Most common 2005 Nissan 350Z problems
Share of the 83 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Nissan 350Z complaints by model year
Best 350Z years: 2009, 2008, 2006. Years to avoid: 2003, 2004. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2005 Nissan 350Z:
Wheel separation due to spoke fracture
All of the wheel separation incidents identified in ea07-005 have involved wheels subjected to aftermarket chroming in california.metallurgical analysis of aftermarket chromed wheels obtained from incident vehicles showed significant changes in material properties that can increase the chance of structural failure.Nissan has issued several communications to dealers, both before and after odi's investigation began…
What 2005 Nissan 350Z owners say
Air bags all 32 →
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Nissan 350z. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, another vehicle crashed into the driver side of the vehicle. The vehicle was unoccupied and the air bags did not deploy however, the air bag warning indicator illuminated after the crash. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was taken to Nissan gettel, located on 3530 bee ridge rd, sarasota, fl 34239, where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was advised that she would have to pay out of pocket for the vehicle to be inspected. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 62,451. The VIN was not available.
I have a 2005 Nissan 350z but the incident was not with my car but a my friend's car. He has the same year model Nissan 350z as mine he's airbag light came on after a 1 year of owning he's car. He took it to the dealer and was told that he's airbag module had gone bad. Now he made a choice not to have it replace because the part was $750 dollar. He drove the car like this for about a 6 months was hit by another car and he's air bag's did not deploy because of the module issue and was seriously hurt. Now about 3 days ago my airbag light came on in my car. I just took my car to the dealer today and was told that the airbag module is the issue and will need to be replaced,again the cost to replace is $750 dollars. This is obviously a problem with the part that Nissan is using on there vehicle's. …
Engine & cooling
This has happened three times now. I have been driving my 350 down the highway at about 65 MPH and it just stops running I can push the pedal down and nothing happens. I had it towed into the dealership the first time and they said it was the cam shaft sensor. No big deal right? Well about 2000 miles later it happened again same exact thing. On my way to work in rush hour traffic the car just stopped again, and I was almost rear ended. After sitting in the fast lane for about 3 minutes the car finally started again and I got out of the way and they towed my car to the dealership again. The call came that for the second time the cam shaft sensor was bad, it was replaced again. The last time this happened I was on my way home and the car started doing the same thing. This time I smelled smoke like something was on fire. …
While driving at around 40mph, my 2005 Nissan 350z (41xxx miles) shut down completely. No power, brakes, steering, anything. I glided to a stop and pulled over as best as I could. Every indicator light came on: check engine, service soon, tire pressure, etc. I was on a flat, busy city street going straight when this happened. Prior to this, I had no indication of a potential problem. No check engine light, etc. I called aaa and after about 20 minutes, decided to see if it would start so I could move to a safer place. It started right up. I've since been able to start and drive but this was extremely dangerous. Had this happened on the freeway, it could have been a catastrophe for me and the drivers around me. It's a very concerning safety issue. I've read it is ongoing with nissans the same age as mine. Some were recalled and repaired but I looked up my VIN and it's not covered. …
Transmission & drivetrain
Clutch sticking to floor have to place foot under clutch to pop back in place so I can continue to use clutch. Also, slip light comes on since Nissan of bowie, md rotated my tires, in the 13 yrs I have owned no mechanic has ever done and I question it at Nissan of bowie, md.
Dt: 2005 Nissan 350z. The consumer states the vehicle stalls when going over 70 MPH,this also occurs at lower speeds. There is no warning that this is going to occur. The service engine soon light comes on after the vehicle completely looses power. The vehicle has to be turned all the way off to be started. The vehicle has been taken to the dealership and they replaced the crank shaft sensor. The problem is happening again. This has happened approximately 7 times. This has not caused any accidents.
2005 Nissan 350Z engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 17 / 24 / 20 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2005 Nissan 350Z a good car?
Based on 83 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2005 350Z rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the 350Z at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2005 Nissan 350Z?
The air bags — 32 complaints, 39% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the engine & cooling (19) and transmission & drivetrain (9).
How many recalls does the 2005 Nissan 350Z have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2005 Nissan 350Z. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Nissan 350Z?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2009, 2008 and 2006. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003 and 2004. See the full Nissan 350Z years comparison.
At what mileage do 2005 Nissan 350Z problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 36,000 miles; 68% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.