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2004 Nissan 350Z Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2004 Nissan 350Z has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 8 recurring issue clusters, led by “Front tire inner-edge wear and tire noise.” Nissan owner's manuals split service into Schedule 1 (severe) and Schedule 2 (normal). Most US drivers fall under Schedule 1. The biggest preventable failure on Nissan vehicles is CVT transmission damage from extended fluid intervals — owners of Altima, Rogue, Sentra, Pathfinder, and Murano with CVT should not skip it.

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No open recalls on file. NHTSA lists no unrepaired safety recalls for this year, make and model. A recall can be issued at any time, and a specific car can still have one open — check yours by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Known issues & problems for this vehicle

What drivers and federal regulators have officially reported about the 2004 Nissan 350Z.

Reported to NHTSA

Front tire inner-edge wear and tire noise

SUSPENSION, TIRES

50 NHTSA complaints · 2004-07 → 2011-10

“2004 NISSAN 350Z, FRONT TIRES ROAR WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAYS WE NEED NEW TIRES AND IT WILL COST $650. I STATED, THIS IS A NEW CAR AND WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO WEAR THE FRONT TIRES OUT. HE SAYS TO CALL NISSAN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10102197
“FRONT TIRES WORN ON INSIDE DUE TO FAULTY ALIGNNMENT FROM FACTORY. CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN DECEMBER 2003. DURING SECOND SERVICE ( 7,400 MILES) AT PURCHASING DEALERSHIP TIRES WERE BALANCED AND INSPECTED. SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID NOTHING WAS ABNORMAL WITH THE TIRES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10096083
“SEVERE TIRE NOISE/CUPPING FROM FRONT TIRES. THERE IS FEATHERING ALSO. THE FRONT TIRES STARTED MAKING NOISE AROUND 13,000 MILES. THERE IS NOW 20,000 AND IS ALMOST UNDRIVEABLE BECAUSE OF THE NOISE. THE NOISE HAPPENS LOUDEST WHEN THE CAR IS BRAKING”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10129639

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel gauge fluctuating or inaccurate

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

9 NHTSA complaints · 2008-02 → 2013-08

“THE FUEL GAUGE IN MY 2004 NISSAN 350Z FLUCTUATES UP AND DOWN. IT HAPPENS AFTER FUELING, AND UPON DRIVING THE CAR. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT NISSAN SERVICE DEPTS. FOR REPAIR. THE FIRST TIME, THEY SAID IT WAS A FAULTY FUEL SENSOR, AND REPLACED IT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10414774
“NISSAN 350Z HAVE A FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM IN WHICH MANY ARE EXPERIENCING. WHEN THE GAUGE REACHES BELOW 1/4 TANK FULL IT WILL SHOW AS EMPTY. ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF THE GAUGE WILL SHOW AS EMPTY EVEN WHEN FUEL IS IN IT”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10402749
“I HAVE A 2004 NISSAN 350Z TOURING EDITION, I BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS GAUGE FROM WHAT I HAVE NOTICED IS WHEN THE GAUGE IS BELOW THE HALF IT STARTS FLUCTUATING FROM E TO ABOUT A 1/4 OR EVEN TO 1/2 TANK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10330137

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Clutch and flywheel failure

POWER TRAIN

8 NHTSA complaints · 2005-08 → 2015-11

“CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO FLOOR WHEN TAKING OFF AT A GREEN LIGHT - HALF A SECOND LATER, IT POPS OUT. CLUTCH, SLAVE CYLINDER, AND FLYWHEEL HAD TO BE REPLACED. CLUTCH WORN OUT PREMATURELY. *AK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10190803
“2004 NISSAN 350Z CLUTCH FAILED WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE NEEDED A FLYWHEEL. *JB”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10148710
“CAR BEGAN SHIFTING FUNNY, UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CLUTCH AND FLY WHEEL WERE BAD. CAR ONLY HAS 10000 MILES ON IT AND OWNED LESS THAN A YEAR. CLUTCH AND FLY WHEEL REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE, AFTER MANY ARGUMENTS WITH NISSAN. *NM”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10133032

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Convertible top fails to operate properly

STRUCTURE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2006-02 → 2014-04

“ON 2004 NISSAN 350Z THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WILL STICK IN THE HALF OPEN HALF CLOSED POSITION. NISSAN WILL NOT HELP FIX THIS COSTLY REPAIR $2200-$3000. THE MOTORS THAT CONTROL THE TOP CALLED THE (FIFTH BOW MOTOR) WILL GO OUT WITHOUT NOTICE. NO WAY TO MANUALLY CLOSE THE TOP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10578468
“MY 2004 350Z ROADSTER'S CONVERTIBLE TOP RETRACTS INTO HOLDER WHEN DOWN, BUT THE COVER OF THAT AREA WILL NOT COMPLETELY CLOSE CONSISTENTLY. APPROXIMATELY, 80% OF THE TIME, THE COVER STOPS TWO TO THREE INCHES BEFORE IT SHOULD AND THE CONVERTIBLE TOP OPEN LIGHT INDICATOR IS ON”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10149326
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CONVERTIBLE TOP DOES NOT GO UP AND DOWN PROPERLY, THIS CAUSES THE DEFROSTER TO DISENGAGE FROM THE REAR WINDOW. ALSO, THE METAL IN THE FRAME DAMAGES THE TOP AND IT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10152958

