Total Complaints
28 filings
NISSAN 350Z · model year
28 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2008NISSAN350Z carries 28 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2008 350Z is power train with 11 filings, followed by power train:manual transmission (10) and air bags (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 54 investigation files overlapping the 2008 350Z, and 5 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
28 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 11 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | 10 |
| AIR BAGS | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
AIR BAGS
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) CONT
SENSOR ON DASHBOARD LITE WON'T GO OUT, SHOWING AIRBAG DISABLED DUE CHILD IN SEAT.
Mileage: 50,000
I WAS DRIVING MY 08 350Z (CURRENTLY HAS 70K MILES) ON THE HIGHWAY APPROX 60 MPH WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO DOWNSHIFT FOR MY EXIT. THE CLUTCH PEDAL WENT DOWN AND STUCK WHEN I SHIFTED OUT OF 6TH AND THE CAR WOULDN'T GO INTO ANY GEAR. I MISSED THE EXIT AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND STOPPED. TURNS OUT THE SLAVE CYLINDER THAT HAD BEEN REPLACED 20K MILES AGO UNDER RECALL HAD GONE BAD AGAIN! EVEN MORE IMPRESSIVE IS THAT IN 68K MILES, I'VE HAD TO HAVE THE SLAVE REPLACED 2X, CLUTCH REPLACED 3X, FLYWHEEL RESURFACED 2X, FLYWHEEL REPLACED 1X, CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER REPLACED 1X, MULTIPLE TRANS SERVICES, MULTIPLE TIMES BLEEDING THE CLUTCH. ALL WORK DONE AT DEALER USING OEM PARTS. THIS IS A KNOWN 350Z DEFECT AND NISSAN SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPLACING THE CLUTCH SYSTEM W/ AN IMPROVED DESIGN BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE INJURED OR KILLED!
Mileage: 70,000
CSC FAILURE 6 TIMES. FAILURE OCCURED IN MULTIPLE PLACES, ON THE HIGHWAY, SIDE STREETS, COUNTRY ROAD.
Mileage: 191,250
I PURCHASED MY 08 350Z GRAND TOURING OCTOBER 5, 2015 FROM HOY FOX TOYOTA IN EL PASO TX. 3 DAYS LATER IT LEFT ME STRANDED. THE CLUTCH STAYED TO THE FLOOR AND IT WOULDN'T GEAR. THEY SOLD IT TO ME SAYING IT HAD A NEW CLUTCH SO I DECIDED AFTER TEST DRIVING IT TO TAKE IT. I HAD TO WAIT 30 DAYS FOR MY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY TO KICK IN SO I CAN MAKE A CLAIM. INITIALLY IT WAS THE MASTER CYLINDER WHICH WAS COVERED. HOWEVER, THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. LATER THEY SAID I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW CLUTCH KIT FOR AROUND 2800. OF COURSE I DON'T HAVE THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY. I PURCHASED AND EXEDY AFTERMARKET CLUTCH , FLYWHEEL AND PRESSURE PLATE AS THEY TOLD ME TO DO. TOOK IT HOME NOVEMBER 15 AND IT WORKED FINE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. IT THEN BEGAN TO LEAK CLUTCH FLUID AND CLUTCH FELT SOFT. I WENT BACK AND THEY KEPT TELLING ME TO GO TO NISSAN. I PAID FOR A DIAGNOSIS AT VIVA NISSAN IN EL PASO TX AND THE CONCENTRIC SLAVE CYLINDER WAS THE ISSUE. I HAD TO GO BACK AND FORTH AND TRY TO GET THE HELP TO FIX THIS ISSUE. I BOUGHT A
Mileage: 70,000
TAKATA RECALL
CLUTCH STUCK TO FLOOR FROM SLAVE CYLINDER GOING OUT. *TR
Mileage: 57,000
CLUTCH STUCK TO FLOOR FROM SLAVE CYLINDER GOING OUT. *TR
Mileage: 57,000
WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED PRESSED CLUTCH PEDAL AND IT STAYED ON THE FLOOR ACCOMPANIED BY A VERY CHARACTERISTIC AND STRONG BURNING SMELL, UNABLE TO CHANGE GEARS, CAR RENDERED INOPERABLE. SAFETY HAZARD, STUCK IN GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR
Mileage: 36,000
DRIVING, PUSH CLUTCH IN IT STAY ON THE FLOOR, CANNOT SHIFT, DANGEROUS ON THE FREEWAY, SAFETY HAZZARD, THERE ARE NUMEROUS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 2008 350Z NISSAN NEED TO DO A RECALL BEFORE SOMEONE GET KILL OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Mileage: 27,863
I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 NISSAN 350Z ON THE FREEWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH AND WHEN I STEPPED ON THE CLUTCH TO SWITCH GEARS IT WAS STUCK ON THE FLOOR AND DIDN'T COME BACK UP. THE CLUTCH WAS STUCK IN GEAR AND I HAD TO PULL OVER AND GET IT TOWED. *TR
Mileage: 50,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN 350Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS WAITING ON THE RESULTS. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED OF A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V521000 (AIR BAGS) AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,000.
