2015 Infiniti Q50 Hybrid recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-19. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
2 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Steering
What's wrong, in plain English: If steering fails you can lose control of the car. Nissan North America, Inc.'s (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Infiniti Q50 vehicles manufactured December 26, 2012, to December 11, 2015, and Infiniti Q50 Hybrid vehicles manufactured December 10, 2012, to December 17, 2015. The Direct Adaptive Steering system may experience an error at vehicle start up altering the vehicle's steering responsiveness and turning radius.
What could happen: If the vehicle does not steer as the driver anticipates, there is an increased the risk of a crash.
The fix: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Direct Adaptive Steering ECU software, free of charge. The recall began on August 12, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2015 Q50 HYBRID.
- Book a repair at any authorized Infiniti dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 16V430000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-647-7261.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: STEERING:AUTOMATED/ADAPTIVE STEERING
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc.'s (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Infiniti Q50 vehicles manufactured December 26, 2012, to December 11, 2015, and Infiniti Q50 Hybrid vehicles manufactured December 10, 2012, to December 17, 2015. The Direct Adaptive Steering system may experience an error at vehicle start up altering the vehicle's steering responsiveness and turning radius.
Consequence: If the vehicle does not steer as the driver anticipates, there is an increased the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Nissan will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Direct Adaptive Steering ECU software, free of charge. The recall began on August 12, 2016. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-647-7261.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
2. Airbags
What's wrong, in plain English: The airbag system — the part that is supposed to protect you in a crash. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
What could happen: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infinit…
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 2015 Q50 HYBRID.
- Book a repair at any authorized Infiniti dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 16V244000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Manufacturer hotline: 1-800-867-7669.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
Summary: Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Nissan Maxima, 2013-2016 Nissan Altima, NV200, LEAF, Sentra, and Pathfinder, 2014-2016 Nissan NV200 Taxi, Infiniti QX60, QX60 Hybrid, and Q50 Hybrid, 2014-2017 Nissan Rogue and Infiniti Q50, 2015-2016 Nissan Murano, Murano Hybrid, and Chevrolet City Express, 2014-2015 Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid, and 2013 Infiniti JX35 vehicles. In these vehicles, the front seat passenger Occupant Classification System (OCS) may incorrectly classify an adult passenger as a child or classify the seat as empty despite it being occupied. As a result, the passenger frontal air bag may be turned off and not deploy in the event of a crash.
Consequence: If the passenger frontal air bag does not deploy as intended in the event of a crash, the passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Nissan will notify their owners. Chevrolet City Express owners will be notified by General Motors. Dealers will reprogram the Air Bag Control Unit (ACU) and OCS Electronic Control Unit (ECU) in Altima, Maxima, Murano, Rogue, and Sentra vehicles, and replace the OCS ECU in LEAF, NV200, NV200 Taxi, Pathfinder, Infiniti Q50, JX35, and QX60 and Chevrolet City Express vehicles, free of charge. Interim notices were sent to owners on May 31, 2016. Owners will receive a second notice when remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Nissan customer service at 1-800-867-7669, Infiniti customer service at 1-888-833-3216 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Useful for owners
- OBD2 code reader — see what the car's computer is reporting
- Compact car fire extinguisher
- 2015 Infiniti Q50 Hybrid owner's manual
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Transmission / drivetrain (31), Steering (24), Airbags (19), Unknown Or Other (16), Vehicle Speed Control (15).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
07/21/2025 · Steering
Adaptive steering clicks and looses control. Steering wheel jerks back when self aligning. There was a recall for this I believe in June 2016. For 2015 infinity Q50’s but my VIN says that it wasn’t recalled but is the exact description of what is happening.
07/09/2025 · Transmission / drivetrain
The contact owns a 2015 Infiniti Q50. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, the accelerator was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to shift into gear properly, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission valve body…
06/04/2025 · Transmission / drivetrain
Just over 1 week ago, I was leaving a parking lot and driving back to my home when my car wouldn't accelerate past about ~10-15 miles per hour and wasn't shifting gears. When I took my foot off the gas pedal, the gear just dropped immediately from above third to first gear and the car shook. I first noticed this when already out of the parking lot and pulli…
05/27/2025 · Transmission / drivetrain
Transmission intermittently will not shift to the next gear. Sometimes will not shift from first gear, other times will not shift from 3rd gear. Sometimes no issue at all. It is intermittent and no warning to when the issue might happened. It happens when trying to accelerate and has put me in an unsafe situation trying to accelerate on the highway o…
04/21/2025 · Steering
Air bag light suddenly said “passenger airbag off”. Don’t have to brake to switch gears. Steering at times feels a bit off.
04/17/2025 · Transmission / drivetrain
Transmission failure without warning!!
03/20/2025 · Steering
Transmission, Transmission Valve body, speed sensors. After transmission shifting issues while traveling the interstate I had to have the car towed to the dealership. After the multi point inspection was performed serveral recommended itmes related to the ongoing performance and SAFETY of the vehicle listed below: Transmission $10,446.65 Transmission Valv…
03/08/2025 · Transmission / drivetrain
Valve body goes bad after a few hundred miles every time. fluid enters the tcm causing it to go bad. the tcm could be welded back on but dealer just replaces the whole transmission