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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

What owners actually said

275 reports
84,466 miles · Jul 5, 2012
Engine

MY CAR SHUTOFF AS I WAS DRIVING. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE CAM SENSOR AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. NISSAN SAYS MY CAR ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE RECALL THAT EXPLAINS THE EXACT PROBLEM: RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TUESDAY AND MY CAR SHUTOFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS CON…

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MY CAR SHUTOFF AS I WAS DRIVING. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE CAM SENSOR AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT. NISSAN SAYS MY CAR ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE RECALL THAT EXPLAINS THE EXACT PROBLEM: RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V455000 MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TUESDAY AND MY CAR SHUTOFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING CAUSING A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION IF I WAS GOING FASTER ON A HIGHWAY. THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY AREN'T WILLING TO FIX IT UNDER THE ISSUED RECALL FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10464251

132,000 miles · May 8, 2012
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

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 ODI #10457742

90,600 miles · May 2, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED MOMENTS LATER AND RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE CAMSH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED MOMENTS LATER AND RESUMED AS NORMAL. THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR AND THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,600. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10457125

29,000 miles · Jan 10, 2012
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350 Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SELF-DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSORS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHIC…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350 Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE SELF-DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAM SHAFT SENSORS WERE DEFECTIVE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

NHTSA ODI #10443367

82,000 miles · Nov 25, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA ODI #10437231

46,000 miles · Oct 24, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL GRINDING WHEN CHANGING TO THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL GRINDING WHEN CHANGING TO THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

NHTSA ODI #10432560

68,000 miles · Sep 22, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND WITHIN A FEW MINUTES HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THE CAM SHAFT AND THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI #10426807

64,000 miles · Jul 11, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY CAR DIED OUT AND TCS SLIP LIGHTS CAME ON. THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE. WHILE DOING SO I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE SEVERAL CARS ALMOST HIT ME AND THE AREA THAT I HAD TO PULL OVER HAD A VERY SMALL MEDIAN. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND EVERY THING WAS FINE. …

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WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY CAR DIED OUT AND TCS SLIP LIGHTS CAME ON. THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER AND I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE. WHILE DOING SO I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE SEVERAL CARS ALMOST HIT ME AND THE AREA THAT I HAD TO PULL OVER HAD A VERY SMALL MEDIAN. I RESTARTED THE CAR AND EVERY THING WAS FINE. THE NEXT WEEK THE CAR DIED OUT MANY TIMES WHILE GOING UP A HILL ON THE WAY TO THE NISSAN SERVICE DEALER. THEY CHANGED 2 CAM POSITION SENSORS, AND 1 CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10411840

80,000 miles · May 23, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THE DEALER NOTICED A FAULTY CAM SHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR, WHICH HE RECOMMENDED REPLACING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 03V…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THE DEALER NOTICED A FAULTY CAM SHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR, WHICH HE RECOMMENDED REPLACING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN I.D. NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI #10402426

119,000 miles · Apr 8, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

2003 NISSAN 350Z SHUTS DOWN IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. NHTSA HAS THIS CAR LISTED ON THEIR RECALL LIST BUT THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I CONTACTED NISSAN, THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNTIL I HAD IT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALERSHIP. I WENT TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND HAD MY …

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2003 NISSAN 350Z SHUTS DOWN IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT WARNING. NHTSA HAS THIS CAR LISTED ON THEIR RECALL LIST BUT THE MANUFACTURER SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL ON MY PARTICULAR VEHICLE. I CONTACTED NISSAN, THEY TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO UNTIL I HAD IT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALERSHIP. I WENT TO MY LOCAL NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND HAD MY CAR DIAGNOSED AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE CAM POSITION SENSOR WHICH WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO SHUT DOWN WITHOUT WARNING, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON, THE TCS LIGHT, AND SLIP LIGHT, LIGHT UP AFTER RESTARTING AND IT TAKES A FEW CRANKS TO RESTART. SO AFTER SPENDING $88.00 TO HAVE THIS DIAGNOSIS DONE THEY STILL SAY SORRY WE CAN'T HELP YOU. THIS IS THE VEHICLE THAT MY SON DRIVES BACK AND FORTH TO COLLEGE AND AS OF RIGHT NOW HE IS WALKING BECAUSE WE ARE AFRAID TO LET HIM DRIVE IT UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED. DO I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE MOST DEFINITELY! DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN SHUT DOWN WITH CARS BEHIND YOU I FEEL IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN! THE CAR CAN NOT BE DRIVEN LIKE THIS, EVERY TIME THE CAR IS USED IT HAPPENS MORE THEN ONCE. THESE ARE THE SAME EXACT SYMPTOMS THAT THE RECALL LISTS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE 3/25/11 TILL THE PRESENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10395245

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.