2008 Nissan 350z

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

Fuel economy
19–20 mpgcombined; city 17–18, highway 23–25; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$20,120–$21,180U.S. average; Ohio $18,960–$19,960 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedNHTSA has no overall rating for this year
Recall campaigns
1over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
24filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Versions

NHTSA's VIN data lists no trims for the 2008 350z, so these are the versions EPA tested, by its names. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 24 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 350z. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power train21000
Air bags3000
Engine1000

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 200653
  2. 200773
  3. 200824
  4. 20095

Every 350z year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2008 350z over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Air bags; Electrical system: software

NHTSA campaign 08V521000 · reported Oct 7, 2008 · 204,361 vehicles potentially affected

NISSAN IS RECALLING 204,361 MY 2007-2008 ALTIMA, ALTIMA HYBRID, 350Z, 350Z ROADSTER, MY 2008 ALTIMA COUPE, ROGUE, MY 2009 MURANO, AND INFINITI MY 2007-2008 G35 SEDAN, MY 2008 G37 COUPE AND EX35 PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CONTINENTAL AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS' OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) CONTROL UNITS. A VARISTOR IN THE OCS CONTROL UNIT LOCATED IN THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED OUT OF SPECIFICATION. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND THE AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT (ACU).

Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PASSENGER AIR BAG BEING SUPPRESSED WHICH COULD FAIL TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL TEST THE SIGNAL BETWEEN THE OCS AND ACU SYSTEMS USING A SPECIAL TOOL TO CHECK THAT IT IS FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. IF NECESSARY, THE SEAT CUSHION (CONTAINING OCS HARDWARE) WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE MANUFACTURED TO SPECIFICATION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NISSAN AT 1-800-647-7261 OR INFINITI AT 1-800-662-6200.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 71 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2008 350z, the latest on Apr 13, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: electrical system (15), equipment (15), engine and engine cooling (8), fuel system (8), gasoline (7).

NHTSA hasn't opened a defect investigation that covers this model year.

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2008 350z.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Specs

EPA class: two seaters. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
350z
Rear-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cylManual 6-spdPremium Gasoline18 / 25 / 20
350z
Rear-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cylAutomatic (S5)Premium Gasoline17 / 24 / 20
350z Roadster
Rear-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cylManual 6-spdPremium Gasoline17 / 24 / 20
350z Roadster
Rear-Wheel Drive
3.5 L, 6 cylAutomatic (S5)Premium Gasoline17 / 23 / 19

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data