Nissan 350Z Complaints (2003)

275 consumer complaints on file.

#10112000February 22, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
MY 2003 NISSAN 350Z SPORTS CAR HAS A FRONT SUSPENSION PROBLEM THAT CAUSES EXTREME INNER TREAD TIRE WEAR IN VERY SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, IE, LESS THAN 5000 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS PERVASIVE IN ALL 03 MODELS AS INDICATED ON THE VARIOUS INTERNET CHAT ROOMS. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS PROVIDED A FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND LEFT TO RIGHT/RIGHT TO LEFT TIRE ROTATION AND/OR TIRE REPLACEMENT - NEITHER OF WHICH CURE THE PROBLEM (INDICATIVE OF AN ENGINEERING DESIGN PROBLEM). THE EXTREME TIRE WEAR IS EVIDENT AT APPROXIMATELY 4-5000 MILES. NISSAN APPEARS TO NOT HAVE FOUND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. REPLACING THE FRONT TIRES AT UNREASONABLE 5000 MILE INTERVALS IS REQUIRED TO PREVENT AN EXTREME ROAD HAZARD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110216February 9, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
MY 2003 NISSAN 350Z HAS A PROBLEM KEEPING ALIGNMENT. THIS CAUSES PREMATURE WEAR ON THE TIRES AND THE ADDITIONAL COST OF ALIGNMENT. THIS BEGAN IMMEDIATELY (2003 AT 6,000 MILES). BOTH TIRES AND THE ALIGNMENT WERE REPLACED AND REPAIRED. HOWEVER THE CAR CONTINUES TO LOSE ALIGNMENT. A BIGGER ISSUE IS CAUSED IN THE WINTER ON SLICK ROADS. THE CAR WILL SWERVE UNEXPECTEDLY - TOTALLY LOSE CONTROL AND CROSS OVER INTO ON COMING LANES. I FEEL THESE CARS REPRESENT A HAZARD NOT ONLY TO THE DRIVER BUT OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. THE ONLY SAFE REMEDIAL ACTION WOULD BE A RECALL AND PERMANENT REPAIR OF THIS DEFECT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106211January 12, 2005
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
BOTH FRONT TIRES CUPPING AND FEATHERING WITH SEVERE RUMBLING NOISE IN FRONT END. DEALER REPLACED BOTH FRONT TIRES 3/31/04 AND PERFORMED FRONT-END ALIGNMENT. RETURNED 1/12/05 WITH SAME PROBLEM AND DEALER INDICATED THAT THEY HAD SEVERAL IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER CONSUMERS ON THE 350Z. DEALER HAS NOTIFIED NISSAN AND ARE GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THEM ON RESOLUTION. DEALER STATED THAT NISSAN IS TRYING TO CLAIM THAT THE TIRES ARE ONLY 15,000 MILE TIRES AND THAT THEY ARE THE PROBLEM. DEALER WILL CONTACT ME AGAIN WITHIN ONE WEEK WITH NISSAN'S RESOLUTION. DEALER DID NOT EVEN EXAMINE MY VECHICLE 1/12/05.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10106129January 11, 2005
TIRES
TIRES ARE FEATHERING BADLY. DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER TRIED FIXING IT. NISSAN TRIED AVOIDING RECALL ON IT, BUT TOLD SERVICE CENTERS TO CHANGE TIRES AT NO COST. RIDICULOUS AND UNSAFE. WAS TOLD TO BE AN ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. EVERYONE EXCEPT THE COMPANY SEEMS TO NOTICE. 2003 350Z. NISSAN MADE ITS WARRANTY ON THE TIRES TO 24,000 AND OUR SERVICE IS TILL ABOUT 36000 MILES. THEY ARE JUST WAITING IT OUT UNTIL IT BECOMES THE PEOPLES PROBLEM. IS ANYBODY LISTENING?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104918January 2, 2005
SUSPENSION:REAR, SUSPENSION:FRONT, TIRES
