2003 Nissan 350Z: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
275 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
12,217 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 214 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front is the most frequently named component, appearing in 76 of 275 complaints (27.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 31 | 11.3% |
| Engine operation | 30 | 10.9% |
| Braking behavior | 26 | 9.5% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 2.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 1.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front | 76 |
| Tires | 61 |
| Suspension | 32 |
| Engine | 27 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 27 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 21 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 10 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
Suspension:Front: 76; Tires: 61; Suspension: 32; Engine: 27; Engine And Engine Cooling: 27; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 21; Tires:Tread/Belt: 10; Electrical System: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 131 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 29 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 16 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 131; 25,000 to 49,999: 29; 50,000 to 74,999: 16; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 5
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (131). 61 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 106 |
| 2004 | 44 |
| 2005 | 24 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 13 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 10 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2003: 106; 2004: 44; 2005: 24; 2006: 14; 2007: 6; 2008: 7; 2009: 13; 2010: 10; 2011: 7; 2012: 10; 2013: 5; 2014: 6; 2015: 4; 2016: 6; 2017: 5; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2021: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 31 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 30 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10005302 · 2003-02-04 (February 4, 2003)
MY COMPLAINT IS ACTUALLY WITH NISSAN OF AMERICA. I JUST PURCHASED A NEW 350Z AND HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SEAT SHIFTING AND KNOCKING. THE DEALEARSHIP AGREED THERE SEEMED TO BE A PROBLEM AND REPLACED THE DRIVER SEAT TRACK BUT THE SAME THING STILL HAPPENS. THEY SAID TO CONTACT NISSAN USA WHICH I DID. NISSAN USA SAID THEY WOULD GET RIGHT BACK TO ME AND STILL HAVE NOT. IT'S BEEN OVER 6 WEEKS NOW AND THEY HAVEN'T BOTHERED TO RETURN ANY OF MY CALLS OR EMAIL. MY FILE NUMBER AT NISSAN USA CONSUMER AFFAIRS IS 4001914. THE DEALERSHIP HAS ALSO FI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005302 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010937 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
THE CAR HAS TERRIBLE FEATHERING ON THE INSIDE EDGES OF THE FRONT TIRES. PROBLEM STARTED AFTER 7,500 MILES. CONTACT PATCHES ON THE INSIDE TIRE TREAD ARE WEARING UNEVENLY. I HAD THE CAR ALIGNED BY NISSAN ON 2-21-03 AND THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE. THIS REALLY SCARES ME AND COULD LEAD TO UNSAFE DRIVING DUE TO POOR DESIGN AND UNEVEN TREAD ON THE TIRES. THE CAR IS A NISSAN 350Z. RECEIVED IN AUGUST 2002. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,696 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010937 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010949 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
FRONT TIRES ON MY VEHICLE ARE FEATHERING DUE TO SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT FIX THE MECHANICAL PROBLEM. IT IS A NISSAN 350Z 2003 UNDER WARRANTY WITH 8000 MILES. HAVE HAD 3 TIRE INSPECTIONS BY DIFFERENT TIRE MANUFACTURER'S, ALL POINT TOWARD SUSPENSION DEFECT. TRACTION IS LESS THEN 100% *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010964 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
TIRES FEATHERING VERY BADLY ON ALL FOUR TIRES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010964 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012339 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
THE FRONT AND REAR TIRE TREAD HAD STRESS MARKS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012339 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013670 · 2003-03-30 (March 30, 2003)
FRONT TIRES ON MY VEHICLE ARE FEATHERING DUE TO SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT FIX THE MECHANICAL PROBLEM. IT IS A NISSAN 350Z 2003 UNDER WARRANTY WITH 6000 MILES. HAVE HAD 3 TIRE INSPECTIONS BY DIFFERENT TIRE MANUFACTURER'S, ALL POINT TOWARD SUSPENSION DEFECT. TRACTION IS WAY LESS THEN 100%. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10013670 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013892 · 2003-04-03 (April 3, 2003)
MY NEW NISSAN 2003 350Z WAS DELIVERED OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THIS HAS CAUSED MY TIRE TO BE SEVERELY WORN ON THE IN SIDE EDGE OF TIRE (BOTH FRONT TIRES). NISSAN'S SOLUTION IS TO ROTATE FRONT TIRES SO THAT THE WORN/CUPPED PORTION OF THE TIRE IS ON THE OUTSIDE EDGE OF TIRE. WHAT KIND OF SOLUTION IS THIS? THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF MY TIRE HAS BEEN GREATLY REDUCED AND HAS JEOPARDIZED MY SAFETY!
Owner-reported narrative. 8,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013892 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014001 · 2003-04-05 (April 5, 2003)
I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY NISSAN 350Z SUSPENSION/TIRES. I HAVE BEEN READING A LOT OF BULLETIN BOARD ENTRIES ON WWW.MY350Z.COM AND WWW.ZCAR.COM ABOUT VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BEFORE DEC. OF 2002. I ALSO VISITED THE NISSAN WEBSITE AND SEE THAT THERE IS A TECH BULLETIN POSTED ABOUT THE WEAR ON THE TIRES. THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE SUSPENSION SET UP ON THE 350Z THAT IS RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES OR FEATHERING. THERE ARE A LOT OF PICTURES ON THE WWW.MY350Z.COM WEBSITE OF ACTUAL TIRES. THE FEATHERING SEEMS TO BEGIN ANYWHERE F…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014001 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V455000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Reported: 2003-11-17 (November 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗05V555000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Reported: 2005-12-13 (December 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