Nissan 350 Z
Registered from 2002 to 2020.
About this model
The Nissan 350Z is a two-door, two-seater sports car that was manufactured by Nissan Motor Corporation from 2002 until 2009 and marks the fifth generation of Nissan's Z-car line. The 350Z entered production in 2002 and was sold and marketed as a 2003 model from August 2002. The first year there was only a coupe, as the roadster did not debut until the following year. Initially, the coupe came in Base, Enthusiast, Performance, Touring and Track versions, while the Roadster was limited to Enthusiast and Touring trim levels. The Track trim came with lightweight wheels and Brembo brakes, but its suspension tuning was the same as all other coupes. The Nissan 350Z was succeeded by the 370Z for the 2009 model year, although the roadster was sold alongside the 370Z for 2009.
From the Wikipedia article Nissan 350Z, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2005 3.5 petrol. 323 of 1,514 tests failed, 21%.
Better than 83% of 2005 cars. The typical one fails 27%, across 837 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Exhaust and emissions | 37% | 119 |
| Suspension | 36% | 116 |
| Lights and electrics | 35% | 113 |
| Brakes | 22% | 71 |
| Visibility | 19% | 62 |
| Body and structure | 17% | 55 |
The defects inspectors cite
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
Where it stands out against its peers
- Exhaust and emissions: failed more often than 94% of 2005 cars — 37% of its 323 failed tests, where an ordinary 2005 car has 14%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Exhaust and emissions — 37% of its failures
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Exhaust system leaking or insecure
- Suspension — 36% of its failures
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
- Brakes — 22% of its failures
- Lights and electrics — 35% of its failures
- An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Visibility — 19% of its failures
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Body and structure — 17% of its failures
When it starts failing
At 140–160k miles this one fails 18% of its inspections, against the 30% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–40k miles | 9% | 17% | 75 | |
| 40–60k miles | 19% | 21% | 225 | |
| 60–80k miles | 21% | 26% | 333 | |
| 80–100k miles | 21% | 28% | 375 | |
| 100–120k miles | 25% | 29% | 292 | |
| 120–140k miles | 28% | 30% | 116 | |
| 140–160k miles | 18% | 30% | 39 |
1,455 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 80k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.