IllustrationTHE GAS GAUGE ON MY 2003 NISSAN 350Z REGISTERS EMPTY WHEN THERE IS APPROXIMATELY 5-6 GALLONS OF FUEL LEFT IN THE 20GALLON TANK. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 350Z years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
1310–25K
2925–50K
1650–75K
1875–100K
15100–150K
5150K+
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 reportsI OWN A 350Z BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2003. I WAS ONE OF THE 1ST IN BALTIMORE FOR I DID NOT SEE ANOTHER Z FOR SIX MONTHS. I HAVE HAD A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN AT 36K DUE TO A FAILING 3RD GEAR SYNCO AND NOW AT 80K THE 5TH. I AM ABOUT TO PUT IN MY 5TH WINDOW MOTOR IN. NISSAN DOES NOT CARE ABOUT US SO DON'T EVEN WASTE YOUR TIME WITH…
Read full complaint
I OWN A 350Z BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2003. I WAS ONE OF THE 1ST IN BALTIMORE FOR I DID NOT SEE ANOTHER Z FOR SIX MONTHS. I HAVE HAD A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN AT 36K DUE TO A FAILING 3RD GEAR SYNCO AND NOW AT 80K THE 5TH. I AM ABOUT TO PUT IN MY 5TH WINDOW MOTOR IN. NISSAN DOES NOT CARE ABOUT US SO DON'T EVEN WASTE YOUR TIME WITH 1800NISSAN1. THEY SHOULD FEEL PRIVILEGED THAT WE ALLOW JAPANESE TO SELL CARS HERE IN THE US AND SHOULD BE PENALIZED WHEN THEY FAIL. I WILL NEVER EVER BUY A NISSAN AGAIN AND I GO AS FAR AS GETTING MY NISSAN'S OIL CHANGED AT TOYOTA SO I DO NOT PROMOTE NISSAN ANY FURTHER. QUITE A LEMON. TACOMA HAS 90K AND ONLY OIL CHANGES.
I OWN A 2003 NISSAN 350Z, WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, AND THE CHECK ENGINE, VDC ,AND SLIP LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. ENGINE NOW RUNS SLUGGISHLY. THE ERROR CODE IS P0340, WHICH IS CRANK SENSOR FAILURE. I FEEL THIS IS RELATED TO THE NTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V455000, BUT THAT CAMPAIGN ONLY ALLO…
Read full complaint
I OWN A 2003 NISSAN 350Z, WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, AND THE CHECK ENGINE, VDC ,AND SLIP LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. ENGINE NOW RUNS SLUGGISHLY. THE ERROR CODE IS P0340, WHICH IS CRANK SENSOR FAILURE. I FEEL THIS IS RELATED TO THE NTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V455000, BUT THAT CAMPAIGN ONLY ALLOWS FOR A VERY SMALL VIN RANGE OF 2003 350ZS. I HAVE READ MANY INSTANCES OF THIS FAILURE AND SITUATION ONLINE. THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO ALL 2003 350ZS. *TR
I OWN A 2003 NISSAN 350Z, WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, AND THE CHECK ENGINE, VDC ,AND SLIP LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. ENGINE NOW RUNS SLUGGISHLY. I FELL THIS IS RELATED TO THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V455000, BUT THAT CAMPAIGN ONLY ALLOWS FOR A VERY SMALL VIN RANGE OF 2003 350ZS. I HAVE REA…
Read full complaint
I OWN A 2003 NISSAN 350Z, WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, AND THE CHECK ENGINE, VDC ,AND SLIP LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. ENGINE NOW RUNS SLUGGISHLY. I FELL THIS IS RELATED TO THE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V455000, BUT THAT CAMPAIGN ONLY ALLOWS FOR A VERY SMALL VIN RANGE OF 2003 350ZS. I HAVE READ MANY INSTANCES OF THIS FAILURE AND SITUATION ONLINE. *TR
TRANSMISSION GRIND GOING IN AND OUT OF 3RD GEAR. READ ALL THE REVIEWS TOO LATE OR NEVER WOULD HAVE BOUGHT IT. CAR IS DANGEROUS THIS WAY AND WITH THE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS NISSAN SHOULD BE RECALLING AND REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL AND THE TIRE SLIP WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR FAILED…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL AND THE TIRE SLIP WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT SENSOR FAILED AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V455000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
2003 NISSAN 350Z. *TR
ENGINE FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED ON HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING A SEVERE ACCIDENT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THIRD GEAR, HE EXPERIENCED MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IT ONLY FAILED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO THIRD GEAR OR WHEN SHIFTED DOWN TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAIL…
Read full complaint
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THIRD GEAR, HE EXPERIENCED MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. IT ONLY FAILED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO THIRD GEAR OR WHEN SHIFTED DOWN TO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.
DRIVERS' SIDE DOOR LOCK FAILED TO DISENGAGE, RESULTING IN THE PASSENGER BEING UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN THE NORMAL MANNER. DRIVER, AGE 67, WAS FORCED AT GREAT DIFFICULTY,TO CLIMB ACROSS THE CONSOLE AND EXIT THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. IF AN EMERGENCY SITUATION OCCURRED, SUCH AS VEHICULAR FIRE OR SUBMERGE, SERIOUS INJ…
Read full complaint
DRIVERS' SIDE DOOR LOCK FAILED TO DISENGAGE, RESULTING IN THE PASSENGER BEING UNABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN THE NORMAL MANNER. DRIVER, AGE 67, WAS FORCED AT GREAT DIFFICULTY,TO CLIMB ACROSS THE CONSOLE AND EXIT THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR. IF AN EMERGENCY SITUATION OCCURRED, SUCH AS VEHICULAR FIRE OR SUBMERGE, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH IS POSSIBLE. *TR
Official recalls
205V555000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.