Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Infiniti QX56 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Brake Failure. The brake fails occasionally while driving on the streets or on the Highways without Waring. The brake pedal goes down to the floor, and grinding/hitting metal to metal sound is heard and vehicle brake control is lost. Experiences were traumatic; you swing left or right to avoid hitting another vehicle from behind or running a red light. The vehicle has been inspected by an independent mechanic, and the brake components: rotors, pads, drum, and fluid levels were ok, each time it occurs. The brake lights come off and on and each time, the mechanic finds no issues with the brake components. …
My car has the notorious issue that seems a lot of Nissan titan, armada, and QX56 has. When driving, all if a sudden brake light will come on the dash. All of sudden, when I press in my brakes, it starts to make noise and loses almost all power in the braking system. Like the ABS is not working. When I turn the car off and back on, it goes away temporarily but will soon happen again. I took it to Nissan, and they say they couldn't do anything about unless it's malfunctioning. So the next time it happen, I risked everything to drive it from the highway to the dealership without turning the vehicle and off to ensure the issue is present when at the dealership. Car had 75K miles at the time. They then took it back and did some king of update or flash and everything has been working for a couple of years. …
Multiple times the brakes have went out and I have been unable to stop the vehicle. This has happened in various places and during various circumstances including on the highway and city streets, it has also happened in parking lots. There is no indication, warning lights or signs when they stop working,I find out when I press on the back and it makes a odd sound almost like a spring and a pulsating/grinding feeling when I press the break down. No indicator lights come on when the brakes go out. I am unable to get the vehicle stopped during this time. There has been no set reason or pattern for the breaks going out, they just randomly stop functioning. Normally when this happens for the past year, after I get my vehicle to a complete stop, I turn the vehicle off and then back on and it's back to normal. …
2006 Infiniti QX56, had back brakes and rotors replaced in October 2020, 2 weeks later I'm driving, flat surface, nice day, applied brakes, my pedal went to floor, no resistance, I heard a grinding noise, felt like a 'slip' , I had kids in car, I pulled over, asked the girls what they heard, turned off vehicle, checked brake fluid, full, the girls thought I May have hit a slick patch of oil or something?? We did our shopping, I made a few phone calls, got back in vehicle, started it and applied brakes, worked fine, drove home slow, no issues. Also no lights came on when this happened. I convinced myself this was just a fluke. 2 1/2 weeks later and after lots of driving, I had to go to memphis 5 hours away with my daughter. Everything fine until we got there. Checked into hospital, then decided to go downtown 4 blocks away. …
I was driving at approximately 60 MPH on a freeway when traffic ahead came to a sudden stop. I pressed the brake pedal and it traveled to the floor and I did not feel the car slow at all. The "brake" dash indicator light came on, and I continued pumping the brake pedal to try and slow the car. While I continued pressing the brakes, the car started slowing down rapidly on its own as if it was pressing the brakes on its own and I could hear a loud grinding sound. I released the brake pedal and crossed several lanes of traffic as the car was uncontrollably slowing to reach the shoulder. I called my husband to tell him what had happened and remained on the shoulder with the car running. My husband met me on the shoulder and drove the car home. …
Traveling at highway speeds the emergency brake light illuminated. I started to get to the right hand side of the highway and slow down. When I would depress the brakes there was an inconsistent clunking noise, it was difficult to brake, ABS system didn't seem to be working. When the brakes were not engaged the vehicle seems to be driving fine. I was able to slow to a stop in a parking lot where I put the vehicle in park and physically engaged the emergency brake. I then disengaged the emergency brake and then turned the vehicle off. I got out and checked all of the brakes for visible debris and didn't see anything. I returned to the vehicle and started it. The emergency brake light was no longer illuminated and the vehicle seemed to be back to normal.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Infiniti QX56. While driving 30 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal noise after depressing the brake pedal. The pedal traveled to the floorboard and the vehicle would not stop. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle after taking her foot off the brake pedal and steering into an empty parking lot. The brake warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired and the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was approximately 140,000.
SUV will have trouble braking, emitting a loud, grinding noise when brakes are applied. Diffiulty stopping. Almost caused a wreck twice now. Once vehicle is turned off and back on, the situation seems to stop. Happens periodically. First time had brakes, rotors redone in case there was an issue, though there did not seem to be according to the mechanic. Has continued to do it a few additional time. Took it into Infiniti dealer. Was told it was the brake vacuum booster. This item has been recalled on other 2004-2008 Infiniti qx-56 and Nissan armadas. Was told that my car was not on the 'recall' list.
I have owned the car since it was new. When the car idles for long time, high traffic or run in a long distance, the brake light comes on, slip light and the brakes chatter and stopping car becomes almost impossible. Numerous trips to the dealer over the year has produced no fixes....replaced sensor, brake boosters, brake pads, fluid changes, in essence practically an entirely new braking system with no positive results. This is major issue!!! I can not believe that nothing has been done, likely because it can not be replicated on demand. Someone will get hurt and then someone might listen.
When I am driving (pressing the gas) an inconsistent random clicking noise that's affecting the brake system and usage is heard. It's difficult to accelerate. In the past, I would simply turn off the vehicle and turn it back on and the noise would stop. It was difficult to explain and show to any mechanic because it does it randomly and unexpectedly, therefore it would never do it when needed. I went on because it wasn't often at first. Now it's at an extreme level as if the vehicle doesn't want to drive and I could be on the highway (you can imagine how scary that is at high speeds).
Brake complaints in other QX56 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2006 Infiniti QX56?
NHTSA has 58 complaints about the brakes of the 2006 Infiniti QX56, 73% of the model year's 79 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2006 Infiniti QX56 brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2006 Infiniti QX56, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2006 Infiniti QX56 brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 91,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 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.