2021 Infiniti Q50 Engine Control Module Software Recall (21V234)
Nissan North America, Inc. · 12,943 vehicles · Reported April 4, 2021
Nissan North America, Inc. is recalling 12,943 2021 Infiniti Q50; 2021 Infiniti Q60 vehicles. After detecting rapid acceleration, the Engine Control Module (ECM) may incorrectly reduce engine power and reduce fuel supply to the engine. A lack of fuel may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V234 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V234000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | R20C5 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | April 4, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| Vehicles | 2021 Infiniti Q50; 2021 Infiniti Q60 |
| Units affected | 12,943 |
| Component | Engine And Engine Cooling > Engine > Engine Control Module (Ecu / Ecm) > Software |
| Safety risk | A lack of fuel may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Infiniti Q50 in recall 21V234?
After detecting rapid acceleration, the Engine Control Module (ECM) may incorrectly reduce engine power and reduce fuel supply to the engine.
Nissan North America, Inc. (INFINITI) is recalling certain 2021 INFINITI Q50 and Q60 vehicles. After detecting rapid acceleration, the Engine Control Module (ECM) may incorrectly reduce engine power and reduce fuel supply to the engine.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Q50 with recall 21V234?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A lack of fuel may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A lack of fuel may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Q50 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the software, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V234?
Recall 21V234 covers 12,943 vehicles: 2021 Infiniti Q50; 2021 Infiniti Q60.
NHTSA lists 12,943 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Infiniti | Q50 |
| 2021 | Infiniti | Q60 |
What is the fix for the Q50 engine control module software recall?
Yes. INFINITI will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECM software, free of charge.
INFINITI will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECM software, free of charge. The recall began on May 25, 2021. Owners may contact INFINITI customer service at 1-800-662-6200. INFINITI's number for this recall is R20C5.
When was recall 21V234 announced?
Nissan North America, Inc. reported recall 21V234 to NHTSA on April 4, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| April 4, 2021 | Nissan North America, Inc. filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V234000. |
This recall was filed 66 months ago. If your Q50 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Q50 is part of recall 21V234?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V234 is open on your Q50, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V234000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Q50 owners do about recall 21V234?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V234000 applies to your Q50.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Infiniti dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the software happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Q50 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 4 of them about the engine.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the engine have been filed since recall 21V234 was reported (3) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 9 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 4 of them involve the engine. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Infiniti Q50: 6 complaints in total, 2 about the engine
- 2021 Infiniti Q60: 3 complaints in total, 2 about the engine
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
The contact owns a 2021 Infiniti Q50. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 – 80 MPH and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle would accelerate but failed to exceed 10 MPH.
2021 Infiniti Q50 owner, GA, NHTSA complaint 11762666, filed September 8, 2026
I was driving the car at approximately 75 mph down the highway. Several warning lights came on in the dash including the crash sensors, and the car lost all power. I was able to safely pull the car over to the side of the road. I tried to restart the car with no success.
2021 Infiniti Q60 owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11404488, filed March 23, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 INFINITI Q60. The contact stated while driving approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle shifted into limp mode. The contact stopped the vehicle and had the vehicle towed to a local dealer. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed with needing ECM replaced.
2021 Infiniti Q60 owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11434554, filed September 27, 2021
Can recall 21V234 make my Q50 a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
An engine problem that leaves you stranded, or that keeps lighting up the check engine light after a repair, is the kind of defect that can substantially impair a vehicle's use, value or safety.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Q50 went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Q50 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Infiniti Q50 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V234
Is the 21V234000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Q50 is part of recall 21V234000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V234000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Infiniti. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.