MY 2003 350Z'S TIRES WERE REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT 16,000 MILES. I RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM RIGHT BEFORE THE RECALL. NOW AT 27,000 MILES I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE BACK TIRES/ALIGNMENT. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE CONTRACTED TIRE DEALER WHICH MY NISSAN DEALER SENDS IT'S WORK TO THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE ALIGNMENT ON THE 2003 MODEL AND THE PROBLEM HAS SINCE BEEN CORRECTED ON THE 2004 MODEL. I'M TOLD THAT TO AVOID THE IMPROPER WEAR ON THE TIRES (CUPPING) THAT I SHOULD HAVE THE ALIGNMENT CHECKED EVERY 3-6 MONTHS. I WAS TOLD THAT OTHER THAN THE TIRE NOISE(WHICH WHEN NOTICEABLE MEANS SERIOUS IMPROPER WEAR), ANOTHER WAY TO TELL THAT THIS CUPPING IS HAPPENING IS TO PUT THE CAR UP ON THE RACK. ALSO, THE CAR STARTS TO HAVE TRACTION/HANDLING PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM CANNOT BE SEEN IN A VISUAL CHECK WHEN THE CAR IS ON THE GROUND. I CALLED THE NISSAN HEADQUARTERS AND FILED A COMPLAINT, BUT WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. AT 27,000 MILES I GOT THE REAR ALIGNED AND HAD TO PURCHASE TWO NEW REAR TIRES. THERE IS SO OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM THAT NISSAN IS CHOOSING TO IGNORE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104639December 28, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, TIRES
JAN 03 THE BRAKES WOULD SQUEAL LOUDLY WHEN BRAKING IN COLD WEATHER. THE TWO FRONT TIRES CONTINUALLY LOST AIR AND NEEDED TO BE REFILLED EVERY 3-4 WEEKS. UPON DEALER INSPECTION, NOTHING WAS FOUND WRONG. UPON RECALL NOTICE OF THE GROWLING OF THE TIRES (AROUND APRIL 04) THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE TWO FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE BROUGHT BACK TWICE DUE TO THE ALIGNMENT BEING DONE INCORRECTLY (STEERING WHEEL WAS CROOKED AND SLIP & VDC OFF LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED).SINCE THE TIRE REPLACEMENT, THE TWO NEW FRONT TIRES STILL LOSE AIR AND NEED TO BE FILLED UP EVERY 2-3 WEEKS NOW. THE TIRES OCCASIONALLY SQUEAL LOUDLY WHEN BRAKING. DEC 04 THE DASHBOARD WAS LIT UP WITH THE FOLLOWING WARNING LIGHTS:1. BRAKES 2. VDC OFF 3. SLIP UPON TOWING THE VEHICLE INTO NISSAN (BECAUSE THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE WENT MYSTERIOUSLY FLAT AGAIN), NISSAN DEALER HAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE PADS ARE WORN THROUGH TO LESS THAN 10% AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THEY ALSO REPORTED THE FRONT TIRES HAD NO HOLES AND THE TIRE BEADING WAS FINE. THEY SUGGESTED THE TIRES GO LOW AND THE WARNING INDICATOR SOUNDS BECAUSE IT IS A SENSITIVE CAR. IT IS MY PERSONAL THEORY THAT THE VEHICLE HAS A DESIGN FLAW WITHIN THE SUSPENSION AND THE VEHICLE IS ALSO PLACING TOO MUCH WEIGHT AND PRESSURE ON THE FRONT TIRES WHICH HAS CAUSED: 1. GROWLING 2. FRONT TIRES TO LOSE AIR 3. BRAKES TO WEAR UNREASONABLY FAST 4. SQUEALING WHEN BRAKING. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN SATISFACTORY IN THEIR RESPONSES OR SUGGESTIONS. THE VEHICLE IS IN THE DEALER NOW; I REQUESTED THEY GIVE ME THE WORN BRAKE PADS WHEN I PICK UP THE CAR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105336December 27, 2004
WHEELS:MULTI PIECE
DRIVER SIDE WHEEL CHASSIS BROKE WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVE AT 3 MPH. THERE WAS NO STEERING, AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO STRIKE A FENCE. VEHICLE IS STILL NOT DRIVABLE, AND THE MANUFACTURER OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104064December 18, 2004
TIRES
