2003 Nissan 350Z Transmission Problems

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

TRANSMISSION GRIND GOING IN AND OUT OF 3RD GEAR. READ ALL THE REVIEWS TOO LATE OR NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT. CAR IS DANGEROUS THIS WAY AND WITH THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS NISSAN SHOULD BE RECALLING AND REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10358352

Incident

Sep 27, 2010

Mileage

51,000 mi

2003 NISSAN 350Z. *TR

NHTSA ID

10347856

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

Mileage

78,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THIRD GEAR, HE EXPERIENCED MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IT ONLY FAILED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO THIRD GEAR OR WHEN SHIFTED DOWN TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA ID

10327976

Incident

Jan 3, 2010

Mileage

70,000 mi

I AM WONDERING, WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL ON THE 2003 NISSAN 350Z TRANSMISSION? THERE HAS BEEN MORE THAN ENOUGH COMPLAINTS ON THIS YEARS TRANSMISSION. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION LOCKS OUT OF GEAR. I CANNOT EVEN PUT IT INTO 1ST GEAR ON A DEAD STOP AND SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING IT WON'T EVEN SHIFT INTO GEAR. I FEEL VERY UNCOMFORTABLE BEING ON THE ROAD AND FEEL FOR MY SAFETY AND OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS 2003 NISSAN 350Z YEAR AND MODEL; AND MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS, AND I FEEL MORE THAN ENOUGH TO GET A RECALL. PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM. I JUST STUMBLED UPON THIS MYSELF. THIS IS THE ONLY CAR I HAVE TO DRIVE TO WORK AND SCHOOL, AND EVERYTIME I GET IN IT, I FEEL UNSAFE AND ASK MYSELF WHEN IS IT GOING TO LOCK UP ON ME AGAIN? FOR A $30,000.00 +, I FEEL NISSAN OWES US THE RIGHT TO HAVE A CAR THAT IS SAFE AND DRIVABLE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME. PLEASE HELP ME, WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP YOU GUYS HELP ALL THE OWNERS OF THE 2003 350Z 'S FEEL THAT THEY HAVE A RELIABLE, DEPENDABLE AND ESPECIALLY SAFE CAR. TODAY, I WAS HEADING TO THE STORE TO GROCERY SHOP, I COULD NOT SHIFT INTO FIRST OR SECOND GEAR AT A LIGHT, AND HAD MULTIPLE CARS BEHIND ME. I STARTED TO PANIC, BECAUSE THEY WERE ALL HONKING, SO I TURNED OFF THE CAR. THE CARS THAT WENT AROUND ME THREW THE BIRD AT ME AND SOME BELITTLED ME WITH SOME CURSE WORDS. IT WAS SHAMEFUL AND EMBARRASSING. SO I TOLD MYSELF I HAD TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS, SO I CALLED FRIENDS FOR SUPPORT, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOR THE 2003 NISSAN 350Z. THE TRANSMISSION IS A BIG PROBLEM. EITHER GRINDING GOING INTO GEAR OR LOCKING OUT OF GEAR. SO THEN I ASK MYSELF, WHO DO I TURN TO? AND I FOUND YOU GUYS AFTER HOURS OF RESEARCHING. I NEED YOUR HELP. WE NEED THIS YEARS TRANSMISSION TO BE RECALLED, BECAUSE IT IS DANGEROUS FOR US AS THE DRIVER, AND ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE ON THE ROADS. NISSAN NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM,THEY KNOW ITS THERE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10269880

Incident

May 25, 2009

Mileage

99,300 mi

GRINDING GETTING INTO 2ND AND 3RD FROM 3K RPM TO 6K RPM. NO PROBLEM IF UNDER 3K RPM BUT I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION I WAS PURCHASING A "SPORTS CAR". I'VE HAD THE CAR FOR 15K MILES BOUGH USED WITH 40K ON IT BUT AFTER WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. I AM WAITING TO SAVE FOR THE CD009 TRANSMISSION SO I CAN REPLACE WITH THE "UPGRADE" AND DO THE CLUTCH ALL AT ONCE. THANKS NISSAN! *TR

NHTSA ID

10262084

Incident

Feb 28, 2008

Mileage

40,000 mi

SHIFTING FROM 2ND GEAR - 3RD GEAR THERE IS ALWAYS A GRIND AND I'VE SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND THIS NEEDS TO BE A RECALL DUE TO ALL THE COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN SAID ON VARIOUS WEBSITES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261352

Incident

Jan 15, 2009

Mileage

38,000 mi

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS-GRINDING BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR SOMETIMES IN 5TH WHEN CLUTCH FULLY ENGAGED. DEALERSHIP STATED TO CHANGE FLYWHEEL AND CLUTCH. AFTER ABOUT $1300 REPAIRS, GRINDING STILL EXISTS AND NISSAN UNWILLING TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261328

