2010 Nissan 370Z

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2010 Nissan 370Z has 148 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (42% of all complaints), specifically: nissan listen up ------------------------------ this is a known issue with the nissan steering lock mechanism as others have reported. my car was stranded in the middle of nowhere. could not start the car, the manual key was not help. car would not start. i tried to order the part, steering lock.

1 crash report 1 injury

148

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

STEERING

62 complaints

42%

• NISSAN LISTEN UP ------------------------------ THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE NISSAN STEERING LOCK MECHANISM AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. MY CAR WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. COULD NOT START THE CAR, THE MANUAL KEY WAS NOT HELP. CAR WOULD NOT START. I TRIED TO ORDER THE PART, STEERING LOCK
• STEERING LOCK MECHANISM FAILS, CAR WILL NOT START. IMPOSSIBLE TO TOW OUT OR PUSH OUT IF INSIDE NARROW GARAGE, OR GARAGE THAT REQUIRES MANEUVERING BECAUSE STEERING COLUMN IS LOCKED. THE SAME UNIT HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR NISSAN GTR - MUST BE RECALLED FOR 370Z, AS WELL. HAS VERY DANGEROUS POTENTIAL TO LE
• KNOWN ISSUE ON SOME 370ZS,NISSAN GTRS AND ALTIMAS. WHEN STEERING LOCK FAILS CAR WILL NOT NOT START, WITHOUT LOCK RELEASE PUSH BUTTON START IS RENDERED USELESS. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT CHOSE NOT TO CORRECT IT. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“NISSAN LISTEN UP ------------------------------ THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE NISSAN STEERING LOCK MECHANISM AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. MY CAR WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. COULD NOT START THE CAR, THE MANUAL KEY WAS NOT HELP. CAR WOULD NOT START. I TRIED TO ORDER THE PART, STEERING LOCK”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

30 complaints

20%

• KNOWN ISSUE ON SOME 370ZS,NISSAN GTRS AND ALTIMAS. WHEN STEERING LOCK FAILS CAR WILL NOT NOT START, WITHOUT LOCK RELEASE PUSH BUTTON START IS RENDERED USELESS. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT CHOSE NOT TO CORRECT IT. *TR
• STEERING LOCK RELAY FAILED AND CAUSED WHEEL TO REMAIN LOCKED (CAR WILL NOT START). COST OVER $1,000 AFTER LABOR AND TOW. WIDELY DOCUMENTED ISSUE ON MANY WEBSITES AND CAR FORUMS (THE370Z.COM). ALSO, ISSUE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY NISSAN FOR THE GT-R AND EVEN REMOVED THIS STEERING LOCK FROM NEWER 2011 MO
• DEALER SAYS IT'S THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK ISSUE. WARRANTY EXPIRED AND NOW THEY'RE ASKING 1,200 TO FIX THE ISSUE FOR PARTS AND LABOR. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. APPARENTLY IT'S A COMMON ISSUE FOR ALL 2009 AND 2010 Z'S AND THEY'RE ONLY RECALLING SOME 2010 MODELS. I NEED THIS RECALLED BECAUSE OF THE OBVIOUS DE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“KNOWN ISSUE ON SOME 370ZS,NISSAN GTRS AND ALTIMAS. WHEN STEERING LOCK FAILS CAR WILL NOT NOT START, WITHOUT LOCK RELEASE PUSH BUTTON START IS RENDERED USELESS. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT CHOSE NOT TO CORRECT IT. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

26 complaints

18%

• REAR DIFF FAILED DUE TO OVERHEATING, REPLACEMENT UNIT FAILED 6 MONTHS LATER. *TR
• THERE IS A RECURRING ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE WHERE IF DRIVING LONG DISTANCES SUDDENLY THE CLUTCH WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR AND EVENTUALLY LOSE ALL RESISTANCE AND MAKE THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. I DISCOVERED THIS SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT 20000 MILES. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE PLACE I PURCHASED FR
• WHILE DRIVING THE CAR UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD NOT COME UP FROM THE FLOOR AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP SIGN. AFTER LETTING THE CAR SIT FOR APPROX. 90 MINUTES, THE CLUTCH PEDAL OPERATION APPEARED TO RETURN TO NORMAL. I WENT ONLINE TO RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM AND FOU