I OWN A 2003 NISSAN 350Z MY TWO FRONT TIRES HAVE BEEN ON ORDER SINCE 7-2-04 ITS A RECALL I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM NISSAN AS OF YET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102820December 13, 2004
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2003 350Z CLUTCH BLEW AT 9000 MILES 11000 MILES LATER CLUTCH GO'S AGAIN THIS IS NOT JUST THE CLUTCH ITS THE TRANSMISSION WHICH MAKES THIS A HORRIBLE PROBLEM WHICH MEANS THIS IS PROBALLY A LEMON I RECOMMEND NO 1 TO PURCHASE A 350Z MANUAL U MUST GET AUTOMATIC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103465December 9, 2004
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. WHEN DRIVING IN 5TH GEAR, HE WAS UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS. APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES AGO, THE VEHICLES THIRD GEAR BLEW OUT WHILE DRIVING. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101001December 3, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT
MY 2003 NISSAN 350Z HAS EXPERIENCED TIRE/FEATHERING ON BOTH FRONT TIRES. NISSAN REPLACED BOTH @ 17,000 MILES AT NO CHARGE TO ME. THEN @ 12,000 MILES ON 2ND SET, SAME PROBLEM EXISTS. NISSAN SAYS THEY WILL REPLACE, BUT THE DEALER SAYS TIRES ARE ON BACK-ORDER TILL APRIL 2005. THEY OFFERED NO "BUY BACK", OR LOANER. I COULD NOT WAIT TILL APRIL 2005, SO I TRADED THE 350Z. I TRADED BECAUSE AFTER MY WARRANTY PERIOD WAS TO EXPIRE @ 36,000 MILES, I WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY APPROXIMATELY $600.00 PER SET TO REPLACE AT 10,000 TO 12,000 MILES. THE FEATHERING OF THE TIRES MADE FOR VERY LITTLE TRACTION, ESPECIALLY DURING RAINY CONDITIONS. I ALSO TOOK QUITE A HIT (TRADE-IN WAS $6,000 LESS THAN KELLY BLUE BOOK). NISSAN SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SELLING ME A LEMON>*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100938December 2, 2004
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I OWN A 2003 350Z NISSAN. I AM ON MY THIRD SET OF FRONT TIRES IN 24,000 MILES. THIS CAR IS DEFECTIVE AND IS PART OF A WIDESPREAD NISSAN PROBLEM. VISIT WWW.NISSANTIREPROBLEMS.COM OR THE TIRE FORUM IN WWW.MY350Z.COM AND YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT NISSAN CHOOSES TO IGNORE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100894December 1, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT
MY FRONT TIRES WERE REPLACED ON MY NISSAN 350Z AFTER ONLY AFTER 18000 MILES, WITH A REALIGNMENT AFTER NISSAN RECOMMENDED IN THE BULLETIN RELEASE RELEASED THIS YEAR. NOW AFTER 33000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE I AM HAVING TO REPLACE ONCE AGAIN THE FRONT TIRES ON MY VEHICLE DUE TO IMPROPER WEAR ON THE TIRES, THE SAME AS WHAT HAPPENED AT THE 18000 MILE REPLACEMENT TIME. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH 350Z FRONT ALIGNMENT. IS THERE A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST NISSAN FOR DEFECT OF THE FRONT ALIGNMENT, AS I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS IS HAPPENING TO, AND HOW TO I GO ABOUT JOINING THE LAWSUIT?*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095918October 17, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
