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2003 Nissan 350Z

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most 350Z years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Nissan 350Z are substantially higher than the model-year median of 73.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

214 reports with mileage · 61 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Suspension. Review the 110 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Tires. Review the 71 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Visibility complaints

9 reports
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36,000 miles · Dec 9, 2010
Electrical SystemPower TrainVisibility

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…

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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 ODI #10371319

47,000 miles · Jan 2, 2009
Visibility

I OWN A TRACK MODEL 2003 NISSAN 350Z. IN AUGUST 2008, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO GO UP OR DOWN PROPERLY. BY SEPTEMBER 2008, IT COMPLETELY FAILED TO GO UP OR DOWN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR HAD INTERNAL FAILURE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MOTOR REPLACED WITH A NEW FACTO…

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I OWN A TRACK MODEL 2003 NISSAN 350Z. IN AUGUST 2008, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO GO UP OR DOWN PROPERLY. BY SEPTEMBER 2008, IT COMPLETELY FAILED TO GO UP OR DOWN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MOTOR HAD INTERNAL FAILURE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MOTOR REPLACED WITH A NEW FACTORY MOTOR BY A CT NISSAN DEALERSHIP AT MY EXPENSE 9/17/2008 AT THE COST OF $581.35. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253537

100,000 miles · Feb 29, 2008
Visibility

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN PROPERLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WINDOW MOTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME WINDOW MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED ONE AND A HALF YEARS AGO. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. …

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN PROPERLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WINDOW MOTORS NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME WINDOW MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED ONE AND A HALF YEARS AGO. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 112,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 04-07-08 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10219704

73,000 miles · Oct 23, 2006
Power TrainSuspensionVisibility

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 SIN…

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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 ODI #10171566

31,000 miles · May 18, 2006
Visibility

THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW ON MY 2003 NISSAN 350Z DOES NOT ROLL UP AND HAS STOPPED WORKING. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER WINDOW BEFORE. I LIVE IN A PLACE OF EXTREME HEAT AND DUST AT TIMES AND IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. NISSAN NEEDS TO HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN MADE A…

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THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW ON MY 2003 NISSAN 350Z DOES NOT ROLL UP AND HAS STOPPED WORKING. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. IT HAPPENED TO THE PASSENGER WINDOW BEFORE. I LIVE IN A PLACE OF EXTREME HEAT AND DUST AT TIMES AND IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. NISSAN NEEDS TO HAVE A SERVICE BULLETIN MADE AND FIX THE NUMEROUS WINDOW FAILURES THAT ARE OCCURRING. MAJOR 350Z FORUMS TALK ABOUT THIS AND WILL BE WRITING SOON ALSO. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10157786

28,000 miles · Dec 29, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspensionVisibility

THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAINSTORM WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ENDED UP ON THE ROAD WHERE I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A PULL OUT WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS IF ANOTHER VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN AWARE DUE TO THE CONDITIONS ON THE ROADWAY. THE RESULT OF THIS IS DUE TO BURNING OF OIL WHICH THE MANUFACTURER HAS …

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THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF A RAINSTORM WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND ENDED UP ON THE ROAD WHERE I DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A PULL OUT WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN DISASTROUS IF ANOTHER VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN AWARE DUE TO THE CONDITIONS ON THE ROADWAY. THE RESULT OF THIS IS DUE TO BURNING OF OIL WHICH THE MANUFACTURER HAS NO IDEA OF WHAT CAUSES THIS! THEY JUST ORDER A CONSUMPTION TEST AND RARELY DOES WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO! WHICH IS REPLACE THE MOTOR AS THEY DID IN MY CASE BUT NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT!I WENT TO THE BBB WHOM ORDERED NISSAN TO REPLACE THE MOTOR ALONG WITH OTHER FIXES FOR SUSPENSION AND WINDOW MOTOR BUT THOSE ARE SEPARATE ISSUES. THEY REPLACED MOTOR BUT IT STILL ENDED UP BREAKING DOWN AGAIN TWICE AFTER AND THEY DON'T WANT TO FIX! IT BROKE DOWN ABOUT 6 THOUSAND MILES AFTER THE NEW MOTOR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10146319

29,000 miles · Nov 21, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingSuspensionTires

I WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN A RAINY STORMY NIGHT NORTH BOUND HWY 101 ON JANUARY 10TH 2004 WHEN MY 2003 NISSAN 350Z STOPPED WITH A HUGE CLUNK IN THE MOTOR COMPARTMENT AND CAME TO A ROLLING STOP TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THERE WAS NOT MUCH SHOULDER SPACE AND POOR VISIBILTY THAT NIGHT!APPARENTLY THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN BURNING OIL 1…

