2008 Nissan 350Z: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
24 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
31,932 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 24 complaints (45.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 20.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.2% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 4.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 11 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 10 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 1 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle) | 1 |
Power Train: 11; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 10; Air Bags: 3; Engine: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 1; Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle): 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2008: 6; 2009: 4; 2010: 2; 2012: 4; 2013: 3; 2016: 3; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 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 10213335 · 2008-01-01 (January 1, 2008)
RECENTLY, I HAVE BOUGHT A NEW 2008 NISSAN 350Z. I BOUGHT THE CAR ON SATURDAY, DEC 29. 2007. ON DEC 31 2007, 3 DAYS LATER, THE SLAVE CYLINDER FOR THE CLUTCH WENT OUT. I CAN STILL SHIFT BUT THE CLUTCH PEDAL FEELS VERY VERY WEAK NOW. AND THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT IS NOW ON. I HAVE NOT BROUGHT IT IN YET, DUE TO IT BEING NEW YEARS DAY, BUT WILL BRING IT IN ON JAN 2 TO GET IT LOOKED AT AND REPLACED.*CN
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10213335 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226595 · 2008-05-04 (May 4, 2008)
SLAVE CYLINDER IS NOT CREATING ENOUGH PRESSURE AND CAUSING CLUTCH TO SLIP AND BURN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10226595 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10230472 · 2008-06-10 (June 10, 2008)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLAM FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10230472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10240940 · 2008-09-04 (September 4, 2008)
CLUTCH GETS VERY LOOSE AFTER DRIVING A LITTLE BIT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10240940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10248526 · 2008-11-11 (November 11, 2008)
CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY. DEALER SAYS THE FLYWHEEL IS BROKEN AND CAR NEEDS A NEW CLUTCH. THE CAR HAS 3700 MILES ON IT AND NISSAN WILL NOT COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY. PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE THE CAR HAD 400 MILES ON IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10248526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250642 · 2008-12-03 (December 3, 2008)
HELLO I HAVE A 2008 NISSAN 350Z 6 SPEED MANUAL BASE MODEL, THAT I HAD BROUGHT IN DEC 12 OF 2007 BRAND NEW. SINCE THEN THE CLUTCH ON THE CAR HAS GOTTEN STUCK THREE TIMES. ALL THREE TIMES ARE RANDOM. TWICE WAS ON THE HIGHWAY AND ONCE WHILE DOING A U TURN. THE CAUSE OF THIS IS BURNING UP MY CLUTCH AND THE NISSAN DEALERSHIPS HERE IN THE ORLANDO AREA ARE GIVING ME THE CLASSIC DEALERSHIP RUN AROUND. I CALL NISSAN ON THERE 1-800-NISSAN-1 NUMBER AND SAID THEY CANT DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE DEALER LOOKS AT IT, WITH A POSSIBLE CHARGE OF $600.00 FOR LOOKING I…
Owner-reported narrative. 19 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250642 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10256026 · 2009-01-22 (January 22, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN 350Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION GRINDS INTO SECOND GEAR WHEN THE CLUTCH IS FULLY DISENGAGED. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION STALLS AND IS LESS LIKELY TO GRIND IN SECOND GEAR IN WARM WEATHER CONDITIONS; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3,500 RPMS TO 4,500 RPMS FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GRIND MORE. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO BRING IN THE VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THEM WITHIN THE NEXT 24 HOURS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10256026 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10266379 · 2009-04-22 (April 22, 2009)
CLUTCH THROWOUT BEARING NOISE & HARD SHIFTING FROM FACTORY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266379 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.
08V521000 · Electrical System:Software | Air Bags
Reported: 2008-10-07 (October 7, 2008)
NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.
NHTSA campaign record ↗