The 2022 Q60 is built on Infiniti's aging VR platform with two engine choices: the underwhelming 2.0T four-cylinder (Mercedes-sourced) and the potent VR30DDTT 3.0L twin-turbo V6. The VR30 is the real concern here—early examples suffered catastrophic piston ring and bearing failures, though Infiniti quietly improved things mid-cycle.
VR30DDTT Piston Ring and Bearing Failure (3.0T V6)
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 30,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1qt per 1,000 mi or worse), Blue smoke from exhaust on cold start or under load, Metallic knocking from lower engine (rod knock), Check engine light for misfires or low oil pressure
Fix: Complete engine rebuild or short-block replacement required—16-24 labor hours. Early VR30 engines had inadequate piston ring sealing and bearing clearances that allowed metal debris to circulate. Infiniti extended warranties on some VINs but 2022s may be past coverage. This is catastrophic when it happens.
Estimated cost: $8,500-15,000
Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leaks (7AT)
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Red transmission fluid pooling under vehicle near front, Burnt fluid smell from engine bay, Harsh or delayed shifting when fluid runs low, Low transmission fluid warning light
Fix: Cooler lines corrode where they connect to the radiator-mounted cooler. Replacement involves dropping undertray, bleeding system, refilling with Matic-S fluid—3-4 hours. If caught early, trans itself is usually fine. Let it run dry and you're buying a valve body or worse.
Estimated cost: $600-1,200
Transmission Mount Failure (Driver Side)
Common · low severityTypical onset: 50,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking when shifting from Park to Drive or Reverse, Vibration through cabin at idle in gear, Excessive driveline movement visible when rocking vehicle
Fix: The driver-side trans mount deteriorates from heat and torque—common on all VR platform cars. Two-hour job to swap out, but requires lifting engine slightly. Use OEM or better; cheap aftermarket mounts last 20k miles.
Estimated cost: $350-650
High-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure (VR30DDTT)
Occasional · high severitySymptoms: No-start or extended cranking after sitting, Sudden loss of power and limp mode, P0087 low fuel rail pressure code, Rough idle and hesitation under acceleration
Fix: The mechanical HPFP on the VR30 can fail suddenly, stranding you. It's mounted on the back of the driver-side head—4-5 hours to access and replace, requires fuel system depressurization and bleeding. Not a DIY job unless you're very experienced.
Estimated cost: $1,800-2,800
Direct Injection Carbon Buildup (Both Engines)
Common · medium severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Rough cold starts with misfires, Loss of power and throttle response, Increased fuel consumption, P030X misfire codes on multiple cylinders
Fix: Both the 2.0T and VR30 are direct-injection only (no port injection cleaning). Intake valves cake up with carbon. Walnut blasting is the fix—6-8 hours to remove intake manifolds, blast valves, clean everything. Should be done every 60-80k preventively.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400
Steering Rack Bushing Clunk
Occasional · low severityTypical onset: 40,000-70,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunking from front end over bumps at low speed, Knocking when turning lock-to-lock while stationary, No play in wheel but audible/tactile feedback through column
Fix: The steering rack mounting bushings wear out prematurely on the Q50/Q60 platform. Some techs just replace bushings (aftermarket polyurethane holds up better), but Infiniti sells the whole rack assembly. Two hours labor if you're just doing bushings.
Estimated cost: $250-500
Buy a 2022+ with documented good oil consumption and verified build date after Infiniti's running changes; avoid earlier VR30 cars unless already rebuilt under warranty—the 2.0T is reliable but underwhelming in this chassis.
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.