Infiniti
A luxury car is defined by superior comfort, powerful performance, advanced technology, and high-quality materials that make drivers and occupants feel pampered and that they are being offered an exclusive driving and riding experience not enjoyed by owners of “standard” vehicles. But a smooth ride with a well-appointed interior does not always equate to an upgrade in safety, and luxury vehicles can be designed and manufactured with serious safety defects that put occupants at risk. When those defects can’t be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, California’s lemon law kicks in and allows owners or lessees to pursue a refund, replacement, or compensation for their trouble. When the vehicle in question costs many times more than other the average car, dealers might go to greater effort to fight a lemon law claim.
This article looks at the luxury carmaker Infiniti, including a peek at its history of safety defects and recalls. If you own or lease an Infiniti under warranty with unrepairable defects that substantially affect its safety, use or value, call Nita Lemon Law Firm to explore your options with an experienced California lemon law attorney.
What Is Infiniti?
Infiniti is Nissan’s luxury car division. Although Nissan hails from Japan, the company has always maintained an outsized footprint in North America, so it’s no surprise that Infiniti started out here. The brand was introduced in 1989 at around the same time that other Japanese automakers were developing their own luxury brands, notably Toyota’s Lexus and Honda’s Acura lineup.
Sales in the U.S. (Infiniti’s largest market by a wide margin) trended upward to a high of 153,415 units in 2017 before declining, including a huge drop in the COVID and post-COVID eras. United States sales in 2024 amounted to 58,070 units.
Although Infiniti has launched more than 20 models since its inception, that number has been trimmed significantly. When Infiniti dropped its Q50 sedan in 2024 due to lackluster sales, the brand was left with only SUVs in its lineup. Today Infiniti offers the:
- QX60 seven-passenger crossover SUV
- QX80 eight-passenger full-size SUV
Infiniti’s website also features the QX55 five-passenger crossover coupe and the QX50 five-passenger crossover SUV, but neither vehicle shows any 2026 models. Both models ceased production at the end of 2025, and inventory will only last through early 2026. Still, Infiniti is looking at adding other even more premium models to its lineup in 2026. Infiniti has also set a goal of moving toward an all-electric line with a target date in 2030.
Infiniti Safety Defects and Recalls
Issues that have caused the automaker to pull some of its vehicles off the road include defective airbags that don’t deploy when they should, fuel levels too low to keep the engine running, and loose pressure sensors. Fuel line issues seem to plague many models in recent years, as described below.
In 2016, many Q50 and Q50 hybrids from model years 2014-16 were called back for an adaptive steering system software error that made the steering unresponsive. In 2017, over 14,000 2016-18 Q50 and 2017 Q60 equipped with a 2.0L engine were recalled due to faulty software regulating the fuel pump, which caused too little fuel to be delivered to the engine, raising the risk that the vehicle could stall. Also that year, 2017 QX30 vehicles were recalled twice due to defects in the front side passenger and side window airbags. The consequence of these defects was that the airbags would not inflate on impact.
Other recent recalls include:
- 2019-2022 Infiniti QX50 and 2022 Infiniti QX55 vehicles equipped with 3-cylinder 1.5L or 4-cylinder 2.0L variable compression turbo (VC-Turbo) engines. Manufacturing defects in the bearings in these engines could cause engine failure.
- Certain 2025 INFINITI QX80 vehicles were called back to fix a software error that would cause the backup camera to fail in violation of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 111, Rear Visibility. Over 3,000 2021 Q50, Q60, and QX80 vehicles were previously recalled for a similar issue.
- Certain 2024 QX60s were recalled because of a missing rivet in one of the lap belt pretensioners that would fail to adequately restrain the occupant in an impact. This defect violates FMVSS 208, 209, and 210.
- Over 20,000 QX60s from model years 2022-2024 were called back for headlight defects that could raise the risk of a crash by reducing visibility at a critical moment.
- A number of 2023 QX60s were called in to replace the driver’s seat cushion frame. The seat was improperly secured and created the risk of severe injury in a crash.
- The Hybrid Powertrain Control Module (HPCM) software in certain 2014-2017 QX60 Hybrids was susceptible to shutting down the hybrid system and the engine, resulting in a loss of power.
- A defect in the front steering knuckle or rear axle housing of certain 2020 QX60, QX50 and Q50 could result in the loss of steering control or wheel separation, either of which could cause a crash.
- A fuel pump defect that could lead to engine stall caused the recall of over 24,000 2020-2021 QX80s with V8 engines.
- Nearly 13,000 Q50 and Q60 from 2021 were called back due to a fault in the ECM which would cause it to reduce fuel supply and engine power, possibly leading to engine stall.
What if My Infiniti Is a Lemon?
California Lemon Law protects consumers who purchase or lease vehicles with serious defects that the manufacturer cannot repair within a reasonable number of attempts. The law applies to new vehicles that are still covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty and requires that the defect substantially impair the vehicle’s use, value, or safety. If the manufacturer or its authorized dealer has made multiple unsuccessful repair attempts, or if the vehicle has been out of service for an extended period due to warranty repairs, the vehicle may qualify as a lemon under California law.
When a valid lemon law claim exists, California law provides strong remedies for consumers. The manufacturer must either repurchase the vehicle or provide a replacement. A buyback typically includes a refund of the purchase price or lease payments, along with taxes, registration fees, and other related costs, subject to a limited mileage-based usage deduction. Consumers may also recover incidental expenses such as towing and rental car costs, and the law allows for recovery of attorney’s fees, making it easier for vehicle owners to enforce their rights without bearing additional financial burden.
The procedures surrounding a lemon law claim in California changed significantly in 2025. Although manufacturers were given the choice whether to opt in to the new procedures or stick with the previous process, Infiniti is one of the automakers that opted in. Infiniti owners with a lemon law claim are therefore bound to follow the new procedures at least through 2030, when Infiniti will again have the choice to stay in or opt out.
Under these newer procedures, consumers must provide notice to the dealer and give them an opportunity to repair or replace. The process also includes mandatory mediation before any lawsuit can be filed. Procedural challenges like a statute of limitations, a statute of repose, and a restrictive discovery period all create hurdles for consumers that require a skilled and experienced lawyer to deal with expertly and successfully.
Lemon Infiniti? Contact Nita Lemon Law Firm Today
Attorney Nick Nita of Nita Lemon Law Firm has been handling lemon law cases since 2003 and has been personally involved in over 10,000 cases of lemon law and dealer fraud during that time. Mr. Nita personally handles every aspect of your case from start to finish, working to achieve a satisfactory resolution for you as quickly as possible.
If you think your Infiniti or other vehicle may be a lemon, contact Nita Lemon Law Firm for a free consultation, serving clients in Los Angeles and statewide throughout California.
