Sports car and convertible · 2002–2021 cars
Nissan 350 Z reliability
The Nissan 350 Z fails 26.1% of first MOT tests, 33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 20,281 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Nissan 350 Z before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 26.1%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 33% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 20,281
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 5,000
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Nissan 350 Z ages
Each point is the share of Nissan 350 Zs of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Nissan 350 Z | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | 12.2% | 16.4% |
| 6 | 8.4% | 19.1% |
| 7 | 11.8% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 13.3% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 8.4% | 28.8% |
| 13 | 23.9% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 25.9% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 29% | 42.3% |
| 16 | 27.9% | 42.9% |
| 17 | 28.1% | 43.4% |
| 18 | 29.7% | 43.5% |
| 19 | 26.9% | 43.4% |
| 20 | 27% | 42.8% |
By year
The best and worst Nissan 350 Z years
2007 cars come out best and 2006 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 268 | 12.3% | 5% fewer fails | 24,626 |
| 2017 | 330 | 11.2% | 22% fewer fails | 23,913 |
| 2016 | 443 | 12.6% | 27% fewer fails | 33,765 |
| 2015 | 383 | 8.6% | 57% fewer fails | 39,647 |
| 2014 | 214 | 12.1% | 42% fewer fails | 36,969 |
| 2013 | 257 | 9.3% | 64% fewer fails | 48,082 |
| 2009 | 694 | 26.7% | 27% fewer fails | 72,360 |
| 2008 350 Z | 1,376 | 27.3% | 30% fewer fails | 78,457 |
| 2007 350 Z | 2,528 | 25.7% | 36% fewer fails | 81,999 |
| 2006 350 Z | 3,199 | 28.8% | 30% fewer fails | 83,429 |
| 2005 350 Z | 4,623 | 27% | 35% fewer fails | 85,576 |
| 2004 350 Z | 4,256 | 30.1% | 30% fewer fails | 95,554 |
| 2003 350 Z | 1,238 | 29.1% | 32% fewer fails | 98,842 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Nissan 350 Z
Its weak spot is exhaust, emissions and leaks: 48% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics10.1%44% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks8.5%48% above avg
- Suspension7.4%48% below avg
- Brakes4.9%55% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors4.8%28% below avg
- Tyres3.8%41% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure3.2%54% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags2.7%30% above avg
- Steering1%69% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Position lamp not working 2.85% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Lambda reading outside specified limits 2.52% of tests
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
- 3
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn 2.19% of tests
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
- 4
Engine warning light inoperative or lit 2.06% of tests
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 5
Airbag warning lamp shows fault 2.03% of tests
A lit airbag warning means the airbag system may not deploy in a crash, so it needs diagnosing and repairing.
- 6
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 1.74% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 7
Carbon monoxide high after fast idle 1.73% of tests
High carbon monoxide can point to engine or catalytic converter faults, so ask for diagnosis before buying.
- 8
Exhaust has major gas leak 1.56% of tests
A major exhaust leak can let poisonous gas into the car and is illegal, so it must be repaired before driving.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Nissan 350 Z's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit12.17%
- Brake pipes corroded and greasy10.66%
- Brake disc pitted or scored7.56%
- Brake pads wearing thin5.54%
- Coil spring showing some corrosion4.02%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking3.96%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Nissan 350 Z
- 1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Lambda reading outside specified limits
An out-of-range lambda reading suggests poor fuel mixture or a failing catalytic converter, so diagnosis is needed.
- 3
Suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn
Worn suspension arm bushes allow the wheel to move unpredictably, affecting steering, handling and tyre wear.
- 4
Engine warning light inoperative or lit
An engine warning light that is lit or not working can hide faults, so diagnosis is needed before buying.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Nissan 350 Z covers about 5,000 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Petrol100%
- Diesel0%
Most common colours
Silver, Black, Blue, Grey, Orange
Average engine size: 3.5 litres.
Compare
How the Nissan 350 Z compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Aston Martin Vantage | 6% | 65% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Audi R8 | 7.7% | 63% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Honda S2000 | 18.5% | 51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Lotus Elise | 14.2% | 51% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Nissan 350 Z | 26.1% | 33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Jaguar XK8 | 25.9% | 31% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| MGF | 34.1% | about average for its age |
Every sports car and convertible ranked in the sports car and convertible reliability index, or all Nissan models.
Questions
Nissan 350 Z questions, answered
Is the Nissan 350 Z reliable?
On MOT results, the Nissan 350 Z is better than average: it fails 26.1% of first MOT tests, 33% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 35 of 62 sports car and convertible models in our index.
What fails most on a Nissan 350 Z MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Nissan 350 Z are position lamp not working (2.85% of tests), lambda reading outside specified limits (2.52% of tests), suspension arm pin/bush excessively worn (2.19% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 10.1% of its tests.
Which Nissan 350 Z year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2007 cars do best (36% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2006 cars do worst (30% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Nissan 350 Z do a year?
A typical Nissan 350 Z covers about 5,000 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Nissan 350 Z before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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