POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
2003 Nissan 350Z
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 275 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Nissan 350Z, most frequently naming the suspension, tires & wheels and engine categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 108 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 2008 | 1 | 198 |
| Sep 2008 | 1 | 199 |
| Oct 2008 | 1 | 200 |
| Dec 2008 | 1 | 201 |
| Jan 2009 | 3 | 204 |
| Feb 2009 | 1 | 205 |
| Mar 2009 | 5 | 210 |
| Apr 2009 | 1 | 211 |
| May 2009 | 1 | 212 |
| Aug 2009 | 1 | 213 |
| Oct 2009 | 1 | 214 |
| Feb 2010 | 1 | 215 |
| Mar 2010 | 1 | 216 |
| Apr 2010 | 1 | 217 |
| May 2010 | 1 | 218 |
| Aug 2010 | 2 | 220 |
| Sep 2010 | 1 | 221 |
| Oct 2010 | 2 | 223 |
| Dec 2010 | 1 | 224 |
| Jan 2011 | 1 | 225 |
| Apr 2011 | 1 | 226 |
| May 2011 | 1 | 227 |
| Jul 2011 | 1 | 228 |
| Sep 2011 | 1 | 229 |
| Oct 2011 | 1 | 230 |
| Nov 2011 | 1 | 231 |
| Jan 2012 | 1 | 232 |
| May 2012 | 2 | 234 |
| Jul 2012 | 2 | 236 |
| Aug 2012 | 1 | 237 |
| Oct 2012 | 3 | 240 |
| Dec 2012 | 1 | 241 |
| Feb 2013 | 1 | 242 |
| Mar 2013 | 1 | 243 |
| Apr 2013 | 1 | 244 |
| Jul 2013 | 1 | 245 |
| Aug 2013 | 1 | 246 |
| May 2014 | 2 | 248 |
| Aug 2014 | 1 | 249 |
| Oct 2014 | 1 | 250 |
| Nov 2014 | 2 | 252 |
| Feb 2015 | 1 | 253 |
| Jun 2015 | 1 | 254 |
| Jul 2015 | 2 | 256 |
| Jan 2016 | 2 | 258 |
| Feb 2016 | 1 | 259 |
| Mar 2016 | 1 | 260 |
| May 2016 | 1 | 261 |
| Oct 2016 | 1 | 262 |
| Feb 2017 | 1 | 263 |
| Apr 2017 | 2 | 265 |
| Dec 2017 | 2 | 267 |
| Jan 2018 | 1 | 268 |
| Mar 2018 | 1 | 269 |
| Jan 2019 | 1 | 270 |
| Mar 2019 | 1 | 271 |
| Mar 2021 | 1 | 272 |
| Sep 2024 | 1 | 273 |
| Nov 2025 | 1 | 274 |
| Jan 2026 | 1 | 275 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Suspension11032.6%
- Tires & wheels7121.1%
- Engine6017.8%
- Transmission288.3%
- Electrical123.6%
- Visibility92.7%
- Brakes82.4%
- Fuel system82.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
4 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govEXTERIOR LIGHTING
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 11711073
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2024
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
- NHTSA ID
- 11697016
- Incident
- Jun 1, 2023
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 11614659
- Incident
- Sep 22, 2023
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
- NHTSA ID
- 11399483
- Incident
- Mar 1, 2020
- Mileage
- 139,000 mi
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 11190236
- Incident
- Mar 13, 2019
- Mileage
- 64,000 mi
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 11171254
- Incident
- Dec 30, 2018
- Mileage
- 111,863 mi
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.
- NHTSA ID
- 11080002
- Incident
- Mar 7, 2018
- Mileage
- 64,651 mi
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
- NHTSA ID
- 11065421
- Incident
- Jul 11, 2014
- Mileage
- 99,943 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
STRUCTURE:BODY
CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) label. These items may be available from Nissan by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provides an application form for such replacements. · The “VIN Plate/Label” (metal plate or vinyl label) is attached to the instrument panel or body on the driver side at the base of the windshield (see Figure 1). · The “Certification Label” (vinyl adhesive label) is located on the lower area of the driver side B-Pillar (see Figure 1).
STRUCTURE:BODY
CERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision damage or other vehicle repair, a replacement “Certification Label” or “VIN Plate/Label” may be needed. HINT: Certification Label = FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards) label. These items may be available from Nissan by request if certain criteria are met. This bulletin lists the criteria and provides an application form for such replacements. · The “VIN Plate/Label” (metal plate or vinyl label) is attached to the instrument panel or body on the driver side at the base of the windshield (see Figure 1). · The “Certification Label” (vinyl adhesive label) is located on the lower area of the driver side B-Pillar (see Figure 1).
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
WINDSHIELD CRACKING This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
REMOVING FOREIGN MATERIAL FROM THE WINDOW GLASS This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
VISIBILITY/WIPER
WINDOW GLASS WARRANTY INFORMATION This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.