AI Damage2005 Nissan 350Z: common problems
Owners of the 2005 Nissan 350Z filed 83 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 83
- involving a crash
- 9
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 39% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 19% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 6% of all complaints
- 5 Wheels 6% of all complaints
- 6 Exterior lighting 5% of all complaints
- 7 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 5% of all complaints
- Air bags: 32 complaints (39% of all), 6 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 16 complaints (19% of all).
- Powertrain: 9 complaints (11% of all).
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (6% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Wheels: 5 complaints (6% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3.5 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 5-speed
- manual, 6-speednamed in 3 complaints
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 83 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 32 | 6 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 16 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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 [address], sarasota, [ZIP], where it was not diagnosed or repaired.
I had avital 5303l remote starter/security system installed on my car on 2/8/14 by mobile sound and alarm in pennsauken nj. When I got home I turned off my car and placed the car in 1st gear (manual transmission) and pulled up the brake.
Test drove this car at toyota of rock hill. Sales manager did not want me to take it on the interstate. I refused to buy it unless I could take it there. Went approximately 1 mile. With flow of traffic in right lane, being passed on left. Not speeding. Car started fishtailing. Slid sideways to the right and off road.
Prior to the accident the airbag light stayed on took it to the dealership and they said it was a error code. On june 4th I had a car accident and the airbag didn't deploy just the airbag light indicator just stayed on.
My airbags did not deploy and after the point of impact, that same sensor light started to flash on the dash. I filed a complaint with nissan consumer affairs (1800 nissan1) option 7 then option 3.
The consumer also experienced sudden acceleration issues, in fact one incident occurred while pulling into a parking lot. This was a low speed collision and the damage was minor.
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.
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 3,991 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 11% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 350Z has 94 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 83, about average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Nissan 350Z?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, engine and cooling, powertrain. Total complaints: 83. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: airbag warning light (31%), warning lights, check engine (17%), knocking, grinding or other noise (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2005 Nissan 350Z?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2005 Nissan 350Z from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2005 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.