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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
Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2004
Tires

2003 NISSAN 350Z TIRE FEATHERING AND EXCESSIVE WEAR. MY 2003 350Z HAS 6,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND MY FRONT TIRES HAVE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE INNNER EDGE DUE TO FACTORY ALIGNMENT/WEIGHTING SPECIFICATIONS.. A TSB WAS PERFORMED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM TEMPORARILY BY SWITCHING THE TIRES. MY PRIMARY COMPLAINT IS THAT TH…

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2003 NISSAN 350Z TIRE FEATHERING AND EXCESSIVE WEAR. MY 2003 350Z HAS 6,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND MY FRONT TIRES HAVE EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE INNNER EDGE DUE TO FACTORY ALIGNMENT/WEIGHTING SPECIFICATIONS.. A TSB WAS PERFORMED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM TEMPORARILY BY SWITCHING THE TIRES. MY PRIMARY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE TRACTION ON THE OUTER EDGE OF MY TIRES ARE GONE. I HAVE CONCERNS GOING INTO CORNERS, EVEN AT THE RECOMMENDED SPEED LIMIT. NISSAN HAS YET TO CREATE A PERMANENT FIX FOR THIS ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM, I KNOW, HAS IMPACTED MANY 2003 350Z OWNERS. THERE IS NO REASON ONE SHOULD HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT A NEW OR AT LEAST RELATIVELY NEW CAR WHEN TAKING TURNS AT THE RECOMMENDED SPEED LIMIT. NISSAN NEEDS TO FIX THIS ISSUE IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU! *AK

NHTSA ODI #10056936

15,000 miles · Feb 10, 2004
Suspension

I HAVE A FEATHERING PROBLEM WITH MY FRONT TIRES DUE TO A FRONT END SUSPENSION DEFECT. MY EFFORTS WITH NISSAN CORPORATION AND THE DEALER (ED NAPLETON NISSAN IN NORTH PALM BEACH, FLORIDA) HAVE BEEN FRUITLESS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THREATENED TO NOT SERVICE MY CAR WHEN I BROUGHT UP THE LEMON LAW. THE DEALER THEN ADMITTED TO THE…

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I HAVE A FEATHERING PROBLEM WITH MY FRONT TIRES DUE TO A FRONT END SUSPENSION DEFECT. MY EFFORTS WITH NISSAN CORPORATION AND THE DEALER (ED NAPLETON NISSAN IN NORTH PALM BEACH, FLORIDA) HAVE BEEN FRUITLESS. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THREATENED TO NOT SERVICE MY CAR WHEN I BROUGHT UP THE LEMON LAW. THE DEALER THEN ADMITTED TO THE PROBLEM (ONCE I PROVIDED INFORMATION THAT OTHERS REPORTED THIS PROBLEM) AND SAID THEY WOULD TRY TO GET REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TIRES. THEN THE DEALER THEN ONLY OFFERED TIRES AT DEALER COST (WHICH WAS HIGHER THAN A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO DID INSTALL REPLACEMENTS). NISSAN CORPORATION (YANIQUE, CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON) IN CALIFORNIA WAS BOTH CONDESCENDING AND ARGUMENTATIVE WITH ME. THE NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE ADVISED THAT TIRE REIMBURSEMENT IS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THE DEALER WAS ADVISED THAT I WOULD DRIVE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF MILES COMMUTING TO WORK. THUS, MY VEHICLE FIRST EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING MY 15K MILES SERVICE. THE DEALER SWITCHED THE FRONT END TIRES AND IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARD, I COULD HEAR THE NOISE RELATING TO THE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH I WAS ADVISED BY ANOTHER NISSAN 350Z OWNER THAT HE EXPERIENCED UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, IT DIDN'T REGISTER WITH ME UNTIL THE TIRES WERE SWITCHED AT 15K THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE DEALER WAS BUYING TIME KNOWING THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO PLACE SIGNIFICANT MILES ON THIS CAR AND DIDN'T REIMBURSE ME FOR THESE TIRES BASED ON THE SAME REASONING. THE DEALER STATES THAT THEY DIDN'T MANUFACTURE THE CAR OR THE TIRES AND THUS, THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE TRIED TO KEEP THE ISSUE SECRET FROM THE PUBLIC. APPARENTLY THERE IS NOT FIX AND A RECENT AUTO MAGAZINE ARTICLE HAS IDENTIFIED 39,000 VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD HOPE THAT THIS COMPLAINT RECEIVES SUFFICIENT ATTENTION, SINCE THIS PROBLEM IS BOTH COSTLY TO THE CONSUMER AND COULD POSE A SAFETY PROBLEM DUE TO POOR TRACTION OF THE FRONT END TIRES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10056912