Incident

Aug 1, 2008

Mileage

98,000 mi

THE 3RD GEAR WAS GRINDING THEN SECOND STARTED TO GRIND TOO THEREFORE I HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT AT MY EXPENSE AND OTHER TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS PERSIST AND ALSO HAVE THE TIRE FEATHERING/TIRE GROWL ISSUE WHICH I'VE TOOK THE CAR VARIES TIMES TO THE ALIGNMENT SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10253910

Incident

Jun 17, 2007

Mileage

35,000 mi

MANUAL TRANSMISSION MAKES LOUD GRINDING NOISE WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND GEAR AND 3RD GEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10251518

Incident

Nov 15, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ONLY FOR LONG DISTANCE DRIVING. AS SOON AS SHE BEGAN DRIVING THE VEHICLE, SHE SMELLED RUBBER INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SMELL WOULD DISSIPATE AND WAS PRESENT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW; HOWEVER, THE ODOR REMAINED. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM SECOND INTO THIRD GEAR. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CLUTCH AND THE FLY WHEEL WERE BURNT. THE CONTACT CALLED NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE TO ASSIST WITH THE COST BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, THEY DENIED HER CLAIM. SHE WANTS NISSAN TO ASSIST WITH THE $2,300 REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. UPDATED 11/7/08 *CN UPDATED 11/13/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10245597

Incident

Sep 29, 2008

Mileage

17,000 mi

BOUGHT A 2003 NISSAN 350Z USED FROM KEYES NISSAN OF WOODLAND HILLS,CA. TIPTRONIC (AUTO/SEMI-MANUAL) TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 45 DAYS. NOW A WHINING NOISE THAT IS STILL NOT FIXED AS WELL AS EXCESSIVE HEAT FROM SHIFTER AREA THAT CAUSES PASSENGERS TO SWEAT & SCALDING HOT TO TOUCH. CAR HASN'T SEEMED TO RUN RIGHT SINCE. SEEMS EVERY 350Z OWNER HAS THE SAME ATYPICAL PROBLEMS-TIRE FEATHERING, TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED,REAR AXLES, POWER WINDOW MOTORS FAIL(THE LAST 2 ARE MY NEXT TRIP TO THE DEALER). NISSAN NEEDS TO FIX OUR NIGHTMARE. NISSAN SUPPORT IS NONEXISTENT AS WELL,WHICH MAKES YOUR ORDEAL ALL THE MORE MISERABLE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10171566

Incident

Apr 6, 2006

Mileage

73,000 mi

I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN 350Z AND I'M HAVING PROBLEMS WITH GRINDING WHEN I SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR(MANUAL) I HAVE ONLY 20K MILES ON MY STOCK CAR NO MAJOR MODIFICATIONS DONE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO NISSAN AND THEY TRIED TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND AND WHEN THEY TOLD ME TO DRIVE IT I FOUND MY CAR SHIFTING LIKE BUTTER I WAS AMAZED ON HOW SMOOTH IT WAS. AFTER A FEW DAYS THE PROBLEM IS BACK LIKE IT WAS TEMPORARILY FIXED OR SOMETHING BECAUSE IT GRADUALLY STARTED GETTING TO WHERE IT WAS BEFORE I TOOK IT IN. NOW I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD TAKE IT BACK OR AM I STUCK. I HAVE DONE SOME TALKING WITH OTHER "Z" OWNERS ON A WELL KNOWN MESSAGE BOARD AND OVER THE YEARS HUNDREDS HAVE GOT THEIR TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND HUNDREDS HAVEN'T DEPENDING ON DEALERSHIPS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10164991

Incident

Aug 2, 2006

Mileage

19,000 mi

WHEN UP SHIFTING TO 5TH GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WILL GRIND AT HIGHER RPM'S. ALSO HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION "CATCHING" AS SHIFTING IN OTHER GEARS, HAVE TO PRESS HARD TO GET IT INTO GEAR AT TIMES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151250

Incident

Feb 12, 2006

Mileage

45,000 mi

DT: CONSUMER OWNED A NISSAN 350Z TRACK VERSION 2003. HE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR ABOUT A YEAR AGO. CONSUMER STATED IT WAS A RECALL, HOWEVER, COULD NOT FIND RECALL ON NHTSA WEB SITE. NTB03-046 WAS THE NUMBER IDENTIFYING THE RECALL THAT CONSUMER HAD. REPAIR WORK WAS DONE ON 6-11-04. THEN, ON JULY 19, 2005 CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO GARDENA NISSAN IN CALIFORNIA, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE PROBLEM INVOLVED FRONT TIRES WEARING OUT ON THE INSIDE DURING REPAIR WORK THEY REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT COMPRESSION ROD. CONSUMER CONTACTED NISSAN, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT AFTER RECALL AND WARRANTY REPAIR WORK WAS ONLY GOOD FOR 10,000 MILES. CONSUMER BELIEVED THAT RECALL REPAIRS DID NOT FIX PROBLEM, PER GARDENA NISSAN. SIX MONTHS AFTER CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE WHEN SHIFTING UP OR DOWN AT ANY SPEED PERIODICALLY IT WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR. NISSAN WAS AWARE OF THE SITUATION, AND THEY DID NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10130480

