2003 Nissan 350z
The Verdict
The 2003 Nissan 350z has 274 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (159 complaints) and engine (66 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 46/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Nissan 350z, consider the 2008 model year which has 91% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2008 has 91% fewer complaints
View the 2008 Nissan 350z dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
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Worst Problems
Complaints
It’s the ABS Module not for sure what exactly is wrong with it but it does not function like it should. Also if you look at other vehicles of the same model just different year why was it changed like a different design entirely. What it does is I don’t get full brake power or pressure like half at this point you stop but it’s a slow rolling stop or something. Makes me believe there was an issue when the car came out and the next year it was changed. For example my car is a 02-03 now some 03-04 manufacturer dates the ABS module changed and that’s the only one you can get new still to this year 2026 from the manufacturer and others. This problem occurred in 2024 and was told by the manufacturer or Nissan it’s a discontinued part but they sell the revised part for the 03-04+ model 350z which I think at the time it wasn’t recorded as a safety flaw or they didn’t want to repair the issue.
Vehicle shut off automatically going down interstate coming home from Mississippi. The car stoped running and would not crank back. Radiator fluid spuing all over the ground running hot but did not show overheating temp on dash never showed no over heating temp on gauges or nothing. Motor cranked up days later and was knocking due to knocking. Did not know it had a recall bought it the same year it broke down ran good until then but took over a year to get it tore apart and someone to rebuild the crankshaft because it casused the motor to knock and it caused it to mess it up and need a rebuild the motor and I bought parts and all and cost a good bit for someone to rebuild it for me CASUE I know nothing. Of motors. Or cars parts just basics. So sense that was the case what can be done since it CASUE it to litteraly break me down on interstate and caused senificent suffering and pain and costed alot to get hauled home al together about 7k including getting it hauled home from miss to Alabama paid for a ride to come get me from home hotel room hotel room bus ride and pay someone to rebuild the engine and paid for parts $7500.00 and still isn't done completely didn't trust the guy I got to rebuild it so got it back asap and motor is back together but several several parts not back on or together and they can't be trusted no more after the first month of having the car and working on it and I got it and put in in my garage and no one seems to tell you if they comeing to give estimate or not CASUE all people have contacted said they would come and never heard nor seen them again unreliable people so it still sets no one wanna work no more when asked to check it out for an estimate besides a very very expensive shop that I can't afford up front pay on payment CASUE I draw a disability check SSI 996.00 a month so impossible to have what a shop wants to charge anything that I can do for a dealership or someone to fix from due to being a. Courthouse wants a feeforretunlicplt
Brembo aluminum calipers were used with steel bolts causing the breaks to get himot & seize the steel bolt in the calipers. 1 out of 2 brake jobs end up costing thousands & hours of work to get the seized bolts out, I have had a caliper fall off going 65 & got caught in between my tire & rear wheel arc.
MY CAR FOR THE LAST YEAR WILL DRIVE 5-7 MILES AND STALL IN REGULAR TRAFFIC. WE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP. I FINALLY HAVE ENOUGH $ TO TAKE TO NISSAN. THEY CAME BACK WITH IT NEEDS ALL 2 CAM SHAFT SENSORS AND CRANK SHAFT SENSOR REPLACED. WHEN I GO ON LINE AND SEARCH MY 2003 350Z TOURING EDITION RECALL, THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM AS IT APPEARS THE WIRES CAN BREAK INSIDE DUE TO TEMP ON SOLDER JOINTS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS THIS A PROBLEM THAT WAS NOTED ON A RECALL AND THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS SAME MODEL, WHY NOW AM I GOING TO PAY NISSAN $1200 FOR THE REPAIR THAT SHOULD BE COVERED. I NEED THIS INVESTIGATED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND TOOK NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION CONTROL, FLIP, AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. NUMEROUS UNKNOWN DEALERS AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WERE NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
MY 2003 NISSAN 350Z WAS EXHIBITING THE EXACT SYMPTOMS OF A NHSTA RECALL NUMBER 03V455000 ( NISSAN NUMBER R2202) RECALL. I CONTACTED NISSAN DEALERS AND NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS WITH MY VIN AND WAS TOLD IT DIDN'T FALL UNDER THE RECALL. I THEN TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE NISSAN DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED AND THE DEALER CONCLUDED THAT BOTH (2) CAM POSITION SENSORS AND THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR, WERE FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF 378.86 WHICH I PAID AND HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE BACK ONLY A FEW DAYS (<100 MILES) BUT SO FAR SEEMS TO HAVE RESOLVED THE ISSUE. I AGAIN CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD DO. I FURTHER EXPLAINED MY BELIEF THAT THE RECALL WAS MORE WIDESPREAD THAN INITIALLY THOUGHT BY NHSTA AND NISSAN TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE SPENT 20-30 HOURS DOING ONLINE RESEARCH AS TO WHAT WOULD CAUSE THE ISSUE AND IT ALL SEEMS TO LEAD BACK TO THE RECALL SYMPTOMS. I FURTHER REALIZED THAT MANY OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE BUT CAN'T SPEAK AS TO THEIR SPECIFIC SOLUTION AND THEREFORE THOUGHT IT PRUDENT TO TRY AND BRING IT TO THE NHTSA FOR FURTHER STUDY AND DATABASE INFORMATION. I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE NHTSA ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER TO HAVE THE MONEY I SPENT REIMBURSED TO ME BY NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AS I BELIEVE THIS REPAIR SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER THE RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER.
