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Nissan 370ZModel year report

2010 Nissan 370Z Problems

Compared with other Nissan 370Z years

Typical for this model

50/100 1.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with fewer complaints than typical and no open NHTSA investigation: 2011

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
110filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
40,000miles, 96 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
21 mpgcombined, 3.7L 6-cyl RWD · 18 city / 26 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2010 Nissan 370Z (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

What owners report

Owners of the 2010 Nissan 370Z most often report a no-start condition traced to the electronic steering column lock, typically after normal parking. A second cluster involves the clutch pedal dropping to the floor or sticking, often described as a failed clutch slave cylinder, and a smaller group covers intelligent-key warnings and air bag or occupant sensor faults. Reports in the sample are spread from very low mileage to about 95,000 miles, with most arriving between roughly 20,000 and 60,000 miles.

  1. Steering

    Electronic steering column lock failure, car will not start

    • 61 complaints (55%)
    • median 47,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (55 state mileage)
    • owner-quoted repair $1,131 (median of 24 quotes)
    • filed 2012–2025

    Owners describe parking normally, then returning to find the car will not start: the start button stays on "LOCK," the intelligent key warning light is on, and the accessory position does not engage. The vehicle has to be towed, and the dealer diagnoses the electronic steering column lock or steering lock assembly and replaces it. Several owners say the part was replaced once already, and some mention the lock unit was not covered for their vehicle. Reported from about 6,500 to 95,000 miles, most often between roughly 20,000 and 60,000 miles, with no driving symptom beforehand.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: Ask the seller whether the steering lock unit has been replaced and keep the repair invoice. Before purchase, start the car several times and watch for the intelligent key warning light or a start button stuck on "LOCK."

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Vehicle was parked and wouldn't start. Told by dealership it's the electronic steering lock. Read online several complaints of others having the same issue. I called Nissan USA. I was told there isn't or hasn't been a recall on my vehicle for this issue and they would not make good on this faulty part. The repair cost $1,200.”

    NHTSA complaint #10808839, filed 2015-12, 59,000 miles

    “I had gone to the gym and as I was leaving the gym my car wouldn't start. I tried everything I could think of but nothing helped, I finally took it to the Nissan dealer and they said the steering lock assembly had falling apart. The dealer I took my car to is town north Nissan is austin, tx.”

    NHTSA complaint #10670587, filed 2015-01, 35,000 miles
  2. Transmission and drivetrain

    Clutch pedal drops to floor or sticks (clutch slave

    • 23 complaints (21%)
    • median 36,000 mi at 5.3 yrs old (21 state mileage)
    • filed 2014–2020

    Owners describe the clutch pedal going soft, then sinking to the floor and staying there, leaving the car unable to be shifted or driven. Several say it happened while driving in warm weather or on longer trips, and in some cases it recovered after the car sat and cooled. Dealers and shops replaced the clutch slave cylinder; some owners report the concern was first described as wear and tear or a fluid issue before the cylinder was replaced. Reported between roughly 6,500 and 50,000 miles, often during hot weather or repeated city driving, and sometimes intermittent until it became constant.

    3 related service bulletins

    What to check: During a test drive, press the clutch repeatedly and note whether the pedal returns firmly and the bite point stays consistent. Ask whether the clutch slave cylinder has been replaced and whether an updated part was used.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The car will not move the clutch pedal went to the floor and would not come up or engage. I was stuck in city traffic. I checked the fluid level and it was low but not before the minimum line. I believe I have a leak in the internal slave cylinder which is located inside the bell housing.”

    NHTSA complaint #10790783, filed 2015-11, 25,000 miles

    “Clutch master cylinder failed. I was on a highway and was unable to shift the car into a different gear. I barely made it off the highway where I was towed to the dealership. The clutch just completely lost pressure.”

    NHTSA complaint #10588926, filed 2014-05, 35,000 miles
  3. Electrical system

    Intelligent key not detected and intermittent no-start

    Mentioned in 6 of 60 sampled complaints

    Owners describe a warning that the intelligent key is not detected, or a no-key message with both remotes present, sometimes intermittent and sometimes while driving. Some replaced fob and car batteries without a change, and a few were told the steering lock was the underlying cause; others had the condition occur repeatedly before a repair was made. Reported from about 27,000 to 59,000 miles, often appearing intermittently before becoming a repeated no-start.

    7 related service bulletins

    What to check: Try starting the car with both keys and note whether the key-not-detected warning appears. Ask whether the intelligent key system or steering lock has been serviced.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “The light on the dash comes on reading there is not key in the car when in fact there is. It happens with both my fobs. Now, the car won't even start and I have to use the key to get inside it. Happened when stationary then while driving.”

    NHTSA complaint #11033824, filed 2017-10, 27,000 miles

    “Got out of car and turned it off to pumped gas...when I got back into the car to start, it said no key!! Key was in my purse on passenger seat as always. Could not get it started for 5 minutes, just kept pushing start button, wiggling steering wheel, finally started. Has happened about 4 more times again. Obviously there's a problem with these z's because it's happened to others as well if you read the blogs. Nissan needs to do something about this.....less that 45,000 miles. Come on Nissan do the right thing.”