Mileage: 57,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 NISSAN 350Z. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CLUTCH FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN ENGAGED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED WITH FORCE AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE SLAVE CYLINDER WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Mileage: 60,000
THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER HAS GONE OUT ON THE VEHICLE 3 TIMES SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. IT HAS COST ME OVER $500 EACH REPAIR. OTHERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS. THE SECOND TIME IT WENT OUT WAS IN A PARKING LOT WHEN I WAS GOING SLOW AND THE THIRD TIME HAPPENED THIS MORNING WHEN I LEFT FOR WORK. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND ALL NISSAN WANTS TO DO IS CHARGE OFF THE WALL PRICES. I'M A MASTER MECHANIC AND THE DESIGN OF THIS WHOLE SYSTEM IS RIDICULOUS. *TR
THE VEHICLE IS A 2008 350Z ROADSTER WITH 15,000 MILES, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT AROUND 7500 MILES (UNDER WARRANTY) DUE TO BEARINGS THAT WERE BROKEN. WHEN THE CAR IS BROUGHT TO MID-HIGH REVS IN 1ST/2ND GEAR, THE CLUTCH WILL DISENGAGE AND FALL TO THE FLOOR. THIS IS ACCOMPANIED BY A VERY STRONG BURNING SMELL (CHARACTERISTIC CLUTCH BURNING SMELL) AND IS EXTREMELY DAMAGING TO THE CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION. THE CLUTCH PEDAL HAS TO BE PULLED UP MANUALLY AND IS NOTICEABLY SOFTER AFTER THIS HAPPENS. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED 2-3 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. THIS PROBLEM WAS NOTICED IN 2007 350Z'S AND HAS CONTINUED INTO THE 2008 350Z'S. THE 350Z MENTIONED IN THIS REPORT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 10/07. *TR
Mileage: 14,500
DRIVING ON FREEWAY APPROXIMATELY 70-75 MPH, WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO CLUTCH PEDAL I REALIZE THERE IS LITTLE TO NO CLUTCH PEDAL PRESSURE AND CLUTCH PEDAL STICKS TO THE FLOOR AND HAS TO BE PULLED BACK WITH MY FOOT. FELT SLIGHT PEDAL PRESSURE AT THE END OF PEDAL TRAVEL AND DISENGAGED AND CHANGED GEARS INTO NEUTRAL. PUMPED CLUTCH WHILE IN NEUTRAL TO SEE IF CLUTCH PEDAL PRESSURE COULD RETURN TO NORMAL WITH NO SUCCESS. CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT REMAINED THE SAME AT THE VERY END OF TRAVEL AND WOULD NO LONGER GO INTO GEAR. CONTINUED PUMPING CLUTCH PEDAL AND WAS LUCKY TO GET BACK INTO SIXTH GEAR WITH A GRIND INTO GEAR TO CONTINUE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT SPEED. STILL PEDAL CONTINUED TO STICK HALFWAY OR MORE DOWN AND HAD TO BE RETURNED BACK TO STATIC POSITION MANUALLY. DROVE TO LOCAL DEALER SINCE WAS ON THE WAY TO INTENDED DESTINATION WHERE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED AND EACH GEAR ENGAGEMENT BEING IRREGULAR TO NORMAL. LEFT CAR AT DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY SINCE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMEN
Mileage: 24,597
DRIVING ON FREEWAY APPROXIMATELY 70-75 MPH, WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO CLUTCH PEDAL I REALIZE THERE IS LITTLE TO NO CLUTCH PEDAL PRESSURE AND CLUTCH PEDAL STICKS TO THE FLOOR AND HAS TO BE PULLED BACK WITH MY FOOT. FELT SLIGHT PEDAL PRESSURE AT THE END OF PEDAL TRAVEL AND DISENGAGED AND CHANGED GEARS INTO NEUTRAL. PUMPED CLUTCH WHILE IN NEUTRAL TO SEE IF CLUTCH PEDAL PRESSURE COULD RETURN TO NORMAL WITH NO SUCCESS. CLUTCH ENGAGEMENT REMAINED THE SAME AT THE VERY END OF TRAVEL AND WOULD NO LONGER GO INTO GEAR. CONTINUED PUMPING CLUTCH PEDAL AND WAS LUCKY TO GET BACK INTO SIXTH GEAR WITH A GRIND INTO GEAR TO CONTINUE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT SPEED. STILL PEDAL CONTINUED TO STICK HALFWAY OR MORE DOWN AND HAD TO BE RETURNED BACK TO STATIC POSITION MANUALLY. DROVE TO LOCAL DEALER SINCE WAS ON THE WAY TO INTENDED DESTINATION WHERE PROBLEM STILL OCCURRED AND EACH GEAR ENGAGEMENT BEING IRREGULAR TO NORMAL. LEFT CAR AT DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY SINCE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMEN
Mileage: 24,597
2008 NISSAN 350Z NISMO / CLUTCH PEDAL STICKS,WHEN THE GEAR ENGAGES IT`S VERY BOUNCY?. *TR
Mileage: 13,000
WHEN RPMS ARE HIGH IN FIRST GEAR, THE CLUTCH DISENGAGES TO THE HALFWAY POINT AND YOU LOSE ALL POWER TO THE WHEELS. THIS IS USUALLY FOLLOWED BY A BURNING CLUTCH SMELL. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT NISSAN RECALLED THE 2007 350Z FOR THE SAME ISSUE (CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER), BUT IT'S APPARENT THAT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES WITH THE 2008 MODEL AND I'M ASKING THAT THE NHTSA INSTRUCT NISSAN TO EXTEND THE FIX TO 2008 MODELS. *TR
Mileage: 5,500
CLUTCH THROWOUT BEARING NOISE & HARD SHIFTING FROM FACTORY. *TR
Mileage: 1,500
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 WAS 4,500 UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ WHEN THE CONSUMER SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR FROM FIRST GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD GRIND AND WOULD NOT ENGAGE. UPDATED 02/26/09. *JB
Mileage: 4,500
Driver Airbag Inflator Rupture
Inner Tie Rod Failures
Side curtain air bags may deploy inadvertently
Reduced Power After Engine Stall
Loss of motive power due to broken crankshaft with no ability to restart.
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.