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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
10,000 miles · Nov 3, 2003
Tires

TIRE FEATHERING ON MY 2003 350Z AFTER 10,000 MILES. BROUGHT IN TO BE FIXED BY DEALERSHIP AT 13,000 MILES. STILL HAVE PROBLEM AND TRYING TO GET 2 NEW FRONT TIRES WITH LITTLE LUCK AT 18,000 MILES. INSIDE OF TIRES ARE FEATHERING AGAIN AND I'M THINK THIS WILL CAUSE A MAJOR LOSS OF TRACTION, ESPECIALLY IN RAINY CONDITIONS. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10045365

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2003
Suspension

HORRIBLE ROAD NOISE, TIRE WEAR UNEVEN "FEATHERING" OR SCALLOPING ON THE INSIDES OF THE FRONT TIRES. CAR HAS BEEN PLACED IN SHOP FOR WARRANTY REPAIR FIVE TIMES AND PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. CAR IS GOING BACK NEXT WEEK FOR A SIXTH ATTEMPT. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10045146

7,000 miles · Oct 30, 2003
Suspension

I HAVE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH FEATHERING OF THE FRONT TIRES AND NOW THE REAR TIRES ARE CUPPED AS WELL. FIRST PROBLEM WAS NOTICED AT 7,000 MILES AND NISSAN REPLACED THE TIRES AND REALIGNED THE SUSPENSION AT AROUND 12,000 MILES. I NOTICED A LOT OF ROAD NOISED AND NOTICED FEATHERING OF THE FRONT TIRES AT 19,500 MILES AND WAS CON…

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I HAVE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH FEATHERING OF THE FRONT TIRES AND NOW THE REAR TIRES ARE CUPPED AS WELL. FIRST PROBLEM WAS NOTICED AT 7,000 MILES AND NISSAN REPLACED THE TIRES AND REALIGNED THE SUSPENSION AT AROUND 12,000 MILES. I NOTICED A LOT OF ROAD NOISED AND NOTICED FEATHERING OF THE FRONT TIRES AT 19,500 MILES AND WAS CONFIRMED ALL FOUR TIRES CUPPED BY MY NISSAN DEALER. CLAIM WAS FILED WITH NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND WAS NOTIFIED TODAY THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10045098

4,000 miles · Oct 29, 2003
Air BagsCrash

I OWN A 2003 NISSAN 350Z WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000 MILES TO DATE. I WAS RECENTLY IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WHERE THE RESULT OF THE CRASH WAS IN THE FRONT OF MY CAR. I WAS TRAVELING 30-35 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED. *AK THANKFULLY I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT BECAUSE…

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I OWN A 2003 NISSAN 350Z WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 4,000 MILES TO DATE. I WAS RECENTLY IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT WHERE THE RESULT OF THE CRASH WAS IN THE FRONT OF MY CAR. I WAS TRAVELING 30-35 MILES AN HOUR WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED. *AK THANKFULLY I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT BECAUSE MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WHILE THE PASSENGER SIDE DID DEPLOY. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THIS CAR. IF I WAS NOT WEARING MY SEATBELT, I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT. THE RESULTS COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC IF THE ACCIDENT WAS AT A HIGHER LEVEL OF SEVERITY DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY(DRIVER'S SIDE) AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY!

NHTSA ODI #10043872

1,700 miles · Oct 24, 2003
Suspension

I OWN A NEW NISSAN 350Z, PURCHASED IN APRIL/MAY 2003. THE CAR CAME IN MISALIGNED AND WAS ALIGNED AT 1700 MILES. NOW AT 9400 MILES, THE ALIGNMENT IS OUT AGAIN AND THE TIRES ARE FEATHERING. DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACE TIRES UNDER WARRANTY, BUT ADMITS THE PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD WITH THE 350 AND THERE IS NO FIX. SOMETHING WITHIN THE SUS…

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I OWN A NEW NISSAN 350Z, PURCHASED IN APRIL/MAY 2003. THE CAR CAME IN MISALIGNED AND WAS ALIGNED AT 1700 MILES. NOW AT 9400 MILES, THE ALIGNMENT IS OUT AGAIN AND THE TIRES ARE FEATHERING. DEALERSHIP WILL REPLACE TIRES UNDER WARRANTY, BUT ADMITS THE PROBLEM IS WIDE SPREAD WITH THE 350 AND THERE IS NO FIX. SOMETHING WITHIN THE SUSPENSION/FRONT END IS FAULTY. THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043491