    NHTSA complaint #10763980, filed 2015-09, 44,400 miles
  4. Air bags

    SRS light on / passenger occupant sensor fault

    • 6 complaints (5%)
    • median 24,204 mi at 11.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
    • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
    • filed 2013–2025

    Owners report a flashing or steady supplemental restraint system light and a passenger air bag status light that shows off even with someone in the seat, or in one case an unexpected passenger air bag deployment while driving. Dealers identified an occupant sensor code and quoted replacement of the seat base assembly, describing the sensor as integrated with the seat rather than separately serviceable. Reported on vehicles with roughly 24,000 to 70,000 miles, including low-mileage cars that were mostly garaged.

    6 related service bulletins

    What to check: Turn the ignition on and confirm the air bag light completes its self-check and goes out, and that the passenger status light reads correctly with someone seated. Ask whether any air bag service campaign work was completed on the vehicle.

    2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

    “Supplemental restraint system light is flashing on the instrument cluster. Also, air bag 2 deactivation light is lit. Went to Nissan dealer. Error code is b1018, occupant sensor. Dealer states that occupant sensor has failed, and they want $4700 to replace the entire base assembly of the seat. State the sensor is integrated with the seat, and must replace whole assembly. Vehicle is 10 years old, but only had 24,204 miles. Occupant seat has rarely been sat in.. The vehicle is typically garaged, and has never been in an accident.”

    NHTSA complaint #11388784, filed 2021-01, 24,204 miles

    “****note - need more information. Contacted consumer - 3/29/2021, 4/21/2021**** flashing air bag light and the passenger airbag light always says it is off even with passengers in the seat. Air bag light on the dash flashes at all times. ## VIN failed ## Nissan, infiniti, datsun 2010#vpic# 1 - check digit (9th position) does not calculate properly; 4 - VIN corrected, error in one position only (indicated by ! In suggested VIN), multiple matches found; 14 - unable to provide information for all the characters in the VIN. #vpic# ##”

    NHTSA complaint #11405221, filed 2021-03, 70,000 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection should include repeated start attempts and a check of the steering lock and intelligent key behavior, plus a look for moisture in the headlights. Ask for service records covering the steering lock unit and clutch slave cylinder, since both are recurring items owners describe on this model year.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.

NHTSA recorded 110 consumer complaints for the 2010 Nissan 370Z. 96 of the complaints include a mileage, and 69% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 40,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 133 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 2 Nissan 370Z model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 50 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Body and structure (1), Suspension (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Steering: “My steering lock assembley went out on my 2010 Nissan 370Z causing the car not to start. Had to have it towed to the dealership where I'm now finding out that there is no recall on this item or not covered on warranty. It seems that many other Nissan owners are having the same problem. Nissan refuses to pay and it's a $1,000 repair”

NHTSA complaint #10822094, filed 2016-01, 50,000 miles

Electrical system: “On dec 2 2014 I noticed that the intelligent ket light was on. Once I got home after work I looked it up on the manuel and it said it could be a malfunction and to contact a Nissan dealer. Well on the morning of 3 dec I go to work and no light. At around 2030 I got released for the day. Go to start my car and nothing. Had to get a ride to a store and wait for wife to pick me up.”

NHTSA complaint #10662105, filed 2014-12, 38,400 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “As I was driving during heavy business hours my clutch stayed stuck all the way to the bottom, without me being able to shift. I got in to a parking lot and the car did not want to start anymore, so I had to tow it to a Nissan dealership. At the dealership they diagnosed it and claimed it is the csc.”

NHTSA complaint #10874966, filed 2016-06, 58,000 miles

Other or unknown: “My Nissan 370Z is out of commission for a confirmed escl failure - a known recall part!!! Nissan refuses to help me in anyway. The vehicle would not start, I was told it had to be taken to a dealer before they would do anything to help me. I had it towed 35miles out of pocket. The technicians confirmed the escl failure. Nissan consumer affairs refused to do anything for me at all.”

NHTSA complaint #10816826, filed 2015-12, 42,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

69% of the 96 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 29,500 and 51,350 miles.

4%0–1014%10–2551%25–5025%50–754%75–1001%100–1501%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (96 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 40,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

20122014242016201820202025
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2010 Nissan 370Z version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
370Z RWD3.7L 6-cyl7-speed automatic192622$3,750
370Z RWD3.7L 6-cyl6-speed manual182621$3,900
370Z Roadster RWD3.7L 6-cyl7-speed automatic182521$3,900
370Z Roadster RWD3.7L 6-cyl6-speed manual182520$4,100

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2010 Nissan 370Z in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 133 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 133 bulletins →

Other model years of the Nissan 370Z

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
201755,0000—21—Not enough data
20141019,0000—21—Not enough data
20131723,0000—21—Falling
20121636,2620—21—Falling
20114035,8501—2120 · FewerStable
201011040,0000—2150 · TypicalFalling
200915339,6500—2168 · MoreFalling

All Nissan 370Z model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2010 Nissan 370Z?

Owners of the 2010 Nissan 370Z most often report a no-start condition traced to the electronic steering column lock, typically after normal parking. The issues reported most often: Electronic steering column lock failure, car will not start; Clutch pedal drops to floor or sticks (clutch slave; Intelligent key not detected and intermittent no-start.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2010 Nissan 370Z have?

NHTSA recorded 110 consumer complaints for the 2010 Nissan 370Z as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2010 Nissan 370Z is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 62 complaints (56% of the total), followed by electrical system with 30.

Has the 2010 Nissan 370Z been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2010 Nissan 370Z get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Nissan 370Z (370Z, 3.7L 6-cyl) at 21 mpg combined, 18 city and 26 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2010 Nissan 370Z reported?

Among the 96 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 40,000 miles and the middle half falls between 29,500 and 51,350 miles; 69% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.