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2004
Tires

PREMATURE BUCKLING ON TWO FRONT BRIDGESTONE POTENTZA TIRES ON MY NISSAN 350Z. THE MANUFACTURERE OF THE CAR DEFLECTS RESPONSIBILITY TO THE TIRE MANUFACTURER AND THE TIRE MANUFACTURER FAILS TO PRORATE OR WARRANT THE TIRES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10056907

3,800 miles · Feb 7, 2004
Suspension

FRONT END SUSPENSION PROBLEMS IS CAUSING FRONT TIRES TO WEAR IMPROPERLY(FEATHERING) ONLY AFTER 4000 MILES!*AK

NHTSA ODI #10056733

3,000 miles · Jan 29, 2004
Tires

MY FROUNT TIRES HAVE FEATHERING AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 9,000 MILES, NOTICED IT AT 3000, TOLD DEALER THEY ALIGHNTED CAR, FEATHERING HAS GOTTEN WORSE. CAR IS A NISSAN 2003 350Z.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10055197

8,000 miles · Jan 19, 2004
SuspensionTires

EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR AND FEATHERING ON FRONT TIRES RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE NOISE, REDUCED TRACTION, AND REQUIRING PREMATURE REPLACEMENT. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10054462

7,279 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspensionTires

THE SUSPENSION PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING, AND MIS-DIAGNOSED A. ROAR FROM FRONT SUSPENSION UNDER 40 MPH. FIRST ATTEMPTED REPAIR @ 7,279 MILES. CHANGED BRAKE PADS AND TURNED ROTORS. ATTEMPT FAILED, ROAR REMAINED. B. ROAR & PULLS TO THE RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. SECOND ATTEMPTED REPAIR @ 7,720 MILES. CHANGED RIGHT SIDE COMPRESSION RO…

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THE SUSPENSION PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING, AND MIS-DIAGNOSED A. ROAR FROM FRONT SUSPENSION UNDER 40 MPH. FIRST ATTEMPTED REPAIR @ 7,279 MILES. CHANGED BRAKE PADS AND TURNED ROTORS. ATTEMPT FAILED, ROAR REMAINED. B. ROAR & PULLS TO THE RIGHT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. SECOND ATTEMPTED REPAIR @ 7,720 MILES. CHANGED RIGHT SIDE COMPRESSION ROD. PULL TO RIGHT CORRECTED, ROAR REMAINED. C. ROAR SEVERE,VISUAL DAMAGE{FEATHERING} ON INSIDE EDGE OF FRONT TIRES. THIRD ATTEMPTED REPAIR @ 11,077 MILES. ROTATED FRONT TIRES SIDE TO SIDE, OFF RIMS {DIRECTIONAL TIRES} ALSO DID FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. ROARS LESS, BUT STILL VERY NOISY. AT 12,000 MILES NOISE INCREASING, NEW FEATHERING NOW APPEARING ON INSIDE OF FRONT TIRES. THIS SUSPENSION PROBLEM NOT CORRECTED

NHTSA ODI #10071206

7,420 miles · Jan 15, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspensionTires

TIRE FEATHERING, ON FRONT END SEEMS TO BE NON-CORRECTABLE RESULTING IN REPETITIVE PREMATURE REPLACEMENT OF TIRES. I WAS TOLD BY SERVICE MGN. THAT CASTER ADJUSTMENT IS AT FULL, AND CAN NOT CORRECT FOR THE TOWIN CAUSING THE TIRE WEAR.

NHTSA ODI #10069446

7,200 miles · Jan 7, 2004
Suspension

NOICED GROWL AND RUMBLING NOISE AROUND FRONT END OF 2003 NISSAN 350Z. DEALER PERFORMED NO DIAGNOSTICS, NOR CHECKED SERVICE BULLETINS. CLAIMED COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIRD TRIP IN, DEALER ADMITTED TO HEARING THE NOW LOUD NOISE. MILLAGE AT 7500 - 10,200. DIAGNOSED FEATHERING (CUPPING) FRONT TIRES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10052626

Mileage unknown · Dec 30, 2003
Suspension

EXCESSIVE ROAD NOISE, GROWL WITH CAR.

NHTSA ODI #10051328

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.