RoadVitals

2003 Nissan 350Z Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Jan 15, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 275 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Nissan 350Z submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesElectrical
Filed Jan 15, 2026

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
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jan 21, 2019

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
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Dec 14, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID
11054650
Incident
Nov 25, 2017
Mileage
45,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 7, 2017

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!!

NHTSA ID
10971071
Incident
Mar 22, 2017
Mileage
665,873 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 2, 2015

IN 2005, I BOUGHT A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. IN EARLY NOVEMBER OF 2011, I STARTED HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE WOULD DIE SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TCS LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, AND THE CAR WOULD RUN VERY ROUGH ONCE IT DID DECIDE TO START. I TOOK THE CAR INTO A NISSAN SERVICE CENTER ON 11/08/2011. THE MILEAGE ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE INVOICE WAS 83,906. ALONG WITH THE PROBLEMS NOTED ABOVE, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ADDED DIAG P0340 AND C1130 STORED, LOSS OF ENGINE SIGNAL. REPLACED CAMSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT SENSORS. MY COST FOR THE REPAIR: $618.61. MY CAR HAD NOT ONE, BUT EVERY SYMPTOM OF A RECALLED CAR. THE CAMSHAFT AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR (VERY SPECIFIC REPAIRS) WERE NEEDED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM; SAME AS A RECALLED VEHICLE. AFTER BRINGING THIS TO NISSAN'S ATTENTION, I WAS CONTACTED BY A REGIONAL MANAGER WHO STATED MY CAR WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST AND SHE COULD NOT HELP ME.I HOPE NO OTHER VEHICLES ENGINES SHUT OFF WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE.

NHTSA ID
10731804
Incident
Nov 8, 2011
Mileage
83,906 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed May 8, 2012

CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FAILURE CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL DURING OPERATION. VEHICLE IS HARD TO RESTART AFTER FAILURE. THIS MAY CAUSE A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10457742
Incident
May 5, 2012
Mileage
132,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Dec 9, 2010

I OWN A 350Z BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2003. I WAS ONE OF THE 1ST IN BALTIMORE FOR I DID NOT SEE ANOTHER Z FOR SIX MONTHS. I HAVE HAD A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN AT 36K DUE TO A FAILING 3RD GEAR SYNCO AND NOW AT 80K THE 5TH. I AM ABOUT TO PUT IN MY 5TH WINDOW MOTOR IN. NISSAN DOES NOT CARE ABOUT US SO DON'T EVEN WASTE YOUR TIME WITH 1800NISSAN1. THEY SHOULD FEEL PRIVILEGED THAT WE ALLOW JAPANESE TO SELL CARS HERE IN THE US AND SHOULD BE PENALIZED WHEN THEY FAIL. I WILL NEVER EVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN AND I GO AS FAR AS GETTING MY NISSAN'S OIL CHANGED AT TOYOTA SO I DO NOT PROMOTE NISSAN ANY FURTHER. QUITE A LEMON. TACOMA HAS 90K AND ONLY OIL CHANGES.

NHTSA ID
10371319
Incident
Dec 1, 2005
Mileage
36,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 20, 2007

THERE WAS A FAULTY AMPLIFIER FOR THE BOSE SYSTEM IN THE 2003 Z FOR A FEW MONTHS. I HAVE READ A FEW ARTICLES ABOUT THE POOR QUALITY AMP THAT WAS INSTALLED ,AND IT SEEMS THAT NISSAN WAS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION, BUT WHEN I TALKING TO THE DEALERSHIP,THERE WAS NO RECALL, AND IT WILL BE OVER $800 TO REPLACE. I BELIEVE THAT NISSAN SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MALFUNCTION, AND SHOULD REPLACE THESE AMPS. ONE OF THE CHANNELS WAS FAULTY, WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR TO LOSE AUDIO OUTPUT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10185692
Incident
Sep 12, 2006
Mileage
38,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 23, 2005

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS INCIDENT HAPPENS TO THIS CAR. 1ST TIME 9/23/04 DRIVING ALONG AND ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING, IT WOULD START BUT RAN ROUGH AND WOULD STOP RUNNING AGAIN AND AGAIN. HAD IT TOWED TO GWINNETT PLACE NISSAN IN DULUTH GA (THE CLOSET DEALERSHIP TO MY HOME)- THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR - SO I WAS STUCK WITH WRECKER FEE. 2ND TIME-- 8/16/05 HAD TO SLOW DOWN DUE TO TRAFFIC, AND WHEN I SHIFTED INTO 3RD GEAR TO SPEED UP AGAIN ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND STARTED IT AGAIN, ONCE PLACED INTO GEAR IT STOPPED RUNNING. I PULLED OVER AND TRIED IDLING BETWEEN 3000 RPM AND NOTICED THAT ENGINE SURGED B'TWEEN 2500 AND 3000 RPM. AND RAN ROUGH. IF I RELEASED ACCELERATOR ENGINE WOULD IDLE VERY LOW AND STOP RUNNING. STARTED IT ONE LAST TIME TO SEE IF I COULD GET GOING BUT WHEN I PLACED IT IN GEAR AND RELEASED CLUTCH IT STOPPED RUNNING. I CALLED GWINNETT PLACE NISSAN AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED THERE. I INFORMED THE SERVICE TECH THAT IN NISSAN'S WEB SITE THERE WAS A RECALL FOR 350Z FOR A "CRANK POSITION SENSOR" AND THE VIN# IN MY CAR WAS WITHIN THAT GROUP. HE LOOKED AT THEIR DATABASE AND SAID THERE WERE NO OUTSTANDING CODES FOR MY CAR. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR THE SECOND TIME AROUND NEITHER. BOTH OCCURRANCES, DEALERSHIP STATED THERE ARE NO STORED CODES IN ECU AND NO PENDING CODES FOR THIS VEHICLE. I CALLED NISSAN NORTH AMERICA NATIONAL CONSUMER AFFAIRS AT 888-737-2647 AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MY CAR AND THE VIN # WAS WITHIN THE RANGE STATED BY NISSAN - AND GAVE ME A FILE # 5039832 AND ARE STILL CHECKING TO SEE IF THEY CAN HELP ME.

NHTSA ID
10133861
Incident
Aug 16, 2005
Mileage
41,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 1, 2005

VARIOUS GAUGE FAILURES, USUALLY INVOLVING THE FUEL GAUGE AND/OR THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE AND CORRESPONDING LOW PRESSURE WARNING LAMP. VEHICLE RENDERED NON-DRIVABLE DUE TO INABILITY TO MONITOR ENGINE OIL PRESSURE. 3 GAUGE CLUSTERS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, 1 UNIFIED METER COMPUTER, 1 FUEL PUMP/LEVEL SENSOR ASSEMBLY. PROBLEM CONTINUALLY RE-OCCURS.

NHTSA ID
10123774
Incident
Feb 1, 2004
Mileage
15,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 23, 2004

INTERMITTENTLY ENGINE INTERRUPTS PREVENTING A COLD START. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC REPLACED BATTERY, TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10083566
Incident
Jul 23, 2004
Electrical
Filed Jul 10, 2004

I PURCHASED A NISSAN 350Z ON 2-25-2003 AND HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP, THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE BATTERY IS BEING DRAINED BY SOME TYPE OF ELECTRICAL SHORT AND THEY CANNOT FIND IT OR FIX IT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10080767
Incident
Feb 25, 2003
Mileage
1,020 mi

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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .