2004 Nissan 350Z: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
144 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
16,361 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 107 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 144 complaints (18.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 16 | 11.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 8.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 4.9% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 3.5% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 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 |
|---|---|
| Tires | 27 |
| Suspension:Front | 21 |
| Air Bags | 15 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 12 |
| Suspension | 10 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 6 |
| Structure | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
Tires: 27; Suspension:Front: 21; Air Bags: 15; Fuel System, Gasoline: 12; Suspension: 10; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 6; Structure: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 64 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 19 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 64; 25,000 to 49,999: 19; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (64). 37 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 22 |
| 2005 | 47 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2004: 22; 2005: 47; 2006: 15; 2007: 4; 2008: 10; 2009: 4; 2010: 7; 2011: 12; 2012: 4; 2013: 3; 2014: 4; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 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 10054242 · 2004-01-16 (January 16, 2004)
I HAVE A 2004 350Z COUPE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW IN SEPT.2003 ASSORTMENT OF PROBLEMS THAT THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO FIX: 1. LOUD CLUTCH CHATTER WHILE CAR IS IDLING AND ALSO WHEN ACCELERATING & DECELERATING IN 1ST & 2ND GEAR. 2. TRANSMISSION CLANK WHEN SHIFTING GEARS FEELS LIKE THE TYRANNY IS LOOSE. 3. WHEN CAR IS IDLING THE ENGINE APPEARS TO BE MISFIRING AND ENGINE IS KNOCKING. I HAVE BEEN HAVING THESE PROBLEMS EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND 6000 MILES LATER STILL NOT FIXED. *CB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10054242 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073235 · 2004-05-27 (May 27, 2004)
PURCHASED A 2004 350Z TOURING MODEL BRAND NEW IN MARCH 2004. UNABLE TO PUT GASOLINE INTO TANK. AUTOMATIC FUNCTION ON GAS PUMP ACTIVATES NO MATTER HOW FAST YOU ATTEMPT TO INSERT FUEL. EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM AT NUMEROUS SERVICE STATIONS. FUEL TANK IS BEING REPLACED.*MR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10073235 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074426 · 2004-05-28 (May 28, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10074426 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075759 · 2004-07-06 (July 6, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONSUMER NOTICED A YELLOW FLASH INDICATOR LIGHT READING SLIP WITH CAUSE UNKNOWN. THE CONSUMER RELEASED THE THROTTLE PEDAL AND THE SPEED CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO TRAVEL AT 65 MPH. THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL CONTINUED AT THE SAME RATE OF SPEED, BURNING THE BRAKES WHEN THE PEDAL WAS APPLIED. CONSUMER DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH, BUT THE RPM IDLED HIGH. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE PROBLEM DISAPPEARED. *AK THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT DURING INSTALLATION OF THE WHEELS, THE CHROME…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075759 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079029 · 2004-06-29 (June 29, 2004)
I PURCHASED A 2004 NISSAN 350Z ON 3/31/04. SINCE THEN THE TRANSMISSION HAS, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, GONE INTO WHAT THE MANUFACTURER CALLS "FAIL SAFE" MODE, WHICH MEANS THAT IF IT DETECTS A PROBLEM IT WILL IMMEIATELY AND WITHOUT WARNING SLAM DOWN FROM WHATEVER GEAR YOU ARE IN TO FIRST GEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US ON A HIGHWAY TWICE, AND THE CAR CAME TO A SREECHING HALT, NEARLY CASUING AN ACCIDANT. THE CAR WENT FROM 5TH GEAR TO 1ST WITHOUT WARNING TO US OR TO THOSE BEHIND US, AND IT DID THIS SUDDENLY, BRINGING THE CAR TO A VIRTUAL HALT AS IF T…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079029 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10081379 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)
CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT DRIVER'S SEAT DID NOT LOCK INTO POSITION. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE PROBLEM. *AK THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MANUALLY OPERATED DRIVERS SEAT DID NOT LOCK SECURELY INTO PLACE IN TWO OF THE BACK POSITIONS UNLESS BY THE PELVIC THRUSTING MANEUVER OR BY PRESSING THE LEFT FOOT ON THE FLOOR TESTING THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE LATCH. PRIOR TO DRIVING, THE SEAT MOVEED SIGNIFICANTLY IN TO PLACE WHILE DRIVING WITH LOUD CLANKING SOUNDS. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081379 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082544 · 2004-07-23 (July 23, 2004)
FRONT TIRES EMIT A LOUD "ROAR" TYPE NOISE, INSIDE TREAD OF TIRES HAVE UNUSUAL WEAR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10082544 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086564 · 2004-08-10 (August 10, 2004)
LARGE THUUMP NOISE DEVELOPED AROUND 8000 MILES ON AUTOMATIC TRANMISSION OF MY 2004 350Z. IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO 2 DEALERS. BOTH SAY IT IS PERFECTLY NORMAL. WE TEST DROVE 4 OTHER 350Z'S AND NONE OF THEM TO WHAT MY CAR DOES. THE DEALER REFUSES TO FIX IT AND NISSAN CORP. SAYS THEY WILL HELP, BUT CONTINUE TO IGNORE MY CALLS AND HANG UP ON ME.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086564 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
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 ↗