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE 350Z ON THE HIGHWAY AND SLOWING DOWN WITH TRAFFIC AHEAD. THE ENGINE STALLED ALL OF A SUDDEN. THE CARS BEHIND COULD HAVE SMASHED INTO HER AND KILL HER. LUCKILY THAT DID NOT HAPPEN. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET, IT LOOKED LIKE THERE WERE MANY CASES OF 350ZS STALLING. INTERNET TOLD ME THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY FAULTY CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, WHICH WAS EXACTLY WHAT NISSAN DEALER IN DUBLIN CALIFORNIA REPLACED. IN FACT THEY REPLACED BOTH CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AS INDICATED BY THE DEALER. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START DESPITE MANY TRIES. AFTER 10-15 MINUTES OR SO, THE ENGINE STARTED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SOME OF THE 350Z WAS RECALLED. HOWEVER DEALER INDICATED THAT MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT ON THE LIST. I FEEL THE NISSAN SHOULD PAY FOR MY $674.44 REPAIR BILL AS IT IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR A VEHICLE STALLING WHILE DRIVING.
WHILE DRIVING I HEARD A LOUD POP AND FELT A SLIGHT TREMOR ON THE CLUTCH PEDAL WHICH BECAME VERY SOFT THEN STOPPED WORKING MAKING MY CAR IMMOBILE AFTER GETTING IT HOME I PULLED OUT THE TRANSMISSION AND NOTICED THAT THE PIVOT BOLT FOR THE CLUTCH HAD BROKEN OFF AT THE THREADS DESTROYING THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL AND AFTER SOME ONLINE RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT IT'S HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE AND MAY BE THE REASON I NEED TO GET MY TRANSMISSION REPAIRED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKY NOISE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND TOOK THREE ATTEMPTS BEFORE IT WOULD RESTART. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE CLUTCH; HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
PURCHASED FOUR (4) MICHELIN TIRES FROM AMERICA'S TIRE DEPOT AND RECEIVED WARRANTY OF 45,000 MILES ON WEAR. HAVE HAD A DIFFICULT TIME GETTING PRORATED AMOUNT HAVING RECEIVED LESS THAN 20K MILES AND CHUNKING OF TIRES AS A RESULT.. DIFFICULTY RESIDES IN ATD/MICHELIN: NOT WANTING TO REPLACE TIRES WITHOUT ME SPENDING ANOTHER $500-$700 TO HAVE THEM MOUNTED, BALANCED ETC DUE TO THEIR PRO RATION CALCULATION FACTOR. MY ORIGINAL COST WAS $1000! RESEARCHING THE TIRES I FOUND THAT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REOCCURRING. SINCE 2008 OR EARLIER. MICHELIN DENIES RESPONSIBILITY FOR PRODUCING DEFECTIVE AND UNSAFE TIRES THAT CONTRADICTS THE PUBLIC IMAGE THEY HAVE BUILT OVER MANY YEARS. COMPANY PLACES THE PROBLEM WITH THE CONSUMER THUS 'VOIDING' THE WARRANTY MILEAGE GUARANTY THAT THEY SELL WITH THE TIRES IN TURN COSTING THE CUSTOMER UNTOLD THOUSANDS/MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.THERE ARE NUMEROUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET REGARDING THESE UNDER ACHIEVING AND UNSAFE TIRES MICHELIN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT STILL THEY ARE ALLOWED TO SELL THESE TIRES, DENY ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECTS AND PRACTICE AN UNETHICAL, AND POSSIBLY ILLEGAL, BUSINESS MODEL.
