Problems · by component

2003 Nissan 3 Series power train problems

34 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Nissan 3 Series cite power train, 12% of all 275 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
34
12% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND TOOK NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION CONTROL, FLIP, AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. NUMEROUS UNKNOWN DEALERS AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WERE NOTIFIED, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 20, 2019Power train, EngineODI 11190236
“WHILE DRIVING I HEARD A LOUD POP AND FELT A SLIGHT TREMOR ON THE CLUTCH PEDAL WHICH BECAME VERY SOFT THEN STOPPED WORKING MAKING MY CAR IMMOBILE AFTER GETTING IT HOME I PULLED OUT THE TRANSMISSION AND NOTICED THAT THE PIVOT BOLT FOR THE CLUTCH HAD BROKEN OFF AT THE THREADS DESTROYING THE CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL AND AFTER SOME ONLINE RESEARCH I FOUND OUT THAT IT'S HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER PEOPLE AND MAY BE THE REASON I NEED TO GET MY TRANSMISSION REPAIRED”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 27, 2018Power trainODI 11065421
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A SQUEAKY NOISE. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND TOOK THREE ATTEMPTS BEFORE IT WOULD RESTART. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE CLUTCH; HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL NHTSA. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 14, 2017Power train, Electrical systemODI 11054650
“I PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE AS SECOND OWNER WITH 24,000 MILES. AFTER A 2 YEARS OF USING THIS VEHICLE ON THE WEEKENDS, I START HEARING THE 5TH GEAR GRIND. I DID NOT PAID TO MUCH MIND BECAUSE IT DID IT NOW AND THEM, NOT EVERY TIME. 4 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, IT DID IT MORE OFTEN AND I KNEW IT WAS IN FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS.. ABOUT A WEEK AGO MY 3RD GEAR MADE A VIBRATION AND A HORRIBLE SOUND AND THAT WAS WHEN I KNEW SOMETHING REALLY WRONG WAS GOING ON.. TODAY MY CAR LOST 3RD GEAR, IT WON'T TAKE, AFTER I PUT THE VEHICLE ON 3RD I ACCELERATED AND NOTHING HAPPENS. 5TH GEAR STILL GRINDS AND BUT STILL WORK. IT IS NOT MY CLUTCH BECAUSE 1ST 2ND 4TH AND 5TH AND 6TH STILL VERY STRONG PULL.. NOW I'M DRIVING THIS CAR TO WORK, GETTING MONEY TOGETHER WAITING FOR THE BREAK DOWN OR TRANSMISSION LOCK... I FEEL UNSAFE ON THE ROAD, BUT I DO HAVE TO GET TO WORK I HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE AT THE TIME. I HATE MISTREATING MY Z THIS WAY.... 49,500 MILES ON THE TRANSMISSION..”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 26, 2015Power trainODI 10690866
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 NISSAN 350Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL GRINDING WHEN CHANGING TO THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 24, 2011Power trainODI 10432560
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 9, 2010Power train, Electrical system, VisibilityODI 10371319

Showing 6 of 34 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: clutch assembly

Free remedy

ZF SERVICE IS RECALL CERTAIN CLUTCH KIT ASSEMBLIES, PART NUMBER SX: K70358-01, SHIPPED TO WHOLESALERS AS SERVICE PARTS BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2010, AND MARCH 8, 2011. THESE SERVICE PARTS ARE INTENDED FOR USE ON MODEL YEAR 2003-2006 NISSAN 350Z AND INFINITI G35 VEHICLES. THE SX: K70358-01 CLUTCH KIT CONTAINS AN OVERSIZED CLUTCH DISC.

Power trainReported Jun 24, 2011NHTSA 11E024000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.