4,000 miles · Oct 23, 2003
Suspension

EXTREME IRREGULAR FRONT TIRE WEAR (CUPPING) CAUSING LOUD NOISE AND VIBRATION ESPECIALLY DURING BRAKING. VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 4000 MILES ON IT WHEN FIRST NOTICED. TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 5000 MILES AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT CHECKED (ALIGNMENT WAS GOOD). VEHICLE NOW HAS 9000 MILES AND THE FRONT TIRES ARE SHOWING IRREGULAR WEA…

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EXTREME IRREGULAR FRONT TIRE WEAR (CUPPING) CAUSING LOUD NOISE AND VIBRATION ESPECIALLY DURING BRAKING. VEHICLE HAD APPROXIMATELY 4000 MILES ON IT WHEN FIRST NOTICED. TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 5000 MILES AND FRONT END ALIGNMENT CHECKED (ALIGNMENT WAS GOOD). VEHICLE NOW HAS 9000 MILES AND THE FRONT TIRES ARE SHOWING IRREGULAR WEAR AGAIN. MANUFACTURER HAS NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043460

5,000 miles · Oct 23, 2003
Tires

I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN 350Z THAT HAS EXHIBITED ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT TIRES. THE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE CUPPING/FEATHERING ON THE INSIDE OF THE TREAD AND INCREASED ROAD NOISE/ROAR. THE NOISE APPEARED AT 5,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND WORSENED. I TOOK MY CAR TO STAR NISSAN IN NILES, IL, AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE ILL-EQUIPPE…

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I HAVE A 2003 NISSAN 350Z THAT HAS EXHIBITED ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT TIRES. THE SYMPTOMS INCLUDE CUPPING/FEATHERING ON THE INSIDE OF THE TREAD AND INCREASED ROAD NOISE/ROAR. THE NOISE APPEARED AT 5,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND WORSENED. I TOOK MY CAR TO STAR NISSAN IN NILES, IL, AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WERE ILL-EQUIPPED TO PERFORM NISSAN TSB #NTB03-006 (TIRE ROAD NOISE WHEN BRAKING). I CALLED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND INFORMED THEM OF THE PROBLEM AND I WILL TRY ANOTHER LOCAL DEALER. WHEN I ASKED IF TIRES WOULD BE REPLACED IF THE TSB DID NOT SOLVE THE ABNORMAL WEAR, THE NISSAN REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THAT I'D HAVE TO CALL THEM BACK IF THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043424

7,420 miles · Oct 23, 2003
Tires

FRONT TIRE WEAR, DUE TO BAD DESIGN, SEEMS NON CORRECTABLE. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043423

4,500 miles · Oct 22, 2003
Suspension

A DEFECT EXIST IN THE 2003 NISSAN 350Z WHICH CAUSES EXCESSIVE 'CUPPING' OR 'FEATHERING' TO OCCUR TO THE TIRES OF THE VEHICLE. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043366

610 miles · Oct 17, 2003
Suspension

2003 NISSAN 350Z HAS A DEFECTIVE SUSPENSION THAT CAUSES THE TIRES TO WEAR UNEVENLY (TIRE FEATHERING) AND ALSO CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT WHICH ALSO CAUSES THE TIRES TO WEAR UNEVENLY. NISSAN DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE VEHICLE IN 6 TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. HUNDREDS OF OTHER 350Z OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME TROUBLE, BUT MAY NOT KN…

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2003 NISSAN 350Z HAS A DEFECTIVE SUSPENSION THAT CAUSES THE TIRES TO WEAR UNEVENLY (TIRE FEATHERING) AND ALSO CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT WHICH ALSO CAUSES THE TIRES TO WEAR UNEVENLY. NISSAN DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE VEHICLE IN 6 TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. HUNDREDS OF OTHER 350Z OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME TROUBLE, BUT MAY NOT KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH IT. *LA

NHTSA ODI #10043087

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.