MY 2003 NISSAN 350Z HAS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS PATTERN OF TIRE WEAR. THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT TIRES WEARS RAPIDLY - BY 6000 MILES IT IS NEARLY SMOOTH. VEHICLE LOST CONTROL SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO THIS PROBLEM, RESULTING IN MANY NEAR-ACCIDENTS. VISITED DEALER WHO SWAPPED TIRES FROM SIDE TO SIDE BUT ISSUE RECURRED. FIRST NOTICED AT 4000 MILES AND RECURRED AT 6000 MILES. VERY UNSAFE IN MY OPINION. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS VEHICLE AND AM FRUSTRATED BY NISSAN'S DILLY-DALLYING TACTICS EXTENDED TOWARDS THE 80% OF Z DRIVERS THAT HAVE THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096803October 14, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT, TIRES
COMPLAINT RECEIVED VIA E-MAIL."I HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. THE TIRES WORE OUT WITHIN 7 MONTHS. I TOOK TO THE DEALER TO GET IT FIXED. I ENDED UP REPLACING TWO TIRES. THAT WAS IN JUNE. SEPTEMBER I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. LESS THAN A YEAR, MY CAR HAS HAD 5 ALIGNMENTS AND TWO SETS OF TIRES. I CONTACTED THE NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIR SPECIALIST, NO ONE WANTED TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEMS. THE CAR IS BELIEVED TO HAVE A MANUFACTURED DEFECT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THAT LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL CAR HAS BEEN REPORTED. I CAN NOT DRIVE MY CAR ANYMORE BECAUSE I AM SCARED THE TIRES MIGHT BLOW UP. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089134August 16, 2004
SEATS
PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS.*MR THE CONSUMER OBSERVED ABNORMAL SEAT WEAR ON THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. A TSB WAS ISSUED REGARDING THIS PROBLEM BUT THE MANUFACTURER HAS MADE TO ATTEMPTS AT FIXING THE PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086696August 12, 2004
WHEELS:RIM
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A DEFECTIVE MATERIAL REACTION TO AN ALTERED ROAD SURFACE IN FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE RIM. A SET OF RAISED SUBWAY TRACKS RAN PARALLEL WITH THE ROAD I WAS TRAVELING ON. AS THE ROAD FORKED, I WAS FORCED TO TRAVERSE THE TRACKS IN ORDER TO FOLLOW THE APPROPRIATE ROAD. AS SOON AS THE INSIDE EDGE OF FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE RIM CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE SUBWAY RAIL, THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY "BOTTOMED OUT". AFTER BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I INVESTIGATED THE TIRE AND RIM AND FOUND NO APPARENT DAMAGE. AFTER COMPLETELY REMOVING THE RIM FROM THE VEHICLE IT WAS IMMEDIATELY APPARENT THAT THE INSIDE EDGE OF THE RIM HAD CAVED IN. THE OUTER EDGE OF THE RIM WAS UNDAMAGED, AS WAS THE TIRE ITSELF, BUT THE OUTER EDGE OF THE RIM SEEMED TO HAVE COLLAPSED IN ON ITSELF. THE IMPACT OF THE VEHICLE BOTTOMING OUT MUST HAVE DAMAGED THE ROTOR AND WHEEL STUDS BECAUSE WITHIN 500 FEET OF INSTALLING THE SPARE TIRE THE STUDS THEMSELVES BROKE FORCING ME TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FLATBEDDED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR VEHICLE AS UNDER WARRANTEE CLAIMING DRIVER ERROR. THE LACK OF TIRE DAMAGE AND SIGNS OF DIRECT IMPACT DAMAGE TO OUTER RIM, SEEMS TO INDICATE A WEAKENED INNER EDGE TO THE RIM STEMMING FROM MATERIAL DEFECT FAILURE/
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082481August 9, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT, TIRES
