NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 53 owner complaints for the 2006 Nissan 3 Series. Most complaints involve air bags (14) and wheels (14).
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each 3 Series model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 2 |
| 2003 | 275 |
| 2004 | 144 |
| 2005 | 83 |
| 2006 | 53 |
| 2007 | 73 |
| 2008 | 24 |
| 2009 | 153 |
| 2010 | 110 |
| 2011 | 40 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2013 | 17 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 NISSAN 350Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE PEARSON NISSAN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE AIR BAG MODULES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND WAS REPAIRED TWICE A YEAR FOR THE PAST SEVEN YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,532.”
“I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED VEHICLE AT NORFOLK MOTORSPORTS IN NORFOLK VA. THEY HAD BOUGHT THE VEHICLE THRU INSPECTION AND IT DID NOT PASS IT, ACCORDING TO THE MANAGER, IT WAS MISSING THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER AND THEY WAS GOING TO BUY THE WHOLE COMPONENT FOR IT INSTEAD. I HAD A MEETING WITH THE OWNER OF THE COMPANY ALONG WITH THE MANAGER, SALESPERSON; THE OWNER HAD STATED TO ME AND MY FIANC AT THE TIME THAT HE COULD HAVE EASILY CLIPPED THE WIRE TO THE SEAT AND IT WOULD PASS INSPECTION. ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER I FINALLY RECEIVED THE VEHICLE AND NOW THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT IS SHOWING THAT ITS ON "OFF", TO ME, THIS INDICATES THAT THEY TRIPPED THE WIRE TO LET IT PASS INSPECTION. I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THEY TRIPPED THE WIRES FOR THE TIRES LIGHTS ON IT. I HAD ASKED FOR MONEY BACK BUT WOULD NOT GIVE IT TO ME SINCE IT IS CONSIDERED A "LEMON". THEY ARE ONLY WILLING TO GIVE ME A TRADE-IN INSTEAD. TILL THIS DAY I STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE TITLE BECAUSE AT THE TIME OF SALE THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO CALL THE DAY BEFORE AND THEIR ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL WOULD GIVE IT TO ME. THEY HAVE BEEN GIVING THE RUN-AROUND ON THIS VEHICLE THAT I HAVE PAID IN CASH FOR. THEY NOW WANT TO ME…”
“ON 10/6/2010 I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND EVALUATION OF PROBLEM IN SHIFTING MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION HAD PROBLEM WITH 1-2 AND 4-3 SHIFTS WITH GRINDING AND DIFFICULTY SHIFTING. THE CAR WAS FOUND TO HAVE A FAULTY TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO FOUND TO HAVE, AS STATED BY THE TECH, NO VISIBLE OIL IN THE ENGINE. THIS INDICATES A CONSUMPTION OF 5+ QUARTS WITHIN 6500 MILES. A TSB BY NISSAN: NTB07-088 DATES BACK TO 2007 OF HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION. THE NEWEST TSB (NTB07-088D) ONLY REPLACES THE SHORT-BLOCK OF THE ENGINE AS WAS DONE BY THE DEALER. THIS HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE DAMAGE OF THE ENGINE DUE TO OIL STARVATION, AS THE TSB COVERS ONLY PARTIAL OIL CONSUMPTION, NOT NEAR TOTAL AS IN THIS CASE. AS OF THE REPAIR, THE ENGINE HAS A ROUGHER IDLE AND THE NEW TRANSMISSION IS STILL DIFFICULT TO SHIFT FROM NOW 1-2 AND 5-6. *TR”
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
1 safety recall as of Nov 13, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 53 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (14), wheels (14), engine and engine cooling (14). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.