100 of the
499 complaints filed about the Nissan 370Z
are about the transmission —
20% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2009.
100
Complaints
20%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
While driving my 2014 Nissan 370Z with only around 43,000 miles, the car suddenly made a loud bang in the rear area and then would not shift normally in automatic mode while I was on the highway with my child in the car. When I inspected the underside afterward, there were no fluids leaking and I had not hit anything that could have caused the noise or malfunction of the output sensor. Shortly after, the vehicle went into limp mode and would not shift past 2nd or possibly 3rd gear. Manual mode also stopped working. This limited the car to around 25 mph, creating a dangerous situation in traffic since it could not accelerate normally. The check engine light came on, and a scan revealed a P0720 Speed Sensor Circuit failure. The dealer advised replacing the valve body assembly at a cost of nearly $5,000. A transmission electronics failure of this kind at such low mileage is not normal wear and tear. Research shows that other Nissan and Infiniti owners with the same 7-speed automatic transmission have experienced the same problem. This appears to be a recurring defect that presents a serious safety risk when the vehicle suddenly loses acceleration ability.
NHTSA complaint #11683803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The seal on the Clutch Slave Cylinder failed and contaminated the hydraulic system in the car. This prevented the car from being able to enter gear as the clutch could not be disengaged. This resulted in me being stuck in the middle of the road, unable to move the car unless I turned the car off, stuck it in gear, then started it up and gunned the engine at the same time. My car is a 2017, with only 31,000 miles on it. The dealership would not cover it under the power train warranty despite the fact that the CSC is located within the transmission casing and is an intrinsic part of the power train. Hydraulic cylinders are not a wear item. This should not happen at 31,000 miles. Nissan was no help and only recommendation was Service Bulletin SB-10051926-2342, which recommends swapping the clutch fluid for a higher temperature fluid. This only solved the problem for about a week before the Concentric Slave Cylinder failed completely. There is currently a lawsuit, Nguyen vs. Nissan North America, going through federal courts that in the process of discovery revealed through internal emails Nissan is aware that this failure is a result of a design flaw which makes it particularly susceptible to the kind of high temperatures developed inside the transmission. Please force Nissan to recall these parts. Its not right to have to pay 2000 dollars every other year to replace hydraulic cylinders in lightly used cars.
NHTSA complaint #11418927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER FAILED WHICH RESULTS IN NOT BEING ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR ONCE YOU HAVE STOPPED AND PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. THIS FAILURE HAPPENED AT AN INTERSECTION AND CAUSED ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO PROCEED. ONE CAR ALMOST SLAMMED INTO ME. NISSAN HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS INFERIOR PLASTIC PART SINCE 2009 AND HAS NOT CHANGED ANYTHING.
NHTSA complaint #11406159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS 40000 AND IT'S ALREADY SLIPPING GOING FROM 5TH GEAR TO 4TH GEAR ALSO WHEN I DO A HARD STOP THE VEHICLE WON'T ACCELERATE FOR A SEC THEN IT WILL JUMP INTO GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #11388251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CLUTCH WOULD NOT COME OFF THE FLOORBOARD. I COULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. THIS HAPPEN 3 DIFFERENT TIMES AFTER I WOULD MAKE LONG FREEWAY TRIPS WITHOUT SHIFTING. I HAD 3 DIFFERENT, WELL ESTABLISHED MECHANICS LOOK AT MY AND DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. AS I WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. I FOUND A LAWSUIT AGAINST NISSAN FOR A FAULTY (CONCENTRIC) CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER! ON 2 OF THE OCCASIONS I WOULD LET MY CAR COOL DOWN FOR AN HOUR OR SO AND IT WOULD BE FINE. ON THIS OCCASION, I LET MY SIT OVER NIGHT. THE NEXT DAY MY CLUTCH WAS STILL ON THE FLOOR. I FULLED THE CLUTCH OFF THE FLOOR WITH MY FOOT. I TURNED THE CAR ON. THE CAR LUNGED FORWARD ALMOST GOING INTO THE HOTEL BUILDING. I PULLED THE E-BREAK AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP IN RENTON WA. I HAD TO EXPLAIN TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE LAWSUIT ON THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER. HE HAD NOT HEARD OF IT. I CONTACTED ME LATER AND AGREED IT WAS THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER. I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY 2 TIMES AND WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT PAST 2ND GEAR THE TWO TIMES BEFORE. THIS LAST TIME I WAS COMING OFF THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO COAST INTO THE NEAREST DRIVE. I WAS CAUGHT OFF GUARD , I ROLLED THROUGH ONE FOUR WAY STOP WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON. SO NOT TO GET STUCK IN MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #11329488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONCENTRIC SLAVE CYLINDER IN MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND FAILED RANDOMLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE CLUTCH JUST GOT STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND I COULD NOT GET IT BACK UP.THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT IS GOING TO FAIL AND LEAVING YOU STRANDED ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #11327498 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS I BEGAN TO START MY VEHICLE ONE DAY, THE CLUTCH PEDAL WENT STRAIGHT TO THE GROUND BECAUSE IT HAD NO PRESSURE ON IT. I FOUND THAT THE CLUTCH FLUID WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY AND REFILLED IT. AFTER IT REBUILT PRESSURE, IT WAS OPERABLE AGAIN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS UNTIL IT COMPLETELY LOST PRESSURE AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, SO I HAD TO PULL OVER. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID HAD COMPLETELY EMPTIED AGAIN. AFTER LOTS OF RESEARCH ONLINE, I FOUND THAT THERE IS A PLAGUING PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER. (I AM MECHANICALLY INCLINED AND CAPABLE OF AUTO REPAIRS). I ORDERED THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER ONLINE AND REPLACED IT MYSELF FOR A PERMANENT FIX WITH AN OEM CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER. THERE'S NO TELLING HOW LONG THIS ONE WILL LAST BECAUSE NISSAN MAKES THESE PARTS OUT OF A VERY CHEAP PLASTIC THAT IS SUBJECT TO FAIL AT ANY TIME. THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER COST ME $188 PLUS THE COSTS OF RENTING A GARAGE BAY, PAYMENT FOR A FRIEND'S ASSISTANCE, AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, AS WELL AS TIME OFF OF WORK. THE SAFETY MATTER BEHIND THIS GREATLY CONCERNS ME AS I PURCHASED MY 370Z BRAND NEW IN OCTOBER 2015 AND TAKE GREAT CARE OF IT. THE VEHICLE HAD 39K MILES AT THE TIME OF THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER FAILURE. HOW IS IT THAT NISSAN CAN CONTINUE TO MAKE SUCH A CHEAP, HIGH-FAILURE PART THAT GREATLY ENDANGERS SAFETY AND NOT UPGRADE THE PART AND FIX THE HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS THAT HAVE FAILED? THE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER CAN BE FOUND ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND AFTER-MARKET COMPANIES HAVE TAKEN IT INTO THEIR OWN HANDS TO PRODUCE THEIR OWN CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER AND MASTER CYLINDER TO ALLEVIATE THE ISSUES CAUSED BY NISSAN. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN THE FIRST PROBLEM OCCURRED, AND IN MOTION DURING THE SECOND FAILURE. THE AVERAGE MECHANIC'S QUOTED RATE TO FIX THIS ISSUE RANGED FROM $1000 TO $1375.
