Infiniti maintenance: cost, plans and service schedule

Are Infinitis expensive to maintain?

Infiniti is the luxury division of the Japanese automaker Nissan, and it’s partially this luxury status that makes Infiniti upkeep more expensive than maintaining and repairing a Nissan. Within its class, however, Infiniti actually has pretty affordable maintenance and repair costs.

According to RepairPal, a site that processes car repair cost data, the average price of maintaining and repairing an Infiniti is $872 per year, adjusted for inflation. (Compare that with the $891-per-year industry average across all brands.)

How Infiniti compares with other automakers

Infiniti placed right in the middle of RepairPal’s reliability rankings at 16th out of 32 automakers. While Infiniti owners can expect to visit a repair shop more often than the average driver — 0.7 times per year, compared with the average of 0.4 — those repairs are considered severe less frequently than average. Here’s how Infinitis stack up against other popular car brands.

It’s worth noting that these figures cover each automaker’s entire lineup, so your estimated costs may go up or down depending on the Infiniti model you purchase. We’ll provide a more in-depth look at what you can expect with some of Infiniti's most popular models below.

Infiniti maintenance and repair costs by model

Infiti’s G25, FX35 and QX80 models have different expected upkeep costs, but one thing holds true among them — they each rank high for reliability in their respective categories.

So far, RepairPal’s average figures have provided a helpful overview, but they lump together the cost of repairs and maintenance, which are actually distinct services. Repairs typically fix things after they go wrong, while maintenance covers preventive services, like oil changes and tire rotations.

We’ll break down these categories a bit more to help you understand how your budget may need to change for each.

Infiniti maintenance cost and schedule

Following your Infiniti’s maintenance schedule is key to maintaining its longevity and avoiding unnecessary repairs. Each Infiniti model’s maintenance timeline will vary, so we suggest checking your owner’s manual for the most accurate information.

According to the car dealership Infiniti of San Jose, in general, you can expect tire rotations and oil and filter replacements every 5,000 miles; brake pads, rotors and transmission fluid inspections and windshield wiper replacements every 10,000 miles; exhaust, steering and suspension inspections as well as brake fluid replacement every 20,000 miles; and engine air filter replacements every 30,000 miles.

Maintenance costs are fairly easy to predict since you know what services your vehicle will need and when it will need them. Just talk to your local mechanic about what they charge for routine services and plan those costs out over the course of your recommended maintenance schedule.

We’ve included estimates for common maintenance services below to give you an idea of what maintenance may cost you. While something like a cabin air filter replacement can average as little as $93, a tire replacement is estimated to cost as much as $700. (Remember, these are average figures, so some cases may be more expensive.)

Since Infinitis require full synthetic oil, the bill for an oil change is generally going to be higher than the $40 to $60 drivers of other brands can expect to pay.

Schedule maintenance for severe driving conditions

Keep in mind that Infiniti suggests a more frequent maintenance schedule if you drive in severe conditions, in order to accommodate for increased wear and tear. Those conditions may include extreme temperatures, towing heavy loads, driving in dusty, muddy or sandy areas, making frequent short trips or driving in stop-and-go traffic.

A severe driving condition maintenance schedule typically includes more frequent checks and replacements of key components, but consult your owner’s manual for specific instructions.

Infiniti repair costs

“Infinitis are known for having strong powertrain systems,” said Amelia Nolan, a mechanic with experience working on Infiniti vehicles. “Since this is the case, you’re unlikely to have major repairs and can expect the bulk of your repair costs to fund more general maintenance.”

While Infinitis have average reliability, owners still report a few common issues with their cars.

For example, the No. 1 malfunction listed on RepairPal is related to the crankshaft angle sensor, which can fail and cause a loss of engine power. Infiniti is aware of the problem and has issued a recall on certain models.

Another symptom that may develop is an abnormal noise from the timing chain area, which can be fixed by replacing the camshaft sprockets.

Other Infiniti owners reported dissatisfaction with how fast their vehicles burned through oil. Mikhail, a ConsumerAffairs reviewer from New York, reported that their 2018 QX60 “came defective; burning 1 quart of oil per 100 m. Local Infiniti dealer has stated that this car is already out of manufacturer warranty. I have tried to purchase an extended warranty and the same dealer refused to do this due to my car is red-flagged in an Infiniti database for engine service exception.”

Infiniti QX60 repair costs

While repair estimates will change based on any vehicle’s make and model, we collected estimates for some common services on an Infiniti QX60 below.

The good news is that Infiniti’s factory warranties can protect you from some of these costs — at least while your vehicle is fairly new.

All Infiniti vehicles initially come with bumper-to-bumper coverage for their first four years or 60,000 miles and powertrain coverage for their first six years or 70,000 miles. These warranties cover the cost of repairing any manufacturing defects that may show themselves. However, you can’t bank on your warranty to last forever, which is why you may want to look at other ways of saving money on Infiniti repairs.

» LEARN: What is a manufacturer’s warranty?

How can an extended warranty help?

You can potentially keep your car on the road longer and avoid repair bills by purchasing an extended warranty. These plans have their ups and downs, but they’re worth considering if you expect to need an above-average amount of repairs down the road. Extended warranties are available from both dedicated car warranty companies and Infiniti itself.

If maintenance costs are more of an issue, Infiniti also offers two options for prepaid maintenance plans to help you keep your Infiniti running at peak performance. Its Basic Maintenance Plans include services like brake fluid and cabin air filter replacements. Meanwhile, the Basic+Plus plans cover the same services in addition to inspections and tire hazard protection, which gives you zero-deductible coverage for flat tire repairs.

While maintenance plans can be intimidating to invest in because you have to pay upfront, they may save you money in the long run as you avoid potential price increases and inflation.

» MORE: Car warranty vs. car insurance