Is the 2009 Nissan 370Z a bad year?
153 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other 370Z years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2009 Nissan 370Z are in line with other 370Z years. Steering and electrical system stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2009 370Z owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 39,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 88 (58%) | 29k–52k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 67 (44%) | 28k–52k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 26 (17%) | 28k–57k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Engine | 12 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 11 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 6 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 39,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 153 complaints: 2 mention a crash · 2 report an injury.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Dec 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
At around the md border, when driving home to nj from tn, the clutch stuck to the floor. I couldn't change out of 6th gear, so I had to drive from that point without slowing enough to have to change gears or stopping.
Concentric slave cylinder on vehicles equipped with a manual transmission leaks and fails resulting in the clutch petal to fall to the floor preventing the driver from releasing the clutch pressure plate.
Slave cylinder on my 370Z had a catastrophic failure. Nissan put an inferior slave cylinder in their 370Z models.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 39,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2009 Nissan 370Z: 0
No recall campaign lists this model year.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Nissan: 61
Repair instructions Nissan sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2009 Nissan 370Z. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
DTC P0456 caused by EVAP leak at vent control valve o-ring
The information in this bulletin is provided to help ensure correct diagnosis and repair of fluid leaks
When diagnosing possible power steering gear (rack and pinion steering rack, or steering rack) leak issues…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2010 370Z: 110 complaints, keep it.
Every Nissan 370Z year
2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · All 370Z years side by side
Other Nissan models: Nissan 350Z · Nissan Altima · Nissan Armada · Nissan Cube · Nissan Frontier · Nissan Juke · Nissan Kicks · Nissan Leaf · Nissan Maxima · Nissan Murano · Nissan Pathfinder · Nissan Quest · Nissan Rogue · Nissan Rogue Sport · Nissan Sentra · Nissan Titan · Nissan Titan XD · Nissan Versa · Nissan Versa Note · Nissan Xterra. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2009 Nissan 370Z a bad year?
153 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other 370Z years. At 39,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 Nissan 370Z?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: steering (88), electrical system (67), transmission and drivetrain (26), engine (12), fuel system (11).
How many recalls does the 2009 Nissan 370Z have?
No recall campaign lists this model year in NHTSA data. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.