Nissan 350Z Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Nissan 350Z model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2009 drew the fewest (5) and the 2003 the most (275).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Among the fewest complaints |
5 | 0 | Engine and engine cooling | — | 19–20 |
| 2008 Among the fewest complaints |
24 | 1 | Power train | — | 19–20 |
| 2006 Among the fewest complaints |
53 | 0 | Air bags | — | 19 |
| 2007 | 73 | 1 | Power train | — | 19–20 |
| 2005 Among the most complaints |
83 | 0 | Air bags | — | 19–20 |
| 2004 Among the most complaints |
144 | 1 | Suspension | — | 19–20 |
| 2003 Among the most complaints |
275 | 2 | Suspension | — | 19–20 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Nissan 350Z years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2003 Nissan 350Z: 275 complaints
Most-reported: Suspension 110 (40%); Tires 71 (26%); Engine and engine cooling 34 (12%).
Reports mention 6 crashes, 1 fire, 3 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 12,434 miles. 2 recall campaigns listed.
2004 Nissan 350Z: 144 complaints
Most-reported: Suspension 32 (22%); Tires 32 (22%); Fuel system 20 (14%).
Reports mention 6 crashes, 8 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 16,361 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
2005 Nissan 350Z: 83 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 32 (39%); Engine and engine cooling 16 (19%); Power train 9 (11%).
Reports mention 9 crashes, 1 fire, 4 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 36,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
The Nissan 350Z years with the fewest complaints
2009 Nissan 350Z: 5 complaints
Most-reported: Engine and engine cooling 2 (40%); Exterior lighting 1 (20%); Seats 1 (20%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
2008 Nissan 350Z: 24 complaints
Most-reported: Power train 21 (88%); Air bags 3 (13%); Engine 1 (4%).
Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 36,000 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
2006 Nissan 350Z: 53 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 14 (26%); Engine and engine cooling 14 (26%); Wheels 14 (26%).
Reports mention 6 crashes, 2 fires, 5 injuries, 1 death. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 26,000 miles. 0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Nissan 350Z owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36,000 |
| 2007 | 73 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 26,000 |
| 2006 | 53 | 6 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 26,000 |
| 2005 | 83 | 9 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 36,000 |
| 2004 | 144 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 16,361 |
| 2003 | 275 | 6 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 12,434 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Nissan 350Z recalls
- NISSAN/CRANK/CAM POSITION SENSOR WELD (2003 model year; 630,000 vehicles across all models; filed Nov 2003; 03V455000)
- OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CONTROL UNIT (2007–2008 model years; 204,361 vehicles across all models; filed Oct 2008; 08V521000)
- FUEL FILLER HOSE CRACKING (2003–2004 model years; 192,659 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2005; 05V555000)
All 3 Nissan 350Z recall campaigns · Nissan 350Z problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Nissan 350Z years FAQ
Which Nissan 350Z year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2009 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (5). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Nissan 350Z years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2003, 2004 and 2005 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the suspension. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Nissan 350Z problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the suspension (148 of 657 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Nissan 350Z have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the Nissan 350Z. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Nissan 350Z recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.