NHTSA complaint #11287807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUMMARY: THE VEHICLE CONCENTRIC SLAVE CYLINDER (CSC), A COMPONENT OF THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH, FAILED ABRUPTLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, LEAVING THE VEHICLE FORCED IN-GEAR AND UNABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF GEARS OR TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT DAMAGING THE TRANSMISSION. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISK SINCE IT HAPPENS ABRUPTLY AND REMOVES CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE DRIVER; DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE, THIS CAN ALSO CREATE A PANIC-SITUATION SIMILAR TO BRAKE, STEERING, OR THROTTLE FAILURES SINCE THE CLUTCH IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF CONTROLLING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE IN ALL SCENARIOS. EVENT: WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR (AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH) THE CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD NOT RETURN ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN 3RD GEAR. I HAD TO STALL THE VEHICLE INTENTIONALLY, THUS AT HIGH SPEED (APPROXIMATELY 10+MPH) AND IN TRAFFIC, THE TIRES OF THE VEHICLE LOCKED-UP AND THE CAR SKIDDED TO A STOP. THIS ALSO IMPARTED DRIVETRAIN AND ENGINE SHOCK DUE TO THE LARGE MECHANICAL FORCES INVOLVED. CONCERNS: IN ALMOST ALL TYPICAL DRIVING SCENARIOS, THIS FAILURE CAN BE DEADLY. IF THIS HAPPENS ON A TWO-LANE HIGHWAY THIS CAN LEAD TO HEAD-ON COLLISIONS. IF IT HAPPENS ON A FREEWAY THAT SEES AN ABRUPT STOP, THIS CAN LEAD TO A MULTI-CAR COLLISION. IF THIS HAPPENS ON A ROAD WITH BENDS OR TURNS THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL SUCH THAT THE VEHICLE MAY BE OFF-ROAD OR OVER GUARDRAILS. WHY NHSTA INVOLVEMENT IS CRITICAL: THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN AND A COMMON FAILURE MODE OF CARS WITH THIS SAME NISSAN TRANSMISSION, AND IT IS CAUSED BY NEGLIGENT DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING PRACTICES BY NISSAN. FAILED CLASS-ACTION LAWSUITS PUT TOGETHER BY SMALL TEAMS OF PEOPLE HAVE NOT RESULTED IN REMOVING THIS SAFETY CONCERN FROM THOSE WHO HAVEN'T SEEN THE FAILURE YET. MY VEHICLE IS A WELL MAINTAINED 2014 NISSAN 370Z WITH LESS THAN 20,000 MILES ON IT, FOR REFERENCE.
NHTSA complaint #11228501 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DASH STARTS UNEXPECTEDLLY TO CRACK AND FALL APART. EVEN WHEN MY VEHICLE HAS TINT IN WINDOWS SINCE NEW. TRANSMISSION ALWAYS NOISY UNTIL YOU PRESS DOWN THE CLUTCH
NHTSA complaint #11196462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER FAILED ON OUR 370Z AS THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND COUNTY ROADS. THE CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD NOT RETURN ALL THE WAY BACK UP THUS CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO BE STUCK IN THE GEAR IT WAS IN, AND BE LESS IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER DOING MORE RESEARCH SINCE, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE NISSAN 370Z DUE TO THE POOR DESIGN OF USING A PLASTIC CONSTRUCTED SLAVE CYLINDER THAT IS MOUNTED IN THE TRANSMISSION BELL HOUSING. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NISSAN SHOULD HAVE RECALLED BY THIS POINT!
NHTSA complaint #11152966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN I WENT TO SHIFT INTO ANOTHER GEAR. THE PEDAL FELT "LIGHT", MEANING IT HAD LESS RESISTANCE IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE STROKE. IN THE REMAINING HALF OF THE STROKE THE CLUTCH DISENGAGED ENOUGH TO SHIFT GEARS. WHEN RELEASING THE CLUTCH PEDAL, IT REMAINED STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND I HAD TO FLIP IT TO ITS RELEASED POSITION WITH MY FOOT. THIS BEHAVIOR CONTINUED UNTIL I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A SERVICE CENTER
NHTSA complaint #11113433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER DRIVING MY 2014 NISSAN 370Z FOR 40,000 MILES, THE CLUTCH STUCK TO THE FLOOR. I WAS AT AN INTERSECTION AND FINALLY ABLE TO PULL THE CLUTCH PEDAL UP WITH MY FOOT. AT THE NEXT INTERSECTION, AGAIN THE CLUTCH STAYED DOWN AND AGAIN I WAS ABLE TO PULL IT UP TO SHIFT GEARS. UPON THE THIRD SHIFTING OF GEARS, THE CLUTCH STAYED ON THE FLOOR AND EVEN LIFTING IT WITH MY FOOT, I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IT INTO ANY GEAR. HAD I BEEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY SHIFTING GEARS I MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THEREFORE I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN IN A HAZARDOUS SITUATION FOR BOTH MYSELF AND OTHER DRIVERS.