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“REAR DIFF FAILED DUE TO OVERHEATING, REPLACEMENT UNIT FAILED 6 MONTHS LATER. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

8 complaints

• WAS DRIVING ON THE SERVICE ROAD AS I EXITED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND I LOST CLUTCH PRESSURE. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 370Z AND NISSAN NEEDS TO FIX THIS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. I WAS LEFT STRANDED ON THE SERVICE ROAD WITH NO CLUTCH PRESSURE.
• SO I HAVE A 2010 370Z (31K MILES) AND IT HAS BEEN RUNNING GREAT UP UNTIL YESTERDAY. I GOT IN TO START IT AND IT WOULDN'T START. THE ONLY THING I NOTICED WAS THE INTELLIGENT KEY SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT WAS ON. JUST TO BE SURE, I CHECKED THE BATTERY IN MY REMOTE AND, OF COURSE, ALSO PUT THE REMOTE IN
• MY NISSAN 370Z IS OUT OF COMMISSION FOR A CONFIRMED ESCL FAILURE - A KNOWN RECALL PART!!! NISSAN REFUSES TO HELP ME IN ANYWAY. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, I WAS TOLD IT HAD TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER BEFORE THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME. I HAD IT TOWED 35MILES OUT OF POCKET. THE TECHNICIANS CONFIR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“WAS DRIVING ON THE SERVICE ROAD AS I EXITED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND I LOST CLUTCH PRESSURE. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 370Z AND NISSAN NEEDS TO FIX THIS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. I WAS LEFT STRANDED ON THE SERVICE ROAD WITH NO CLUTCH PRESSURE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

6 complaints

• THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT IS WORN IN THE AREA OF THE SEAT AIRBAG AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED IN THE EVENT OF A SIDE CRASH. THE WEAR AREA IS WEAKER THAN DESIGNED AND THIS MAY ALLOW THE AIRBAG TO NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IF AND WHEN REQUIRED. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT WAS A PASSENGER IN A 2010 NISSAN 370Z. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE THAT THE PASSENGER WAS IN SPUN AROUND. WHEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER WAS B
• SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM LIGHT IS FLASHING ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. ALSO, AIR BAG 2 DEACTIVATION LIGHT IS LIT. WENT TO NISSAN DEALER. ERROR CODE IS B1018, OCCUPANT SENSOR. DEALER STATES THAT OCCUPANT SENSOR HAS FAILED, AND THEY WANT $4700 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE BASE ASSEMBLY OF THE SEAT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“THE FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT IS WORN IN THE AREA OF THE SEAT AIRBAG AND I AM CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED IN THE EVENT OF A SIDE CRASH. THE WEAR AREA IS WEAKER THAN DESIGNED AND THIS MAY ALLOW THE AIRBAG TO NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IF AND WHEN REQUIRED. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 148 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
STEERING: NISSAN LISTEN UP ------------------------------ THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE NISSAN STEERING LOCK MECHANISM AS OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. MY CAR WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. COULD NOT START THE CAR, THE MANUAL KEY WAS NOT HELP. CAR WOULD NOT START. I TRIED TO ORDER THE PART, STEERING LOCK
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: KNOWN ISSUE ON SOME 370ZS,NISSAN GTRS AND ALTIMAS. WHEN STEERING LOCK FAILS CAR WILL NOT NOT START, WITHOUT LOCK RELEASE PUSH BUTTON START IS RENDERED USELESS. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT CHOSE NOT TO CORRECT IT. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: REAR DIFF FAILED DUE TO OVERHEATING, REPLACEMENT UNIT FAILED 6 MONTHS LATER. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: WAS DRIVING ON THE SERVICE ROAD AS I EXITED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND I LOST CLUTCH PRESSURE. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 370Z AND NISSAN NEEDS TO FIX THIS. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. I WAS LEFT STRANDED ON THE SERVICE ROAD WITH NO CLUTCH PRESSURE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)