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Excessive engine oil consumption

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

3 NHTSA complaints · 2005-03 → 2011-03

“2004 NISSAN 350Z. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING MOTOR PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE CONSUMED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF OIL”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10387148
“MY 2004 NISSAN 350Z WITH 36,000 MILES USES ONE QUART OF OIL EVERY 500 MILES. MY FACTORY POWERTRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRED JANUARY 31, 2009 (34 DAYS AGO)”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10260662
“I PURCHASED A 2004 NISSAN 350Z TOURING MODEL IN JULY 2004 AND HAVE PUT APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES ON IT SINCE THEN. THE CAR RAN OUT OF OIL IN THE FIRST 5,000 MILES. SINCE THEN, I HAVE HAD TO ADD, ON AVERAGE, AROUND 2 TO 3 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 3,000 MILES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10115963

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Fuel tank will not fill completely

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

9 NHTSA complaints · 2004-05 → 2013-06

“I HAVE A 2004 350Z NISSAN I BOUGHT USED IN 2007 @ 16K MILES. I'M UNABLE TO FILL THE FUEL TANK COMPLETELY. APPARENTLY THE FUEL NOZZLE SENSOR DETECTS THE TANK AS FILLED WHEN IT IS NOT. BEFORE TANK FUEL GAUGE SHOWS 3/4 FILLED @ 12-13 GALLONS WHEN NOZZLE SHUTS OFF RANDOMLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10423024
“I CAN'T FILL UP NO MORE THEN 5 GALLONS WHEN THE GAS GAUGE IS READING EMPTY. THE GAS TANK WILL REFUSE FUEL AND OVERFLOW OUT OF THE FILLER CAUSING IT TO GET ALL OVER THE BODY. I HATE TO MAKE FREQUENT STOPS FOR GAS AGAIN AND AGAIN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10217857
“PURCHASED A 2004 350Z TOURING MODEL BRAND NEW IN MARCH 2004. UNABLE TO PUT GASOLINE INTO TANK. AUTOMATIC FUNCTION ON GAS PUMP ACTIVATES NO MATTER HOW FAST YOU ATTEMPT TO INSERT FUEL. EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM AT NUMEROUS SERVICE STATIONS. FUEL TANK IS BEING REPLACED.*MR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10073235

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Air bag warning light illuminated

AIR BAGS

13 NHTSA complaints · 2008-01 → 2022-02

“The airbag light came on for no reason, has never come on before. No accidents, fender bender, no bumps. Shop read an error code of B1129. Checked right passenger SRS seat connections as code suggests and reset the light. Light came back on in two days”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11450080
“AIRBAG LIGHT ON 2004 350Z TOURING ROADSTER CONTINUES TO FLASH. DIAGNOSTIC INVESTIGATION GIVES NO PARTICULAR CODE THAT LEADS TO PROMPT CORRECTION OF AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. *TR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10386183
“AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WARNING LIGHT CONSISTENTLY COMES ON. AIRBAG MAY DEPLOY AT ANYTIME. DEALER (BARON NISSAN, GREENVALE, NY) HAS ATTEMPTED 3 REPAIRS, WITH NO SUCCESS. NISSAN NORTH AMERICA WILL NOT REMEDY UNDER WARRANTY.*CN”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10213758

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Engine stall and intermittent no-start

ENGINE

5 NHTSA complaints · 2006-02 → 2018-02

“350Z RECALL. 2004 350Z . ORIGINAL OWNER OF CAR. A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WHILE DRIVING CAR HESITATED, THEN RESUMED BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TCS OFF LIGHT AND SLIP LIGHTS ON, AND REMAINED ON. THIS WEEK WHILE DRIVING 40MPH WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR HESITATED BUT ACTUALLY STALLED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11073753
“MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING IN ORLANDO WHEN HER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE SLIP CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND STALLED. WE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN ORLANDO NISSAN DEALER”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10548212
“SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT IS ON. CAR TURNS OF WITHOUT WARNING WHILE OPERATING. CAM SHAFT SENSOR WARNING. CAR IS CURRENTLY PARKED OUTSIDE HOME”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11010390

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Issues on other model years

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI). Complaint data refreshed Sep 20, 2026. Investigation data refreshed Sep 20, 2026.

We display NHTSA's record with attribution; we don't editorialize on what these complaints mean for any specific vehicle.

