NHTSA Complaint #11710783 — 2021 INFINITI QX50

Vehicle: 2021 Infiniti QX50 VIN: [XXX] Mileage at second failure: 154,282 miles I am reporting a repeat engine failure involving bearing material consistent with a known Infiniti VC-Turbo engine defect. The original engine in my 2021 Infiniti QX50 failed and was replaced with a brand-new long block in May 2024 at approximately 85,700 miles. I paid for this engine replacement out of pocket because the recall had not yet been issued. After the engine replacement, the vehicle was regularly maintained with full synthetic oil at reasonable intervals. There was no sludge present in oil, upon inspection. After receiving notice of Infiniti recall R25B2, I contacted the authorized Infiniti dealer (Ed Hicks Infiniti) to request an inspection and was advised to wait because the recall was temporarily on hold. As a precaution, I had another dealership inspect the oil and oil pan on August 18, 2025, and no debris or abnormalities were found at that time. On [XXX], the vehicle experienced engine failure symptoms and was towed to Ed Hicks Infiniti. The dealer inspected the engine and confirmed bearing material present in the oil pan with no sludge. This is the same failure mode described in the recall. Infiniti denied recall coverage and goodwill assistance solely due to total vehicle mileage, despite the fact that: • The failed engine was a replacement engine installed before the recall • The failure occurred well before a reasonable engine lifespan • The failure mode matches the recall defect • There was no evidence of neglect or sludge I am reporting this to document a repeat engine failure related to a known defect and to request regulatory review, as consumers who paid for engine replacements prior to the recall appear to be excluded despite experiencing the same safety-related failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)