Most common 2006 Nissan 350Z problems
Share of the 53 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 2 possible defects involving the 2006 Nissan 350Z:
Wheel failure
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe06-050 based on two consumer complaints alleging incidents of wheel separation while driving due to spoke fracture.one of the incidents resulted in a crash and serious injury when the separated wheel struck a california highway patrol officer on a motorcycle on the opposite side of the freeway.
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 2006 Nissan 350Z owners say
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan 350Z. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH the vehicle became hot, started smoking and it stalled. The contact stated that the vehicle was steered to the side of the road where the hood was lifted. The contact stated that she then observed condensation under the engine compartment. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the head gasket and engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan 350Z. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the accelerator and brake pedals became unresponsive while depressed. The contact was able to pull over and restart the vehicle and the vehicle regained functionality. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and the contact was awaiting a response. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
Wheels & tires
Tire size 265/35ZR19 driving down highway at 55 mph when tire blew out. I was able to lucklily get the shoulder and it looked like my tire was cut open with a can opener on the sidewall. The tpms sensor was working fine and they were never plugged and had plenty of tread. I sent pictures of the damage to continental that just replies they're not warranted. If you google continental blow outs you will see tires and even recalls that look just like mine. I definitely could of been killed or killed someone else if the blowout occurred on a busy highway because I lost control
This complaint is being filed as part of an official california highway patrol investigation into a major injury traffic collision involving a law enforcement officer. The chp mait investigation # is sl-45-06. The traffic collision occurred on October 11, 2006, within los angeles county and involved a 2006 Nissan 350zx. During the collision, the left front wheel separated from the vehicle and bounced over the freeway divider and impacted a law enforcement motor officer traveling upon the opposite side of the freeway. A preliminary inspection of the wheel indicates a probable structural failure of the wheel (mechanical defect). A review of the NHTSA complaint data base indicates that the failure of the wheel is similar to the failure noted in NHTSA complaint #10164822.
Air bags
Driving home only 1/8 mile from my house, I collided head on with a small pick-up truck. My Nissan 350 car spun several times and came to rest. Most of the damage was to the driver side and front end. Front bumper completely gone. Driver side headlight completely gone, passenger side intact. Driver side door can only open a few inches, passenger side-fine. Driver side windshield cracked due to hood being pushed back into car, passenger side-fine. My concern and major complaint is that while my passenger side air bag deployed, the driver side nor the driver side air bags deployed. Had I been traveling at higher speeds or not wearing my seat belt and my air bag did not deploy, I could have seriously been hurt due to this, what I feel to be a, malfunction. …
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.
2006 Nissan 350Z engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 6-speed manual | RWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 17 / 23 / 19 |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2006 Nissan 350Z a good car?
Based on 53 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2006 350Z rates average: 28% fewer complaints than a typical year of the 350Z at the same age. It is one of the best 350Z years by this measure. 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 2006 Nissan 350Z?
The engine & cooling — 18 complaints, 34% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the wheels & tires (17) and air bags (14).
How many recalls does the 2006 Nissan 350Z have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2006 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 2006 Nissan 350Z problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 26,000 miles; 76% 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.