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2010 Nissan 370Z Recalls, Problems & Maintenance

The 2010 Nissan 370Z has no open NHTSA recalls. Owners report 5 recurring issue clusters, led by “Clutch concentric slave cylinder failure.” 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 2010 Nissan 370Z.

1 active NHTSA investigation

Source: NHTSA

  • Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

    Action #EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021

    From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 200…

    View on NHTSA →

Reported to NHTSA

Clutch concentric slave cylinder failure

POWER TRAIN

21 NHTSA complaints · 2014-01 → 2020-06

“AT 40,000 MILES MY CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER FAILED WHILE DRIVING. MY CLUTCH PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR AND WOULD NOT COME BACK UP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10730600
“CSC (CONCENTRIC SLAVE CYLINDER) - FAILED, CLUTCH PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, CAN'T SHIFT GEAR”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10790334
“CONCENTRIC SLAVE CYLINDER IN MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND FAILED RANDOMLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE CLUTCH JUST GOT STUCK TO THE FLOOR AND I COULD NOT GET IT BACK UP”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11327498

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Electronic steering column lock failure

STEERING

74 NHTSA complaints · 2012-02 → 2025-05

“NISSAN ESCL DEFECT. NISSAN IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT ON MY MAKE AND MODEL AND REFUSING TO REIMBURSE THE TOWING, PART, AND LABOR. NEVER HAD A PROBLEM UNTIL 12/9/2019 WHEN MY CAR LEFT ME STRANDED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11296728
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 NISSAN 370Z. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING LOCKOUT MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10836509
“MY 2010 NISSAN 370Z STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP TWICE IN ONE WEEK”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10935510

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Passenger seat occupant sensor / SRS warning light

AIR BAGS, SEATS

4 NHTSA complaints · 2013-07 → 2021-03

“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11388784
“THE SRS LIGHT CAME ON ON THE DASH. CAR IS 10 YEARS OLD, BUT ONLY HAS 24073 MILES ON IT. NISSAN DEALER IDENTIFIED ERROR CODE B1018. OCCUPANT SENSOR IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT FAILED. NISSAN QUOTED $4767 TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT BASE ASSEMBLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11399469
“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”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10524150

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Dashboard cracking and surface degradation

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

3 NHTSA complaints · 2016-05 → 2019-04

“THE DASHBOARD ON MY 370Z 2010 IS ALL CRACKED UP, I HAVE LOOKED AT MANY OTHER 370Z AND THEY ARE ALL WITH THE SAME ISSUE. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED MANY COMPLAINTS AND ARE AWAITING A RECALL FROM FACTORY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10978871
“MY DASH BOARD IS STARTING TO MELT. IT HAS AN OILY RESIDUE THAT CREATES AN BRIGHT GLARE IN DAYTIME DRIVING MAKING IT HARD TO SEE SAFELY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10865081
“DASH STARTS UNEXPECTEDLLY TO CRACK AND FALL APART. EVEN WHEN MY VEHICLE HAS TINT IN WINDOWS SINCE NEW”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #11196462

Read all complaints on NHTSA →

Headlight ballast and lens fogging failure

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

3 NHTSA complaints · 2014-04 → 2016-04

“THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE EXTENSIVE FOGGING ON THE LENS AND THE HEADLIGHT BALLAST OVER HEATS AND SHUTS OFF THE HEADLIGHT. THE REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE BALLAST--IF YOU DO NOT, IT CREATES EXTRA STRESS ON THE HEADLIGHT AND COULD END UP BEING WELL OVER A $1000.00 REPAIR--DEALER QUOTED”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10822902
“LARGE AMOUNTS OF CONDENSATION IN HEADLIGHT CAUSED HID HEADLIGHT TO FAIL. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM IN NISSAN VEHICLES. HID HEADLIGHTS SHOULD NOT FAIL DUE TO MOISTURE INTRUDING INTO THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10584588
“THE HEADLIGHT BALLAST IS ALSO A FAILED PRODUCT LEAVING YOU WITH A FLICKERING OR NO HEADLIGHT-CAR HAS LESS THAN 55000 MILES”
— Owner report, NHTSA ODI #10854423

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)

20 crashes 1990–2024

How the 20 occupant deaths break down

14

driver deaths

6

passenger deaths

20

occupant deaths

Crash years covered: 1990–2024 This model year first appears in 2011 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.

1

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 2010 Nissan 370Z 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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