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KLUNK
KLUNK

2011 Nissan 370z

The Verdict

90 Smooth Ride

The 2011 Nissan 370z has 40 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are transmission (14 complaints) and body (13 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 90/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Nissan 370z, consider the 2019 model year which has 97% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2019 has 97% fewer complaints

View the 2019 Nissan 370z dashboard →

90

Klunk Score: Smooth Ride

This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.

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.

Get notified if a recall hits this car.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2009481592223
201045035426
20111325614
2012003211
2013111311
201410117
201500201
201610101
201720201
201802000
201910000

By Category

Transmission
14
Body
13
Engine
6
Electrical
5
Brakes
2

By Severity

1
20
2
20

Worst Problems

Complaints

Body 2

Steering lock module failure. Same issue as in 2016 (NHTSA tracking number 10929922). Car would not start. In city park and waited 4 hours for tow truck. By myself - 74 year old female. Getting dark and dealership closed. Had the exact part malfunction in 2016 and had to have it towed. Cost $1000 to fix back then. Nissan has had issues with this but has refused to recall it except for one model. This repair cost me $1400. Not just the money or inconvenience - it's dangerous. There is no way to start this car - it has to be towed!

40mo ago
Body 1

TL* THE CONSUMER OWNS A 2011 NISSAN 370Z. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING THE START THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER COGGINS NISSAN(10600 ATLANTIC BLVD, JACKSONVILLE FL) WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCK WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE STEERING LOCK WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,700. *DT *AS

78mo ago
Engine 1

FOR YEARS, THERE HAVE BEEN WIDESPREAD DEFECTS IN THE ELECTRONIC STEERING COLUMN LOCK (ESCL) THAT DISABLED THE PUSH-BUTTON IGNITION IN A WIDE RANGE OF NISSAN AND INFINITI VEHICLES. THE ESCL'S PRIMARY JOB IS TO KEEP THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UNTIL YOU BRING YOUR KEY FOB IN RANGE OF THE VEHICLE. IT'S MEANT TO PREVENT THEFT. HOWEVER, WHEN THE ESCL MALFUNCTIONS (EVEN WITH THE FOB PRESENT AND WORKING) THE ESCL WON'T DETECT IT AND, THEREFORE, WON'T RELEASE THE WHEEL. WHEN YOU PRESS THE START/STOP BUTTON TO START THE CAR, NOTHING HAPPENS. HOWEVER, THE "INTELLIGENT KEY WARNING LIGHT" SYMBOL COMES ON, INDICATING YOU HAVE A PROBLEM. NISSAN HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSUE FO YEARS AND HAS ISSUED A VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR VARIOUS MODELS. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT DONE SO FOR THE 370Z, EVEN THOUGH THIS MODEL IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT PROBLEM AS THE MODELS INCLUDED IN THE VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN. THIS MALFUNCTION HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GENERAL "WEAR & TEAR". THIS MALFUNCTION IS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART AND POOR ENGINEERING. I AM ASKING NHTSA TO ENCOURAGE NISSAN TO CONDUCT A VOLUNTARY OR MANDATORY RECALL TO ADDRESS AND CORRECT THIS ISSUE AT NO COST TO VEHICLE OWNERS.

87mo ago
Body 2

WHEN MY CAR HAD 22,000 MILES IT WOULDN'T START BECAUSE MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. I WAS HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. HAD TO TOW IT TO NISSAN DEALERSHIP. IT JUST HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN AT 55,000 MILES. I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE WORK. HAD TO TOW IT BACK AGAIN. NOT FAIR TO PAY 1,200!!

103mo ago
Transmission 2

CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER WENT OUT AT AROUND 40K MILES. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER 370 Z'S. I AM NOW WORRIED THAT I WILL NEED A THIRD CSC.

103mo ago
Body 2

THE CAR WOULD NOT START. I WAS STRANDED AND HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE STEERING LOCK UNIT STATING THAT IT WAS "BAD". THE SAME THING IS NOTED ON A RECALL ISSUED FOR 2009 AND 2010 NISSAN 370 Z, BUT NO RECALL FOR THE 2011 EVEN THOUGH T IS THE SAME PART.

109mo ago
Engine 2

STEERING WHEEL LOCK SENSOR BROKE, FAILED IN LOCK POSITION, HAPPENS TO MOST EVERY NISSAN FOB KEY SYSTEM AT 1 TIME OR ANOTHER. THE DEALER CHARGED ME $1100.00 TO FIX AND IT TOOK THEM LESS THAN 2 HOURS. THIS IS A SCAM BY NISSAN AND THE INTERNET IS FULL OF PEOPLE COMPALINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. IT LEFT ME STRANDED AND I HAD TO BE TOWED. PLEASE MAKE NISSAN START A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. WHEN THE STEERING LOCK FAILS IT WILL NOT ALLOW THE CAR TO START.

