My Infiniti Q60 3.0t is losing coolant or smoking. Are the turbos failing?

Short answer: If a Q60 3.0t is losing coolant with no visible leak, or smoking and losing power, a turbo may be failing. One dealer found coolant leaking from the turbo into the oil. Stop driving and have it checked before the engine is damaged. Owners were quoted $30,000-$35,000 for an engine and turbos, and one got Infiniti to cover it for a $5,000 deductible. Keep maintenance records and ask Infiniti about any turbo warranty coverage.

Symptom: The coolant level keeps dropping with no puddle, blue or white smoke, a rattle or whine from the turbos, or loss of power.

What to check first

1. Check the coolant reservoir cold, and the oil on the dipstick for a milky look.
2. Look for smoke at start-up and under acceleration.
3. Stop driving if coolant keeps dropping or the oil looks contaminated.
4. Ask an Infiniti dealer about any turbo warranty coverage or extension for your VIN.
5. Keep every maintenance record; owners say warranty claims hinge on them.

Likely causes

1. Failed turbocharger. The 3.0t has two turbos, fans spun by exhaust that push extra air into the engine. Owners report them leaking oil or coolant, smoking, or losing power.
2. Coolant leaking from a turbo into the oil. One dealer found coolant leaking from the turbo into the oil pan. Coolant in oil ruins bearings, which can mean a new engine.
3. Metal debris in the engine. Owners whose turbos came apart found metal shavings in the oil pan.

What it usually costs

Owners report dealer quotes of about $30,000-$35,000 for engine and turbos, and one owner got Infiniti to cover it for a $5,000 deductible.

Is it safe to keep driving?

No. Coolant in the oil or a coming-apart turbo can wreck the engine or leave you without power. Stop and tow it.

DIY or shop?

Checking coolant and oil is DIY. Turbo and engine replacement is shop work.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Recalls: NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the Q60 in these years, and none is about turbo failure. One, 21V234000, covers some 2021 Q50 and Q60: the engine computer may wrongly reduce power after rapid acceleration. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your car is part of a recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• Plain words: The complaint count below shows how often owners reported problems that mention these words to NHTSA. A count is not proof of a defect.
• NHTSA complaints: 24 keyword-matched complaints for Infiniti Q60 2017–2022 (of 68 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-31; keywords: turbo, smoke, loss of power, oil, engine) (NHTSA returned no data for 2 model-year queries). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In Engine Destroyed on Reddit r/Q60, a 2017 Q60 AWD began losing coolant at 78,000 miles. The dealer found coolant leaking from the turbo into the oil pan and quoted $35,000 for an engine and turbos. The owner later said Infiniti offered to replace them for a $5,000 deductible. Another owner at 78,000 miles was quoted $30,000 and denied warranty over modifications. Others said their engine and turbos failed at about 65,000 miles.
• In How big of a problem is turbo failure on the q50s or q60s? on Reddit r/infiniti, a buyer asked how big a problem turbo failure is on used Q50 and Q60 3.0t cars, having read that the turbos often fail and cost a fortune out of warranty because the engine has to be pulled. A commenter who said they used to work at Infiniti said the most common reason turbos came back was dust getting in when the air boxes weren't closed properly after service.

Quick tip

Coolant disappearing on a 3.0t is your early warning. Catch it before metal shows up in the oil pan, and get it into Infiniti's system with records in hand.

Vehicle focus: Infiniti Q60 3.0t (VR30DDTT twin-turbo V6), 2017-2022.

Safety / mechanic note

Engine failure and loss of power are safety items. Verify with a mechanic.