Raw data + downloads for this vehicle →

Essential maintenance

Critical for safety and preventing major damage

Engine Oil & Filter

Every 5,000 mi

Replace synthetic-blend or full-synthetic oil every 5,000 miles under Schedule 1. Schedule 2: 7,500 miles. VR30DDTT (3.0L twin-turbo): full synthetic only.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$120–$160

Shop

~$85–$115

DIY

~$25–$55

Full synthetic costs more than conventional. 5-quart 0W-20 + filter is the typical bill.

Tire Rotation

Every 5,000 mi

Rotate tires every 5,000 miles. Front-wheel-drive Nissans (Altima, Sentra, Versa) wear front tires fast — don't skip rotations.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Often free at the shop where you bought the tires — worth asking before paying.

CVT Fluid (NS-3)

Every 60,000 mi

Nissan officially calls CVT fluid 'lifetime,' but independent technicians and Nissan TSBs recommend replacement every 60,000 miles to prevent CVT failure. Use Nissan NS-3 fluid only — substitutes destroy the belt-and-pulley system.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$360–$500

Shop

~$255–$355

DIY

~$80–$180

CVT fluid is manufacturer-specific and pricey — do NOT substitute conventional ATF.

Brake Inspection

Every 7,500 mi

Inspect brake pads, rotors, and parking brake every 7,500 miles. Rogue and Pathfinder front pads typically last 35,000-50,000 miles.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$85

Shop

~$60

DIY

Free

Most shops do this free as a courtesy with any service. Don't pay separately if you can avoid it.

Brake Fluid

Every 30,000 mi

Replace DOT 3 brake fluid every 30,000 miles or 2 years. Dark or amber fluid indicates moisture contamination.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$180–$200

Shop

~$125–$140

DIY

~$10–$25

DOT 3 or 4 — match the cap. Vacuum bleeders make this a one-person DIY.

Important maintenance

Keeps your vehicle running smoothly and efficiently

Engine Air Filter

Every 30,000 mi

Replace engine air filter every 30,000 miles, sooner if driving on dusty unpaved roads.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

5-minute job on most cars; the airbox lid usually has clips, no tools needed.

Spark Plugs

Every 105,000 mi

Iridium-tipped spark plugs are rated 105,000 miles on QR25, MR20, and VQ35 engines. VR30DDTT: 60,000 miles due to higher cylinder pressures.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$390

Shop

~$200–$275

DIY

~$25–$100

Iridium plugs cost more but last 100k+ miles. V6/V8 access varies wildly — some are tough.

Long-Life Coolant

Every 75,000 mi

Nissan Long-Life Antifreeze/Coolant (blue/green): first change at 105,000 miles, then every 75,000. Do not mix with other coolant chemistries.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$285–$330

Shop

~$200–$235

DIY

~$25–$60

Use the manufacturer-specified coolant — wrong color/chemistry can damage the cooling system.

Recommended maintenance

Extends the life of your vehicle and improves comfort

Cabin Air Filter

Every 15,000 mi

Replace cabin air filter every 15,000 miles. Located behind the glove box on Altima, Rogue, and Sentra.

Estimated cost — typical U.S. ranges

Dealer

~$60–$95

Shop

~$45–$70

DIY

~$15–$40

Usually behind the glovebox. Shops charge labor for a 10-minute job — easy DIY win.

Fatal crash history & reported problems

Occupant deaths in fatal crashes (FARS)

161 crashes 1990–2024

How the 161 occupant deaths break down

135

driver deaths

25

passenger deaths

1

not recorded by seat

161

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2004 crashes. Older models have had more years on the road to appear in these crashes, so a higher count here does not by itself mean a vehicle is less safe.

FARS counts every occupant death in a fatal crash, whatever the cause — it does not mean the vehicle was at fault or defective. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each vehicle are on the road. How to read this number

FARS 2024 data is an annual report file. NHTSA revises these records when the final file is published, so this count can change.

Why we show driver deaths too

Every vehicle has exactly one driver seat, so driver deaths line up fairly when you compare one model to another. Occupant deaths include passengers, so a three row SUV can show a higher number than a two seat car simply because it carries more people.

Both figures are plain counts, not rates. A rate would need to know how many of each vehicle are on the road, and that registration data is not public, so we do not publish rates or scores of any kind.

IIHS publishes driver death rates using this same driver only idea, paired with a registered vehicle years denominator we do not have. Their rates and these counts answer different questions, so do not read either number here as a safety rating.

Owner-reported problem signals

Separate from the federal fatality data above: complaints owners filed with NHTSA about this year and model. These are reports of problems, unverified, and are counted here only as signals.

6

complaints mentioning a crash

0

complaints mentioning a fire

Reviewed known issues for this vehicle

Typical U.S. ranges. Actual quotes vary by shop, parts choice, and vehicle condition.

How we estimate: Dealer = OEM parts × 1.4 + labor × $165/hr. Shop = parts + labor × $115/hr. DIY = parts only.

This maintenance schedule for the 2004 Nissan 350Z reflects Nissan's published service intervals and the Maintenance Reminder system. Your actual service needs may vary based on driving conditions, climate, and vehicle usage. Always consult your owner's manual for model-specific recommendations.

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