspirated engine that rewards clean oil care.
- !! Paper oil gallery gasket at the timing cover fails from 80,000 km
Through roughly 2012–2013, Nissan used a paper gasket sealing the oil gallery behind the rear timing chain cover. It can deteriorate and blow out, causing oil pressure loss with no visible external leak.
Symptoms: Low oil pressure at idle, P0011 or P0021 fault codes, increased VTC/camshaft rattle. - !! Electronic Steering Column Lock (ESCL) jams from 96,000 km
On early model years the electronic steering column lock (ESCL) module can jam, cutting off all electrical power to the car. Infiniti never issued a recall or extended warranty for this part.
Symptoms: Vehicle will not start, steering wheel stays locked, complete electrical shutdown. - !! Internal clutch slave cylinder (CSC) fails from 50,000 km
The concentric slave cylinder built into the transmission can fail as its internal seals wear out. Clutch hydraulic pressure is lost and the clutch can no longer be actuated.
Symptoms: Clutch pedal goes soft or drops to the floor, clutch no longer engages, gears become hard or impossible to select.
+ 9 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
3.0L twin-turbo V6 — technically impressive but with documented reliability concerns. Oil pressure control solenoid can fail silently, causing bearing damage without any warning light. Turbos prone to seal failures from 60,000 miles. Porous block is a documented factory defect causing internal coolant loss at 70,000+ miles. Oil changes every 5,000 miles are a hard requirement, not a suggestion. Maintain it with discipline and you get strong, even boost-fed pull — the fundamentals are sound, the care makes the difference.
- !! Oil pressure solenoid failure — bearing damage without warning from 80,000 km
The oil pressure control solenoid can fail and prevent the engine from ever exceeding 30 psi oil pressure. The ECU does not log a fault code until oil pressure drops below 5 psi. Result: sudden bearing or engine failure without warning. Experienced technicians attribute 95% of VR30 bearing failures to this solenoid failing silently.
Symptoms: Sudden red oil pressure warning light followed immediately by engine failure — no prior warning codes - !! Turbocharger seal failure from 60,000 km
Turbocharger seals and bearings can fail from 60,000 miles. No blow-off valve system increases backpressure through the intercoolers. Dealers report replacing multiple turbos per week on twin-turbo models under warranty.
Symptoms: Whistling or whirring noise that grows louder, oil loss, blue exhaust smoke, power drop - !! Porous engine block — internal coolant loss from 128,000 km
Coolant leaks internally into the oil circuit — often from porous block areas near the exhaust valves, though diagnostics show cracked cylinder heads can cause the identical symptom. Out-of-warranty replacement runs $20,000–25,000.
Symptoms: Dropping coolant level with no visible external leak, sweet exhaust smell, white exhaust smoke
+ 7 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
3.0L twin-turbo V6 — technically impressive but with documented reliability concerns. Oil pressure control solenoid can fail silently, causing bearing damage without any warning light. Turbos prone to seal failures from 60,000 miles. Porous block is a documented factory defect causing internal coolant loss at 70,000+ miles. Oil changes every 5,000 miles are a hard requirement, not a suggestion. Maintain it with discipline and you get strong, even boost-fed pull — the fundamentals are sound, the care makes the difference.
- !! Oil pressure solenoid failure — bearing damage without warning from 80,000 km
The oil pressure control solenoid can fail and prevent the engine from ever exceeding 30 psi oil pressure. The ECU does not log a fault code until oil pressure drops below 5 psi. Result: sudden bearing or engine failure without warning. Experienced technicians attribute 95% of VR30 bearing failures to this solenoid failing silently.
Symptoms: Sudden red oil pressure warning light followed immediately by engine failure — no prior warning codes - !! Turbocharger seal failure from 60,000 km
Turbocharger seals and bearings can fail from 60,000 miles. No blow-off valve system increases backpressure through the intercoolers. Dealers report replacing multiple turbos per week on twin-turbo models under warranty.
Symptoms: Whistling or whirring noise that grows louder, oil loss, blue exhaust smoke, power drop - !! Porous engine block — internal coolant loss from 128,000 km
Coolant leaks internally into the oil circuit — often from porous block areas near the exhaust valves, though diagnostics show cracked cylinder heads can cause the identical symptom. Out-of-warranty replacement runs $20,000–25,000.
Symptoms: Dropping coolant level with no visible external leak, sweet exhaust smell, white exhaust smoke
+ 7 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Adaptive Steering (DAS) failure — power assist loss The steer-by-wire DAS system loses power assist in cold temperatures or with transient voltage drops. Steering wheel becomes extremely heavy or momentarily locks. Three redundant ECUs but no redundant sensors — all three modules must be replaced as a set. Repair costs $3,000–7,000. NHTSA recall 16V-430 issued 2016. Symptoms: Steering wheel suddenly extremely heavy, vehicle wants to pull right at 5–30 mph, steering wheel momentarily self-turns, steering/traction control warning lights from 50,000 km | High |
Top Reported Issues
Alternatives
Honda Accord XI
Mid-Size (2023–2026)
Mercedes-Benz CLE C236
Mid-Size (2023–2026)
Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse W214
Mid-Size (2023–2025)
VW ID.7 I
Mid-Size (2023–2026)
Citroën C5 X I
Mid-Size (2022–2026)
Genesis G70 IK-FL
Mid-Size (2022–2025)
Explore more
Known Problems and Issues +
A total of 39 weaknesses have been documented for the Infiniti Q50 V37 (2014–2025) — 29 engine-related and 10 vehicle-related. One problem engine: VR30DDTT (3.0L Twin-Turbo V6). Typical issues affect Steering, Brakes, Electronics, Body.
Q50 (VQ37VHR, 2014–2015) — Be Careful: Paper oil gallery gasket at the timing cover fails, Electronic Steering Column Lock (ESCL) jams, Internal clutch slave cylinder (CSC) fails. Power: 330 PS.
Q50 (VR30DDTT, 2016–2025) — Stay Away!: Oil pressure solenoid failure — bearing damage without warning, Turbocharger seal failure, Porous engine block — internal coolant loss. Power: 300 PS.
Q50 (VR30DDTT, 2016–2025) — Stay Away!: Oil pressure solenoid failure — bearing damage without warning, Turbocharger seal failure, Porous engine block — internal coolant loss. Power: 405 PS.
Q50 (M274, 2016–2019) — Be Careful: High-Pressure Pump Faulty or Noisy, Camshaft Adjuster Leaks — Oil in Wiring Harness, Piston Pin Knock (2015–2016 units). Power: 211 PS.
What to watch out for with the Infiniti Q50? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What problems and weaknesses does the Infiniti Q50 V37 have? +
What should I look for when buying a used Infiniti Q50 V37? +
Which engine is recommended? +
Which Infiniti Q50 V37 engine is the most fun? +
Is the Infiniti Q50 V37 worth buying used? +
What horsepower variants are available for the Infiniti Q50 V37? +
Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee