Executive car · 2013–2020 cars
Infiniti Q50 reliability
The Infiniti Q50 fails 19.9% of first MOT tests, 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 8,930 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Infiniti Q50 before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 19.9%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 15% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 8,930
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 9,500
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Infiniti Q50 ages
Each point is the share of Infiniti Q50s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Infiniti Q50 | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 4 | 17.4% | 14.1% |
| 5 | 17.1% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 17.8% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 19.6% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 22.7% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 22.9% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 22.6% | 31.8% |
By year
The best and worst Infiniti Q50 years
2015 cars come out best and 2016 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 920 | 18% | 10% more fails | 45,361 |
| 2017 Q50 | 1,460 | 16% | 18% fewer fails | 57,317 |
| 2016 Q50 | 2,266 | 19.6% | 14% fewer fails | 63,983 |
| 2015 Q50 | 2,714 | 20.7% | 20% fewer fails | 70,428 |
| 2014 Q50 | 1,446 | 24.3% | 16% fewer fails | 79,479 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Infiniti Q50
Its weak spot is brakes: 58% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Brakes7.7%58% above avg
- Tyres6.7%4% above avg
- Lights and electrics4.4%42% below avg
- Suspension4.4%24% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors2.2%40% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.1%43% below avg
- Wheels0.8%135% above avg
- Body, chassis and structure0.8%51% below avg
- Number plates and VIN0.3%4% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 3.65% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 2
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 2.36% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 3
Tyre ply or cords exposed 1.81% of tests
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 1.39% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 5
Anti-roll bar linkage ball joint worn 1.3% of tests
A worn linkage ball joint can rattle, affect handling and eventually fail, so it should be replaced.
- 6
Position lamp not working 0.86% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 7
Parking brake efficiency below minimum 0.76% of tests
The parking brake holds the car less well than required, so it may roll on a slope and needs repair.
- 8
Tyre cut reaching ply or cords 0.75% of tests
A cut reaching the ply or cords weakens the tyre and can cause a burst, so it must be replaced.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Infiniti Q50's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit16.2%
- Brake pads wearing thin12.63%
- Linkage ball joint slight play9.29%
- Brake disc pitted or scored7.87%
- Suspension ball joint slight play3.48%
- Anti-roll bar ball joint slight play2.15%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Infiniti Q50
- 1
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 2
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 3
Tyre ply or cords exposed
Exposed ply or cords can let the tyre fail suddenly, so the tyre must be replaced before the car is driven.
- 4
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Infiniti Q50 covers about 9,500 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Diesel84.3%
- Petrol9.5%
- Hybrid6.2%
- LPG0.1%
Most common colours
Black, Grey, White, Blue, Silver
Average engine size: 2.3 litres.
Compare
How the Infiniti Q50 compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| BMW M6 | 10.5% | 59% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| BMW Alpina | 16.1% | 54% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Audi S5 | 16.9% | 51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Audi S4 | 15.6% | 49% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Lexus RC | 9.6% | 43% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Audi Allroad | 27.8% | 36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Infiniti Q50 | 19.9% | 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every executive car ranked in the executive car reliability index, or all Infiniti models.
Questions
Infiniti Q50 questions, answered
Is the Infiniti Q50 reliable?
On MOT results, the Infiniti Q50 is better than average: it fails 19.9% of first MOT tests, 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 33 of 40 executive car models in our index.
What fails most on a Infiniti Q50 MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Infiniti Q50 are brake pads worn below 1.5mm (3.65% of tests), tyre tread below 1.6mm (2.36% of tests), tyre ply or cords exposed (1.81% of tests). By area, brakes fails 7.7% of its tests.
Which Infiniti Q50 year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2015 cars do best (20% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2016 cars do worst (14% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Infiniti Q50 do a year?
A typical Infiniti Q50 covers about 9,500 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Infiniti Q50 before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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