THERE IS A DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE THAT WONT LET YOU OPEN THE DOOR AND WINDOW ON EITHER, OR BOTH SIDES. BE IT WITH THE REMOTE OR EVEN WITH THE KEY FROM THE OUTSIDE, AND LEAVE YOU WITH NO OPTIONS TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AS THE LATCH REFUSE TO MOVE, I LET YOU CONJURE THE MULTITUDE OF SCENARIOS THAT WOULD PUT YOUR LIFE IN JEOPARDY, IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN A HURRY, A DEATH TRAP AT ANY TIME. A BRIEF SEARCH ON THE INTERNET WOULD SHOW THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH DIFFERENT MODELS OF NISSAN
CAR HAS LESS THAN 66000 MILES YET IT SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL/ALTERNATOR/RECHARGE ISSUE AN ALTERNATOR IS NOT SUPPOSED TO FAIL AT SUCH A YOUNG & TENDER MILEAGE. IF CAR SHUTS OFF IN A HIGH SPEED HWY SITUATION SOME ONE CAN GET KILLED!!! MY WIFES HONDA CIVIC HAS 240K WITH ORIGINAL ALTERNATOR!!
I HAVE A RANDOM MISFIRE OF PO300 AND NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. I HAVE REACHED AND FOUND THIS IS A NISSAN RECALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF A FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 121,000. UPDATED 12/21/16*LJ *TR
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASH YET AIRBAG FOR NISSAN RECALL ON AIRBAGS NOT LISTED FOR 350Z OF ANY YEAR?? LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON (NO ACCIDENT OR FENDER BENDER-EXCEPT DEFECTIVE??). AN AIRBAG WAS REPLACED WHEN STILL UNDER WARRANTY IN 2005 OR 2006.
"TAKATA RECALL" PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE AND TRIED GETTING THE PROBLEM FIX BUT NO LUCK..
CAR ABRUPTLY WITHOUT WARNING DROPPED SPEED BY 15 MPH WITH THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT AND THE SLIP LIGHT AND THE ETC LIGHT COMING ON. ALMOST KILLED BY THE TRUCK BEHIND ME; HE SWERVED TO THE EMERGENCY LANE TO AVOID HITTING ME DUE TO THE SUDDEN DEACCELERATION OF MY VEHICLE. RECALL R2033/R3022 DESCRIBES SITUATION. THERE IS A CAMPAIGN 03V455000 BUT NISSAN WILL NOT HONOR THIS FOR MY PARTICULAR VIN.
THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH RECENTLY STARTED FLASHING IN THIS VEHICLE WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO GET IT DIAGNOSED AND THEY SAID THE LEFT SIDE AIRBAG MODULE WAS FAULTY AND THAT BOTH IT AND THE SUB-HARNESS WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. UPON RESEARCHING THE ISSUE, IT APPEARS THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, THIS SAME PART WAS RECALLED ON MY OWN CAR, A 2004 INFINITI G35 COUPE, ALSO A NISSAN PRODUCT. I CONTACTED NISSAN'S CONSUMER AFFAIRS DEPT. TO SEE IF THEY COULD OFFER SOME ASSISTANCE IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE BECAUSE THE DEALER QUOTED 723$ TO GET IT REPAIRED. NISSAN WOULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE CAR WAS BEYOND ANY WARRANTIES... TRUE THE CAR IS NOW 13 YEARS OLD, BUT IT HAS BEEN PRETTY MUCH A GARAGED ITS ENTIRE LIFE AND HAS ONLY ABOUT 28,000 MILES. THERE WAS NO REASON FOR THESE PARTS TO GO BAD OTHER THAN BEING DEFECTIVE... CONSIDERING HOW CRUCIAL THESE PARTS ARE FOR PASSENGER SAFETY, HOW COMMON THIS ISSUE IS, AND THE 350Z'S NOT SO STELLAR REPUTATION FOR SAFETY, ONE WOULD THINK A RECALL WOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED ALREADY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
ENGINE STOPS WHILE DRIVING CAR. ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON. TAKE CAR TO GARAGE - ENGINE SENSORS ARE BAD - HAD REPLACED. NISSAN STATES THAT THIS VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 03V455000 - BUT PROBLEM WAS THE SAME - BAD ENGINE SENSORS. NISSAN NATIONAL COMPLAINT # 19620726 - NISSAN SAYS THEY DON'T HAVE ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND WHAT IS WORSE, DON'T SEEM TO CARE THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION. WENT TO GOOGLE AND FOUND DOZENS OF OTHER CITATIONS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.
274 total