EXPERIENCING AN UNRESOLVED TIRE WEAR PROBLEM WITH 2003 350Z THAT I PURCHASE NEW IN FEBRUARY 2003. THE FRONT TIRES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND ALIGNMENT PERFORMED TWICE ON THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE TIRES ARE EXAMINED, THEY HAVE AN IRREGULAR WEAR PATTERN ON THE OUTSIDE EDGES OF THE TREAD. ALTHOUGH NISSAN HAS ISSUED TSB NTB04-043 ON 4/12/2004 AND EXTENDED THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY TO TWO YEAR / 30K MILES, I DO NOT BELIEVE THERE IS A LONG TERM SOLUTION THAT WILL RESULT IN FRONT TIRES LASTING SIGNIFICANTLY LONGER THAN THE CURRENT UNACCEPTABLE 10K TO 12K MILES. I VIEW THIS ISSUE AS REDUCING THE SERVICEABILITY / RELIABILITY OF MY 350Z AND IT MAY ALSO POSE A SAFETY CONCERN IF THE PROBLEM REMAINS UNRESOLVED. *JB *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10083868July 30, 2004
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING 20-30 MPH A RUMBLING NOISE CAME FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. DEALER REPLACED TWO SETS OF FRONT TIRES ,AND THE FRONT CONTROL ARM. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082910July 29, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I OWN A 2003 NISSAN 350Z WHICH I PURCHASED NEW. THE CARS TIRES BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE, WHICH I NOTICED AROUND 2500-3000 MILES. THE NOISE WAS GRADUALLY INCREASING IN VOLUME AS I ADDED MILES TO THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AT APPROXIMATELY 6500 MILES WHEN THE NOISE BECAME UNBEARABLE. THE DEALER RE-ALIGNED THE FRONT WHEELS AND REPLACED THE TIRES TO ADDRESS A "KNOWN PROBLEM" WITH ALIGNMENT FOR WHICH NISSAN HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN. I NOW HAVE JUST UNDER 14,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND HAVE JUST DELIVERED THE CAR TO THE DEALER TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM ONCE AGAIN AS THE ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED BY THE ALIGNMENT AND TIRE REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER WAS UNWILLING TO ALIGN OR REPLACE THE TIRES AND CLAIMED THE WARRANTY FIX WAS A ONE TIME FIX. I CONTACTED NISSAN CONSUMER AFFAIRS, AND NOW I WILL BE PROVIDED WITH AN ALIGNMENT AND NEW SET OF FRONT TIRES UNDER AN EXTENDED COVERAGE NISSAN IS CALLING "2003 350Z FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT WARRANTY EXTENSION". THIS WARRANTY EXTENSION IS ADDRESSING THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I ALREADY ASKED THEM TO FIX UNDER WARRANTEE LAST YEAR. THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY BECAUSE IT FIRST APPEARED DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND WAS NOT FIXED BY THE ACTION TAKEN BY THE DEALER. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THE 2003 350ZS. NISSAN IS ADDRESSING THE SYMPTOMS RATHER THAN FIXING THE PROBLEM IN ORDER TO BUY TIME. THE PROBLEM IS MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT THAN A SIMPLE ALIGNMENT AND TIRE REPLACEMENT. THEY ARE USING DECEPTIVE PRACTICES TO SKIRT AROUND THE PROBLEM IN ORDER TO AVOID DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING A TRUE FIX FOR THE ISSUE. UNDER THE "2003 350Z FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT WARRANTY EXTENSION" MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRES TWO YEARS FROM THE IN-SERVICE DATE OF MY VEHICLE. THAT IS OCTOBER 2004 FOR ME. AT THAT POINT I WILL BE STUCK WITH A DEFECTIVE CAR THAT WEARS OUT VERY EXPENSIVE TIRES IN A FRACTION OF THE NORMAL TIRE LIFE WITH NO MEANS OF RECOURSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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