113mo ago
Body 2

PARKED CAR IN MORNING. CAR WOULD NOT START AT NIGHT. YELLOW INDICATOR ON DASH. PROBLEM WAS KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE STEERING LOCK ANTI-THEFT DEVICE. PRIOR MODEL YEARS RECALLED, ONLY 2011 WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. OVER $1200 REPAIR AT DEALERSHIP. PART WAS $775.

115mo ago
Electrical 2

I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT AFTER MY SECURITY STEERING LOCK MECHANISM LOCKED THE CAR AND WOULD NOT ALLOW IT TO TURN ON OR EVEN TO ACC MODE. SINCE THE CAR LOCKED UP, I HAVE TWO LIGHTS ON MY DASH THAT WILL NOT TURN OFF. I WAS STRANDED FOR HOURS AND COULD NOT GET AN AVAILABLE TOW TRUCK TO PICK MY CAR UP. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, I WAS ABLE TO GET A FAMILY MEMBER TO DRIVE A LONG WAYS TO COME GET ME. MY CAR IS STILL IN THE PARKING LOT AND WAITING TO GET A TOW TRUCK TO PICK IT UP! ONLY ISSUE WITH THE TOW, MY CAR WON'T EVEN ALLOW THE SHIFTER TO MOVE INTO NEUTRAL! THE TOW COMPANY SAID THEY CAN'T PROMISE THE CAR CAN EVEN BE TOWED IF THEY CAN'T SAFELY STEER IT ONTO THE FLAT BAD TRUCK!

115mo ago
Body 1

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

115mo ago
Body 2

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN 370Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START DUE TO THE STEERING WHEEL BEING LOCKED.THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A LOCK STEERING MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 02/16/17*LJ

116mo ago
Body 1

CAR WOULD NOT START. FAULTY STEERING LOCK ASSEMBLY. HAD TO BE TOWED.

117mo ago
Transmission 2

THE CLUTCH STICKS TO THE FLOOR MAKING IT HARD TO SHIFT. YOU HAVE TO PULL IT UP WITH YOUR FOOT. SOME SAY THESE CARS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH A POOR DESIGNED SLAVE CYLINDER. THE CLUTCH STICKS WHERE EVER YOU ARE DRIVING SOMETIMES IT WILL START BACK TO WORKING PROPERLY FOR A WHILE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A NISSAN DEALER TWICE, IT WILL OPERATE PROPERLY FOR A FEW WEEKS THEN START TO STICKING TO THE FLOOR AGAIN. THE DATE BELOW REFLECT THE MOST RECENT TIME OR LAST TIME FOR THE CLUTCH FAILURE. 11/11/16

117mo ago
Transmission 2

CLUTCH PRESSURE (CSC) FAILURE THIS HAS ALREADY FAILED ONCE AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AND UPGRADED SO THE PROBLEM DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY 25,000 MILES. NOW THAT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY WILL NOT REPLACE ANYMORE.

120mo ago
Electrical 1

HAD TO GO GET EMERGENCY COUGH MEDICATION FOR SPOUSE AT 2:30AM. AFTER LEAVING WALGREEN, WAS UNABLE TO START MY CAR. THE KEY FOB HAS ENOUGH BATTERY POWER BUT THE ENGINE IGNITION STAYED ON "LOCK" AND COULD NOT DETECT KEY FOB. AFTER TRYING TO AN HOUR TO "GOOGLE" AND "YOUTUBE" AND TRIED EVERYTHING I COULD FIND TO FIX THE ISSUE BUT WITH NO LUCK. HAD TO CONTACT SPOUSE TO PICK ME UP AT 3:00AM. TOWED TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE AFTER CONTACTING 3 DIFFERENT NISSAN DEALERS AND CALLING THE NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, LEARNED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS CASE. HOWEVER, BEEN READING PLENTY OF FORUM ON THE SAME THING FOR OTHER NISSAN 370ZS ON THIS VERY SAME INCIDENT. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE STEERING MODULE WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND REPLACED THE UNIT AFTER $1,431.46. + $28 TOWING FEE. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS IN A SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD ALTHOUGH IT WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. BUT I FEEL THAT THIS STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION IS TOO COMMON TO NISSAN DEALERS AND THEIR CONSUMER AFFAIRS TO NOT LOOK IN TO. MILEAGE ON VEHICLE IS 33,387.