Incident

Jul 19, 2005

PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2003 350Z CLUTCH BLEW AT 9000 MILES 11000 MILES LATER CLUTCH GO'S AGAIN THIS IS NOT JUST THE CLUTCH ITS THE TRANSMISSION WHICH MAKES THIS A HORRIBLE PROBLEM WHICH MEANS THIS IS PROBALLY A LEMON I RECOMMEND NO 1 TO PURCHASE A 350Z MANUAL U MUST GET AUTOMATIC

NHTSA ID

10102820

Incident

Dec 6, 2004

Mileage

21,995 mi

THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHEN DRIVING IN 5TH GEAR, HE WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES AGO, THE VEHICLES THIRD GEAR BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. *JB

NHTSA ID

10103465

Incident

Dec 4, 2004

Mileage

20,000 mi

I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR 9000 MILES AND THE CLUTCH GAVE OUT. IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED A FEW MONTHS LATER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10068155

Incident

Apr 30, 2004

Mileage

9,000 mi

THE CLUTCH FAILED. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE WAS UNDRIVERABLE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE CLUTCH BY THE DEALERSHIP THEY NOTICED THAT IT DISINTEGRATED. THE CLUTCH WAS REPLACED BUT PROBLEM RECURRED WITHIN MONTHS. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID

10065306

Incident

Dec 13, 2003

Mileage

13,800 mi

WHILE DRIVING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY FROM THE THIRD TO THE SECOND GEAR. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, AND WAS NOT TO DUPLICATE BUT NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER BEGAN TO NOTICE INABILITY TO ENGAGE 2ND GEAR FROM 4TH, AND 3RD GEAR TO 2ND REGARDLESS OF THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. IT SOMETIMES TAKE CONSUMER TWO OR THREE ATTEMPTS TO ENGAGE TRANSMISSION PROPERLY. *LA

NHTSA ID

10058025

Incident

Feb 12, 2004

Mileage

2,000 mi

NISSAN 350Z CLUTCH FAILURE, 2ND TIME IN FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. AFTER MUCH HAGGLING, NISSAN REPLACED THE CLUTCH AT 6000 MILES AND IT HAS JUST FAILED AGAIN AT 13,000 MILES. THIS IS MY THIRD NISSAN, LOYAL CUSTOMER. I HAVE DRIVEN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION FOR 14 YEARS AND NEVER REPLACED A CLUTCH OR TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A PRODUCT DEFECT THAT NISSAN IS RELUCTANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET.*AK

NHTSA ID

10058164

Incident

Feb 12, 2004

Mileage

6,500 mi

350Z MANUAL TRANSMISSION HOWLS WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST STARTED. THE CAR DISPLAYS THE CONDITION WHEN IT HAS SAT OVERNIGHT AND WHEN IT IDLES OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT THE CLUTCH DEPRESSED. *LA

NHTSA ID

10047311

Incident

Oct 8, 2003

Mileage

8,000 mi

VARIOUS THINGS GONE WRONG WITH THIS CAR: -RACK AND PINION / STEERING PUMP FAILED AT 4000 MILES. CAR REFUSED TO STEER WHEN AT IDLE. VERY DANGEROUS. REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER 2 WEEKS. -TWO TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENTS. SECOND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT REQUIRES NEW FLYWHEEL, CLUTCH DISC, AND PRESSURE PLATE. BOTH UNDER WARRANTY. -UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. DEALER TOLD ME THAT I'M A "YOUNG SPEED RACER" AND THAT I NEED TO "SLOW DOWN". DENIED MY APPEAL FOR NEW TIRES, I BOUGHT NEW, WIDER RIMS AND TIRES, ALIGNMENT, AND PROBLEM WENT AWAY. TIRE SIZES ARE 245/40/18 AND 275/40/18. BRIDGESTONE POTENZA S03. NO FEATHERING AFTER 11000 MILES. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS CAR IS NOT VERY SAFE... AND NISSAN SERVICE / CUSTOMER SERVICE IS VERY UNCOURTEOUS AND RUDE IN THEIR APPROACH TO THE SITUATION AT HAND. *LA

NHTSA ID

10046038

Incident

Nov 4, 2003

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM WITH MY 2003 NISSAN 350Z. 3RD GEAR SYNCHRONIZERS ARE DEFECTIVE. DID A RESEARCH AND FOUND HUNDRED OF OTHER BRAND NEW 350Z'S HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. RECALL MUST BE DONE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10037034

Incident

Aug 27, 2003

THERE IS A HESITATION WHEN SHIFTING INTO THIRD GEAR, AND WHEN IT GOES INTO GEAR, THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED 5000 MILES LATER,AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK

NHTSA ID

10029571

Mileage

4,000 mi