The 2019 Q60 is a stylish coupe built on Infiniti's aging VR platform, sharing DNA with the 370Z. The 3.0L twin-turbo VR30 is the performance choice but carries catastrophic oil consumption issues; the 2.0L turbo (Mercedes-sourced) is far more reliable but underwhelming for this chassis weight.
VR30 3.0L Twin-Turbo Catastrophic Oil Consumption & Engine Failure
Common · high severityTypical onset: 30,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: burning 1+ quart per 1,000 miles, blue smoke on startup or acceleration, Check Engine Light with P0300-series misfire codes, rough idle, complete engine seizure if oil level ignored
Fix: Early VR30s have piston ring design flaws causing oil to bypass into combustion chambers. Infiniti extended warranty to 8yr/80k mi for oil consumption but many owners already past that. Repair requires complete engine disassembly, piston/ring replacement, or full short block swap. 20-30 hours labor depending on additional damage to catalytic converters from oil fouling.
Estimated cost: $8,000-15,000
7-Speed Automatic Transmission Oil Cooler Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: transmission fluid in coolant (milky pink reservoir), coolant in transmission (slipping, delayed shifts), overheating transmission temp warnings, limp mode activation
Fix: Internal cooler in the radiator develops leaks, cross-contaminating ATF and coolant. Requires replacement of radiator, complete transmission fluid flush (sometimes multiple flushes), and coolant system flush. If caught late, transmission internals are damaged requiring rebuild or replacement. 6-8 hours for cooler/flush, add 15-25 hours if transmission is cooked.
Estimated cost: $1,800-3,200 (cooler only), $5,000-9,000 (with transmission damage)
Transmission Mount Collapse
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: clunking on acceleration or deceleration, excessive vibration at idle in Drive, visible engine/trans movement when shifting from Park to Drive, harsh shift feel
Fix: Rear transmission mount uses hydraulic design that fails prematurely, especially with spirited driving. Rubber separates from metal housing. Replacement is straightforward but requires lifting powertrain. 2-3 hours labor. OEM part recommended as aftermarket don't last.
Estimated cost: $400-700
High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure (VR30 engines)
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: no-start condition, long cranking before start, rough running under load, fuel rail pressure codes P0087/P0088, metal shavings in fuel system if pump grenades internally
Fix: Direct-injection high-pressure pump on VR30 fails without warning. If pump disintegrates internally, metal debris contaminates entire fuel system requiring injector replacement and fuel rail cleaning. Early catch means pump-only replacement. 4-5 hours labor for pump, add 8-12 hours if injectors and rail need service.
Estimated cost: $1,200-2,000 (pump only), $3,500-5,500 (with injector contamination)
Rear Camera Failure and Wiring Harness Corrosion
Occasional · low severitySymptoms: intermittent black screen when shifting to Reverse, distorted/snowy camera image, 'Camera Unavailable' message, backup camera works only when warm or only when cold
Fix: Trunk-mounted camera and connector prone to moisture intrusion, especially in humid climates. Sometimes just the camera, sometimes the body harness pigtail corrodes requiring splice repair. NHTSA recall 19V-355 covered some units but not all failures. 1.5-2 hours for camera, 3-4 hours if harness repair needed at body.
Estimated cost: $350-600 (camera), $600-1,000 (harness repair)
Turbocharger Wastegate Rattle (VR30)
Common · low severityTypical onset: 20,000-60,000 mi
Symptoms: rattling noise on cold start for 5-10 seconds, sounds like marbles in a can from engine bay, noise disappears once warmed up, no performance loss or codes
Fix: Wastegate actuator rods develop play when cold, causing rattle until oil pressure builds. Infiniti considers this 'characteristic of the design' unless it throws a code. Turbo replacement is the only fix but many owners live with it since it's purely audible annoyance. If replacing, 8-10 hours per side.
Estimated cost: $2,500-3,500 per turbocharger
Beautiful to look at, nightmare to own past warranty if equipped with the VR30 — the 2.0T is reliable but outclassed by competitors; buy only with comprehensive warranty or expect four-figure repairs.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.