InfinitiQX502016Overview/infiniti/qx50/2016/base/

2016 Infiniti QX50

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 QX50.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic (S7)

The 2016 Infiniti QX50 is an SUV equipped with an S7 automatic transmission and an EPA-rated fuel economy of 17/24/20 mpg. This model year maintains a clean recall record and a modest 19 total owner complaints, with the primary area of concern being the air bags. Within the 2014-2025 model history, the 2016 version sits well below the series peak of 131 complaints recorded for the 2019 model.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920172016

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy17/24/20 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 1520865F0E. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Tail / brake / turnSIDEOEM · verified
Tire size225/55R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8.0 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter1520865F0E
Engine air filter16546JK20A
Spark plug22401JK01D
Front wiper blades288903WU0A alt 28890JK67A
Serpentine belt11720EY00A
Thermostat1305031U00 alt 2120031U03
Cabin air filterB72771CA1B alt B72774HH0A

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S7)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length186.6 in
Overall width70.9 in
Overall height63.4 in
Wheelbase113.4 in
Curb weight4028 lb
Track (front / rear)60.2 / 60.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)54/46

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined17 / 24 / 20 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume97 cu ft
Cargo volume19 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the QX50 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.50 sec — 2016 SUV
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2016SUV 3.7L V65.50 sec14.10 sec325 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 25.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity9.7
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Engine CoolantUse Nissan long life coolant/antifreeze
Engine Coolant Capacity9.5
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts22
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug25.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs61.0 inch lbs. ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Transfer Case Fill Plug26.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug26.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel HubInstall a new nut and torque to 92.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Spark Plug ManufacturerInfiniti
Spark Plug Gap.043 in
Spark Plug Torque14 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing10 degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance5 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.21 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity5.00-5.10 oz

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)51 @ idle psi
Engine Compression242-341 PSI. 14 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Compression242-341 psi / max variation 14 psi
Intake Valve Lash0.010-0.013 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.011-0.015 in

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 20; Rear: 32 /; Front: 25; Rear: 32
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 91; Rear: 63 /; Front: 91; Rear: 62
ABS Sensor Torque10 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: 1.024; Rear: .551
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.0006
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: .0014 with; Rear: .0022 with
Maximum Drum DiameterFront and Rear: NA; Parking Brake: NS

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
148.0, Step 3: 96.0 all steps are in INCH LBS.
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
121.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: loosen all bolts completely, Step 3: 18.0 ft. lbs., Step 4: 9021 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages

Prep Measure the diameter of each cylinder head bolt at point A and point B. Point A = 11.00 mm from thread end and point B = 48.00 mm from thread end. If either diameter is less than 0.18 mm use new bolts coated with clean engine oil. Tighten all bolts to finger tight then continue on with the following procedure.

177.0 ft. lbs.77 ft. lbs
2Loosen bolts 360 degrees in reverse order360 degrees
330.0 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
495 degrees95 degrees
595 degrees95 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant at 105,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 105,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 10,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Differential (inspect fluid level)
Every 15,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace) · Keyless Entry Remote Battery (replace)
Every 20,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Drive Belt (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Exterior Lighting (inspect) · Headlamp (inspect alignment)
At 40,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
At 105,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 180,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Infiniti QX50 represents a notable inflection point in the model's reliability trajectory: complaints surged to 19, more than six times the 2015 level (3), yet still no recalls had been issued and no NHTSA investigation had begun. This positions 2016 at the tail end of the relatively stable 2014-2017 period, before the dramatic escalation in 2019 when complaints jumped to 131, recalls appeared for the first time (3), and an investigation was opened. The target year's top complaint areas—airbags, vehicle speed control, and engine issues—suggest no single systemic defect, though the spike in complaints with zero recalls indicates early-stage consumer frustrations that would later formalize into manufacturer actions. With 83 TSBs (service bulletins) and 3 crash-related complaints, the 2016 falls in a transitional zone where problems were being identified but not yet addressed through official recalls. The concrete takeaway: 2016 is arguably the best model year to target within this generation—it predates the 2019+ crisis with no recalls yet issued, yet offers meaningful complaint data suggesting which issues to scrutinize during pre-purchase inspection.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
83
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
19
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 3 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 19 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags2
Vehicle Speed Control2
Engine2
Unknown Or Other2
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other2
Power Train,Engine1
Power Train,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1
Power Train1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 83 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
ITB09-063C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
ITB10-029C2024-05-20Electrical SystemCAN COMMUNICATION CODES – DIAGNOSTIC TIPS AND GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended…
ITB13-052E2024-05-20Electrical SystemINTELLIGENT KEY NOT DETECTED / ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See…
ITB13-006D2024-05-20Electrical SystemCAN COMMUNICATION – NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See…
ITB17-009H2024-04-29Visibility/WiperWINDOW GLASS WARRANTY INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific QX50. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2016 QX50 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the QX50 get?

EPA figures are 17 city / 24 highway / 20 combined mpg.