124mo ago
Electrical 1

STEERING LOCK CONTROL MODULE - VEHICLE STARTED IN THE MORNING AND WAS FINE DRIVING TO WORK, AFTER I GOT OFF MY VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO START AND DID NOT RECOGNIZE MY KEY. TOWED IT TO NISSAN AND WAS INFORMED MY STEERING LOCK CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BUT MY VEHICLE DOES NOT FALL UNDER IT. NISSAN NEEDS TO HAVE SOME TYPE OF EXTENSION FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. MILEAGE IS AT 33,548.

127mo ago
Electrical 1

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 NISSAN 370Z. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,906.

127mo ago
Body 1

NISSAN HAS A WELL DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC STEERING LOCK UNIT (ESLU) ON SEVERAL MODELS, BUT SPECIFICALLY THE 2009 - 2011 370Z MODELS. THE ESLU IS TOUTED BY NISSAN AS A SECURITY FEATURE;HOWEVER, WHEN IT FAILS, YOU CANNOT START THE CAR. THAT MAKES THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. I PARKED MY CAR OVER THE WEEKEND AND THEN IT WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. NISSAN CLAIMS THE LATEST REVISION OF THE PART, 48700-JF00D, FIXES THE FAILURE, BUT THAT EXACT PART FAILED ON MY 2011 NISSAN 370Z. I HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET (MY YEAR MODEL AND VIN WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL) TO FIX THE PROBLEM.

128mo ago
Transmission 1

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN 6TH GEAR FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO AN HOUR, THE CLUTCH PEDAL BEGINS FEELING VERY SOFT AND BEGINS STICKING TO THE FLOOR TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO PULL IT BACK UP WITH MY FOOT. ON TEXAS HIGHWAYS, THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IF I AM UNABLE TO ENGAGE A GEAR WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, ESPECIALLY SINCE A LOT OF HIGHWAYS ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION WITH NO SHOULDER TO SAFELY PULL OVER TO. THE PART AT FAULT IS A POORLY CONSTRUCTED CONCENTRIC SLAVE CYLINDER. THIS IS A PIECE OF PLASTIC THAT IS EXTREMELY PRONE TO FAILURE. IT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN CONSTRUCTED FROM PLASTIC. NISSAN ALSO REFUSES TO OBEY THEIR 5 YEAR, 60,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY TO FIX THIS ISSUE. (THE ONLY CLUTCH PART LISTED AS "NOT COVERED" IS THE WEARABLE CLUTCH DISC ITSELF). THEY ALSO REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. I'M ATTACHING A SCREENSHOT OF OVER 100 370Z FORUM MEMBERS WHO HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE AS WELL. THIS IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS ADDRESSED, BUT NISSAN REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SAFETY OF THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS.

129mo ago
Transmission 1

TAKATA RECALL. I FIRST OCCURRED A PROBLEM WITH THE Z ON MY WEDDING DAY. MY CLUTCH DROPPED TO THE FLOOR AND WE COULDN'T GET THE CAR IN GEAR. WE WERE PUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MOUNTAINS WITH NO WAY TO CALL A TOW TRUCK SO WE DID OUR BEST TO MAKE IT TO THE CLOSEST NISSAN DEALER. ON THE WAY WE CAME TO A FOUR WAY RED LIGHT AND COULDN'T SHIFT TO A LOW ENOUGH GEAR TO GET TO CAR TO SLOW DOWN, A SEMI WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60 MPH RIGHT AT US, WE SWERVED INTO THE EMERGENCY ON AND THE TRUCK TO BARELY MISSED US. AFTER THAT MY HUSBAND FOUND OUT FROM A MECHANIC THAT HE SHOULD BLEED THE CLUTCH SO HE DID AND THE CLUTCH WAS NORMAL AGAIN. BESIDES THAT THE CAR HAS HAD ONLY ONE OTHER OCCURRENCE WITH THE CLUTCH. I AM PETRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR AFTER THAT SITUATION BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE CONSIDERING I SPEND MOST OF MY PAYCHECK JUST TO PAY FOR THE ONE THING THAT WILL PROBABLY SEND ME TO MY GRAVE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE FIXED! NOW TO MENTION THIS MORNING... I WOKE UP TO GO TO WORK AND WENT TO START MY CAR WHEN MY CAR WOULDN'T START DUE TO A STEERING LOCK MALFUNCTION AND WILL PROBABLY END UP HAVING TO TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP IF MY RESEARCH DOESN'T WORK OUT AS PLANNED. THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I PUSH THE CLUTCH... THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON FOR LONG PERIODS. THIS CAR IS GOING TO HURT SOMEONE BAD! WORRIED ABOUT THE PEOPLE DRINKING AND DRIVING? YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT THE PEOPLE DRIVING A NISSAN 370Z !!!! SO FRUSTRATED!

129mo ago

40 total

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