2015 Infiniti Q50 — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $12,000–$19,000. There is 1 high-severity known issue you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
A genuinely quick rear-drive sedan that depreciated harder than almost anything in its class. The VQ37 V6 is durable. The concern is Direct Adaptive Steering — a steer-by-wire system with a recall history and a repair cost that will surprise you.
Known Issues for the 2015 Infiniti Q50
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
The system had recalls for loss of steering assist and a numb, artificial feel that many owners disliked. Replacement of the steering force actuator or control units is expensive.
Repair cost range: $2,000-$5,000
A rattle at cold start on higher-mileage engines. Labor-intensive on a transverse-free but tightly packed engine bay.
Repair cost range: $1,800-$3,000
Slow, occasionally unresponsive, and the lower screen fails on some cars.
Repair cost range: $700-$2,000
The VQ family burns oil as it ages. Check the level and ask about top-ups.
Repair cost range: $0 if monitored
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Any steering warning message
- ✗Open recalls on the steering system
- ✗Cold-start rattle
- ✗Modified or tuned Red Sport 400
Good Signs
- ✓Conventional hydraulic-assist steering rather than Direct Adaptive Steering
- ✓All recalls completed
- ✓Full service history with regular oil changes
Found a specific Infiniti Q50?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2015 Infiniti Q50 in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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