NHTSA complaint #11101448 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 NISSAN 370Z. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 5 MPH. THE DEALER (NISSAN OF BURLINGAME, 101 CALIFORNIA DRIVE, BURLINGAME CA 94010) DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE HARNESS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
NHTSA complaint #11092575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
PROBLEM STARTED WITH AN IGNITION ISSUE WHERE THE CAR WOULD TURN ON AND WOULD GO THROUGH THE NORMAL START AND INSTEAD OF HAVING THE ENGINE TURN ON IT WOULD CRANK BUT THEN SHUT OFF. CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE NOT IN ANY KIND OF WEATHER THAT COULD CAUSE ISSUES. MY BATTERY ENDED UP DYING AT SOME POINT AS WELL. THE CAR WAS PARKED AND COVERED. SOME HEAT BUT NOTHING TOO HOT. AND RECENTLY, THERE WAS A LOSS IN POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING TO CAR TO BE UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. IT WOULD RESTART AFTER BEING SHUT OFF BUT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ABLE TO REPLICATED THE ENGINE NOT IGNITING ON FULLY BEFORE SHUTTING DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11081398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER WENT OUT AT AROUND 40K MILES. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH MANY OTHER 370 Z'S. I AM NOW WORRIED THAT I WILL NEED A THIRD CSC.
NHTSA complaint #11063429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK ON JUNE 27TH OF 2017, DRIVING FROM VANCOUVER,WA TO PORTLAND, OR. AS I GOT OFF THE FREEWAY INTO THE EXIT TO MY WORK THERE WAS A STOP LIGHT. I PUT MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND AS SOON AS THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN I ATTEMPTED TO PUT MY CAR INTO CAR AND THE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND WASN'T ABLE TO PUT IT INTO GEAR. I WAS STUCK ON THE LIGHT AND HAD NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO CALL INTO WORK AND CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TOW ME HOME. I WAS VERY UPSET AND ANGRY.
NHTSA complaint #11002420 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HAD NO PRESSURE IN CLUTCH ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND KEPT GETTING STUCK AFTER RELEASING IT. HAD THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL REPLACED, PROBLEM WENT AWAY FOR A WHILE. BUT IT'S BEEN LESS THAN A YEAR, AND I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, AND THE CLUTCH SUDDENLY HAD NO PRESSURE HALFWAY AGAIN. NOW THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER OR CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER. IT HAPPENED SUDDENLY ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO INDICATION OF WARNING. I STILL HAVE STOCK POWER TERRAIN PARTS. I HAVE SEEN MANY PEOPLE ON 370Z FORUM WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10985974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CONCENTRIC SLAVE CYLINDER LEAKED ALL OF THE CLUTCH FLUID WHILE PARKED OVERNIGHT. CLUTCH PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN WE TRIED TO START THE CAR IN THE MORNING. WHILE LOOKING FOR CAUSE OF PROBLEN, I FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON LINE FOR VERY SIMILAR PROBLEM, GOING BACK AS FAR AS AT LEAST 2009 AND UP TO THE CUNNRENT MODEL YEAR. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, NISSAN WONT COVER IT UNDER THEIR POWER TRAIN WARRANTY, SAYING IT IS A CLUTCH ISSUE. IT IS LOCATED INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION BELL HOUSING. MY WARRANTY BOOK DOES NOT EXCLUDE THIS ITEM, NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE CALLS IT PART OF THE CLUTCH ITEM AND CLAIMS ITS NOT COVERED. SO REPAIR HAS BEEN DENIED BY DEALERSHIP AND NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE. I HAVE A CASE NUMBER IF YOU WOULD LIKE IT. THE CONSENSUS IS THAT THIS CYLINDER IS FAILING AND NOT ROBUST BECAUSE IT IS MADE OF PLASTIC, AND IS LOSING ITS ROUND SHAPE WHEN HOT, THEREFORE CAUSING THE SEAL TO FAIL AND THE CLUTCH FLUID TO DRAIN. BY BILL TO REPAIR LOCALLY WAS 1012, WHICH INCLUDED DROPPING THE TRANSMISSION AND INSTALLING A ROBUST (METAL) AFTERMARKET CSC. THIS NISSAN CSC IS A DOCUMENTED FAILING PART AND I FEEL IT SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR REPLACEMENT, WITH OWNERS WHO HAVE ALREADY PAID TO HAVE THE ISSUE FIXED BEING REIMBURSED FOR THEIR EXPENSES. I TALKED TO JENNIFER AT NISSAN CUSTOMER CARE, AND MY CASE NUMBER WAS 25999561
NHTSA complaint #10972373 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.