Most common 2011 Infiniti M56 problems
Share of the 13 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Infiniti M56 complaints by model year
Best M56 years: 2012, 2013. Compare all years →
2011 Infiniti M56 recalls (2)
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Nissan North America, Inc. (INFINITI) is recalling certain 2011-2013 M56, 2012-2013 M35 Hybrid, 2014-2018 Q50, Q70 Hybrid, 2014-2019 Q70, and 2015-2019 Q70L two-wheel drive vehicles. The driveshaft can fatigue and break.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 13, 2024. Owners may contact INFINITI's customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
Nissan North America, Inc. (Nissan) is recalling certain 2011-2013 Infiniti M56, 2012-2013 M35 Hybrid, and 2014 Q70 and Q70 Hybrid vehicles. These models, equipped with 2WD and with a hybrid or VK56 powertrain, have a driveshaft that may break.
Remedy: Infiniti will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began February 5, 2021. Owners may contact Infiniti customer service at 1-800-662-6200.
What 2011 Infiniti M56 owners say
Transmission & drivetrain
The contact owns a 2011 Infiniti M56. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V755000 (Power Train) however, the dealer informed the contact that the parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that while making a left turn from a complete stop, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle drove 2 MPH and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that as he released the accelerator pedal and depressed it again, he was able to drive the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring while driving. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and advised the contact that they would follow up with the dealer. …
Driveshaft malfunctioning. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Driveshaft malfunctioning is causing the vehicle to shake violently at speeds above 60 mph. My safety and others safety is put at risk when I'm accelerating above 60 mph and the vehicle begins to shake violently causing the vehicle to veering into on coming traffic or nearby lanes. This problem has been reproduced and confirmed by an independent service center. The vehicle hasn't been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. This problem first appeared about 4 years ago but progressively gotten worse. In December 13, 2020 - An Infiniti driveshaft recall includes more than 2,700 vehicles with driveshafts that may break. …
Engine & cooling
I love this vehicle but it's suddenly started having a rough idle and with a scan tool detects multiple misfires and several codes due to timing, in which case the timing chain has been worn out call the dealership to see if the timing chain recall for the m56 was done to my car they said it was VIN specific now I am stuck with a vehicle that is very dangerous to be driven.
Driving this car is very fun and I have enjoyed the car very much but just last week I noticed a smell like burning rubber or oil, come to find out the next day I was dripping oil only not a steady drip but a drip only from driving, once I stop and the car cools the drip stops. I have research and found that there could be a problem with some bolts to the oil filter that attaches to the block but when I called Infiniti they don't see it nor will they look at the car unless I pay. This isn't a seal or gasket this is a very bad leak, my research came from a 2012 long term road test on a 2011 Infiniti M56 and states this will become a recall but never did?
Electrical system
Issue: passenger seat belt light continues to remain on after the passenger is no longer sitting on the seat. Root cause from dealer: defective passenger occupancy sensor. Only way to turn off the seat belt light is to either put the passenger seat belt on or turn on and off the car. I noticed when I purchased the Infiniti 2011 M56 the seat belt light would remain on after a passenger has been sitting on the passenger front seat and exits the vehicle. The passenger just needs to sit on the passenger side for a few minutes to exhibit this problem. This is a safety concern as I don't know if the airbag will deploy properly as the occupancy sensor is falsely triggering a passenger is sitting in the passenger side. The airbag light indicator will sometimes be on or off when the seat belt light comes on. …
My solenoid switch went bad on me and needed to be replaced, took it to the Infiniti dealership and they corrected the problem so I thought until oct 13 when I kept hearing this noise coming from my hook like a squealing noise.. Took it back to the dealership and found out it was the timing chain, which I was told had nothing to do with the solenoid switch that was previously fixed.. Found out that was a lie and that they go hand in hand with each other and they wanted to charge me 1400 dollars just to look at the problem and another 2,000 to fix the issue, well it turns out that Infiniti already knew that this was a problem with the solenoid being to small to pump the required old to where its suppose to go and never did a recall or anything but they are trying to say if its out of warranty than they are not required to fix it, this is a safety hazard if not replaced by Infiniti this …
2011 Infiniti M56 engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.6L 8-cyl | 7-speed automatic | RWD | 16 / 25 / 19 |
| 5.6L 8-cyl | 7-speed automatic | AWD | 16 / 23 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Infiniti M56 a good car?
Based on 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 M56 rates average: 2.8× as many complaints as a typical year of the M56 at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Infiniti M56?
The transmission & drivetrain — 6 complaints, 46% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (4) and electrical system (3).
How many recalls does the 2011 Infiniti M56 have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2011 Infiniti M56, the most recent from June 21, 2024 (driveshaft). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Infiniti M56?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012 and 2013. See the full Infiniti M56 years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Infiniti M56 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.