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I WAS DRIVING THE CAR IN A RAINY STORMY NIGHT NORTH BOUND HWY 101 ON JANUARY 10TH 2004 WHEN MY 2003 NISSAN 350Z STOPPED WITH A HUGE CLUNK IN THE MOTOR COMPARTMENT AND CAME TO A ROLLING STOP TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHERE THERE WAS NOT MUCH SHOULDER SPACE AND POOR VISIBILTY THAT NIGHT!APPARENTLY THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN BURNING OIL 1QT PR THOUSAND MILES! I DIDNT KNOW THIS FROM GETTING REGULAR OIL CHANGES AT AROUNG THE 3K MARKER! KEPT GETTING OIL CONSUMPTION TEST BUT NO CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN BY MANUFACTURER UNTIL I WENT TO THE BBB! THEN NISSAN WAS FORCED TO REPLACE MOTOR, CLUTCH , TIRES WHICH IVE BEEN HAVING ISSUES LONG BEFORE THIS EVER OCCURED ALONG WITH THE WINDOW MOTORS IN WHICH THE WINDOWS KEPT GIVING OUT ALSO! MY VEHICLE BROKE DOWN AGAIN SOME 1000 MILES AFTER THE NEW MOTOR! MY CAR KEPT STALLING AT A STOP LIGHT! I HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE NISSAN DEALER WHERE I ALMOST HAD TO FIGHT WITH THE SEVICE REP TO GET IT TAKEN CARE OF UNDER WARRANTY! ABOUT 3K MILES AFTER THE NEW MOTOR WAS REPLACED AND INSTALLED I HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AND THE CAR WAS ALMOST 3QTS LOW AGAIN! YES THE CAR STILL KEEPS BURNING OIL!NISSAN DID NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT! I KEPT CALLING CONSUMER AFFAIRS WHOM KEPT PASSING MY FILE AROUND TO ONE REP AND ANOTHER. I FINALLY BROKE DOWN 3-4 THOUSAND MILES LATER AND HAVE BEEN FOR OVER A MONTH WITH A VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT RUN AND NO ASSURANCE FROM THE DEALER WHO FIXED MY MOTOR LESS THAN 7K MILES AGO. THIS CAR HAS BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS SINCE THE FIRST FEW MONTHS IVE HAD IT. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10143412

7,279 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspensionTires

THE SUSPENSION PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING, AND MIS-DIAGNOSED A. ROAR FROM FRONT SUSPENSION UNDER 40 MPH. FIRST ATTEMPTED REPAIR @ 7,279 MILES. CHANGED BRAKE PADS AND TURNED ROTORS. ATTEMPT FAILED, ROAR REMAINED. B. ROAR & PULLS TO THE RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. SECOND ATTEMPTED REPAIR @ 7,720 MILES. CHANGED RIGHT SIDE COMPRESSION RO…

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THE SUSPENSION PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING, AND MIS-DIAGNOSED A. ROAR FROM FRONT SUSPENSION UNDER 40 MPH. FIRST ATTEMPTED REPAIR @ 7,279 MILES. CHANGED BRAKE PADS AND TURNED ROTORS. ATTEMPT FAILED, ROAR REMAINED. B. ROAR & PULLS TO THE RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. SECOND ATTEMPTED REPAIR @ 7,720 MILES. CHANGED RIGHT SIDE COMPRESSION ROD. PULL TO RIGHT CORRECTED, ROAR REMAINED. C. ROAR SEVERE,VISUAL DAMAGE{FEATHERING} ON INSIDE EDGE OF FRONT TIRES. THIRD ATTEMPTED REPAIR @ 11,077 MILES. ROTATED FRONT TIRES SIDE TO SIDE, OFF RIMS {DIRECTIONAL TIRES} ALSO DID FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. ROARS LESS, BUT STILL VERY NOISY. AT 12,000 MILES NOISE INCREASING, NEW FEATHERING NOW APPEARING ON INSIDE OF FRONT TIRES. THIS SUSPENSION PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED

NHTSA ODI #10071206

7,420 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspensionTires

TIRE FEATHERING, ON FRONT END SEEMS TO BE NON-CORRECTABLE RESULTING IN REPETITIVE PREMATURE REPLACEMENT OF TIRES. I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE MGN. THAT CASTER ADJUSTMENT IS AT FULL, AND CAN NOT CORRECT FOR THE TOWIN CAUSING THE TIRE WEAR.

NHTSA ODI #10069446

Official recalls

2

05V555000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Dec 13, 2005

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE FUEL FILLER HOSE MAY CRACK AND RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE HOSE WHILE REFUELING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILLER HOSE. RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 27, 2006, FOR NISSAN OWNERS, AND ON MARCH 13, 2006, FOR INFINITI OWNERS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

03V455000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Nov 17, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR OR CAM POSITION SENSOR MAY HAVE AN IMPROPER SOLDER JOINT DUE TO SOLDER DEFORMATION CAUSED BY HEAT STRESS ACCELERATED BY THE EXISTENCE OF FLUX RESIDUE DURING THE SOLDERING PROCESS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON, CREATE A NO START CONDITION, CAUSE REDUCED ENGINE POWER, OR CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANK POSITION SENSORS. CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR(S), AND IN SOME CASES, THE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL SENSOR(S). VEHICLES INVOLVED IN A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN, 01V357, ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS NEW CAMPAIGN. THE REPLACEMENT SENSORS USED IN THAT CAMPAIGN ARE ALSO AFFECTED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 22, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.