Which Years Of Used Nissan 370zs Are Most Reliable?
Sports cars have traditionally been associated with high price tags, making them inaccessible to many car enthusiasts. Thankfully, budget-friendly sports cars can help scratch your itch for speed and driving dynamics without blowing your budget. Also, budget-friendly sports cars often offer impressive performance and handling capabilities relative to their price point.
If you’re in the market for a budget-friendly sports car with joyful driving dynamics, the Nissan 370z is worth looking at. Born from Nissan’s legendary Z line of sports cars and introduced as a successor to the iconic 350z, the 370z has established itself as a formidable contender in the competitive sports car segment, focusing on power, handling, and driver engagement.
However, as you may all know, not all Nissan 370z years are created – some are simply more reliable than others. In this post, we discuss the reliability of the 370Z, highlighting the best and most reliable Nissan 370z year that has shown exceptional performance and longevity. Plus, a couple of model years buyers should avoid. Let’s take a look.
2009-2020 Nissan 370z
Introduced in 2008, the first generation Nissan 370Z represented a new chapter in Nissan’s ‘Z’ series. The 370Z was equipped with a 3.7-liter V6 engine capable of producing 332 horsepower – one of the best power outputs in its segment. A well-engineered suspension system and a lightweight body structure further enhanced the car’s performance.
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Buy: 2009 Nissan 370z
Although we usually recommend people skip most vehicles’ debut model years, we’re making an exception for the 2009 Nissan 370z. The 2009 Nissan 370Z, despite being a debut model, has demonstrated a significant level of reliability.
According to CarComplaints.com, the 2009 Nissan 370z has 237 complaints and no recalls. With that said, the steering wheel lock problem is perhaps the number one sore spot for owners. One owner reported that after parking their car, they returned to find that the car wouldn’t start and the smart key warning light was on. Despite trying various solutions, including resetting the battery and using a spare key, the car still wouldn’t start. Another owner reported a similar issue where the car wouldn’t start after being parked. The vehicle had to be towed to a dealership.
While the 2009 Nissan 370Z has had some reported issues, many owners have found it reliable. Unfortunately, the steering wheel lock issue will become more pronounced next year.
Avoid: 2010 Nissan 370z
The 2010 model was a bad year for the Nissan 370z. CarComplaints named it the “Worst Model Year” of the 370z with 166 complaints and no recalls (which is surprising). As mentioned, this model’s steering wheel lock remains a major issue but seems more pronounced here. This issue can prevent the car from starting, as the steering wheel lock mechanism fails to disengage.
One owner reported being stranded when the steering lock unit failed. Despite Nissan acknowledging the issue on other models like the GT-R, Altima, and Maxima, they refused to repair this owner’s car. The owner had to replace the part themselves, which cost around $63 and took about 30 minutes.
With the steering wheel lock issue and a high number of complaints, the 2010 370z is an easy skip.
Buy: 2011 Nissan 370z
The 2011 Nissan 370z has its fair share of issues and complaints, but it’s still more reliable than the 2010 version. Compared to the previous year, this Nissan 370z has a lot fewer complaints and major issues.
CarComplaints documented 73 complaints and one recall for the 2011 Nissan 370z. Unfortunately, the 2011 370z still struggled with the steering wheel lock issue – thankfully, the complaints are a lot fewer than last year. There are also reports of electrical problems where the engine won’t engage even after pushing the Start button.
On Reddit, users have shared their personal experiences with the 370Z. Some owners reported that their 2011 370Z models had reached over 100,000 miles without significant issues, suggesting good long-term reliability.
THE NISSAN 370Z YEARS TO AVOID
By looking at reliability data, recurring issues, and owner experiences, we’ll identify the Nissan 370Z years to avoid while shopping at the used car market.
Buy: 2015 Nissan 370z
The 2015 model is a worthy contender for the most reliable Nissan 370z year, thanks to its positive reliability ratings and the low number of complaints. On Edmunds, the 2015 Nissan 370Z has received positive consumer reviews, with an average reliability rating of 4 out of 5. This suggests many owners have had a positive experience with their sports cars.
CarComplaints has documented issues related to the paint flaking off and the clutch sticking to the floor – both problems have only one written complaint. This suggests that the 2015 370z offers a good long-term ownership experience.
Over to the 370Z Forum, people have discussed the reliability of the 370Z. Some users reported issues like the Concentric Slave Cylinder (CSC) failure, which was replaced with a CMAK from Zspeed. However, these issues seem to be accelerated by track use, so it shouldn’t be an issue for daily driving.
Buy: 2017 Nissan 370z
The 2017 Nissan 370z is another solid year for the affordable coupe and is generally considered an excellent car to buy as used or pre-owned. On Edmunds, the 2017 Nissan 370Z has received positive reviews from consumers, with an average reliability rating of 4.6 out of 5 based on 31 reviews. This high rating suggests you’ll likely have a good ownership experience with the 2017 Nissan 370z.
Car and Driver praised the 2017 Nissan 370Z for its quick steering, throaty V-6 engine, and firm suspension, which is ideal for performance-oriented buyers. One of its main drawbacks is its outdated tech and interior design. Thus, this model might not be for you if you’re looking for the latest technology and upscale features.
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Reliability-wise, the 2017 Nissan 370Z has a long-term quality rating of 69, according to data from WithClutch – this makes the 2017 370z a very reliable vehicle. This rating is based on trade-in vehicles’ overall mileage and the number of reported significant issues. In addition, the 370Z’s annual maintenance cost is estimated at $504, which is lower than the average vehicle cost of $651.
Provided you don’t mind the outdated tech and infotainment features, the 2017 model is the most reliable Nissan 370z year among the recent releases.
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