IllustrationI HAVE A 2003 NISSAN 350Z WITH TIRE FEATHERING AND FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. AT 22K MILES, NISSAN REPLACED MY FRONT TIRES AND EXTENDED THE ALIGNMENT WARRANTY TO TWO YEARS, BUT THAT WARRANTY WILL EXPIRE 12/04.*AK
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 350Z years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1310–25K
2925–50K
1650–75K
1875–100K
15100–150K
5150K+
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
What owners actually said
275 reportsINTERMITTENTLY ENGINE INTERRUPTS PREVENTING A COLD START. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC REPLACED BATTERY, TWICE, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
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
2003 NISSAN 350Z BROUGHT IN TO SHOWCASE NISSAN IN BOURNE, MA WITH OIL LIGHT ON AND NO OIL PRESSURE. TECHNICIAN PUT CAR ON LIFT AND DRAINED "LESS THAN A PINT OF OIL" FROM VEHICAL. INSIDE OF TAIL PIPES WERE OILY AND BLACK. MILAGE AT THE TIME WAS 14,100. NISSAN'S SOLUTION WAS TO DO CONSUMPTION TESTS AT 500 MILE INTERVALS WHICH RESU…
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2003 NISSAN 350Z BROUGHT IN TO SHOWCASE NISSAN IN BOURNE, MA WITH OIL LIGHT ON AND NO OIL PRESSURE. TECHNICIAN PUT CAR ON LIFT AND DRAINED "LESS THAN A PINT OF OIL" FROM VEHICAL. INSIDE OF TAIL PIPES WERE OILY AND BLACK. MILAGE AT THE TIME WAS 14,100. NISSAN'S SOLUTION WAS TO DO CONSUMPTION TESTS AT 500 MILE INTERVALS WHICH RESULTED IN OIL USAGE OF 1/4 TO 1/2 QUART PER 500 MILES WHICH NISSAN CLAIMS IS "NORMAL".*AK
THE INSIDE OF BOTH FRONT TIRES WORE OUT. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM TWICE, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
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
NISSAN REFUSES TO LET CUSTOMERS KNOW OF THE TIRE FEATHERING PROBLEM ON THE 2003-2004 NISSAN 350Z. THIS IS GETTING OUT OF HAND.*AK
INCREASED NOISES HEARD WHEN BRAKING AND BOTH TIRES SHOWED ABNORMAL WEAR ON THE INSIDE. *PH *LA
NISSAN 350Z. LOST CONTROL OF CAR JUST CHANGING LANES AT 45 MPH. CAR SPUN SIDEWAY AND WHEN I TRIED TO RECOVER, STEERING WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE AS TIRES SEEMED TO BE JUST GLIDING WHEREVER THEY WANTED TO GO. I AM JUST NOW CONNECTING THIS INCIDENT TO THE JUST BECAME AWARE OF TIRE AND FRONT END PROBLEM THAT NISSAN SEEMS TO BE HAVI…
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NISSAN 350Z. LOST CONTROL OF CAR JUST CHANGING LANES AT 45 MPH. CAR SPUN SIDEWAY AND WHEN I TRIED TO RECOVER, STEERING WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE AS TIRES SEEMED TO BE JUST GLIDING WHEREVER THEY WANTED TO GO. I AM JUST NOW CONNECTING THIS INCIDENT TO THE JUST BECAME AWARE OF TIRE AND FRONT END PROBLEM THAT NISSAN SEEMS TO BE HAVING WITH THIS VEHICLE. I ONLY WISH SOMEBODY HAD TOLD ME MY FRONT END WAS NOT ALIGNED AND TRACKING CORRECTLY AND THAT MY TIRES WERE WORN AWAY ON THE INNER EDGES. THE FAILURE TO NOTIFY ME PLACED ME IN A CIRCUMSTANCE THAT ALLOWED ME TO THINK THE VEHICLE I WAS DRIVING WAS SAFE AND WOULD RESPOND WHEN I NEEDED IT TO. MY INITIAL THINKING OF A SLICK ROAD, WHICH REALLY WASN'T PRESENT, IS NOW APPARENT TO ME TO BE A FRONT END WHICH CAN WANDER AND CAUSE ABRUPT ALTERATIONS IN TRACKING DUE TO TIRE WEAR AND IMPROPER ALIGNMENT. FORTUNATELY, THE ONLY BRUISED ITEM WAS THE CAR. I HOPE IT DOESN'T LEAD TO A HUMAN. *AK *NM THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE FAILED THE MASSACHUSETTS SAFETY INSPECTION BECAUSE OF BAD TIRES. *TC
ENGINE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, ENGINE FAILED WHILE DRIVING. A RECALL WAS ISSUED, BUT CONSUMER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. *AK
Official recalls
205V555000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.