The contact owns a 2009 Nissan 370Z. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the steering wheel locked up, and the contact was unable to start the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where a mobile mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with steering module failure. The contact called the dealer to schedule an appointment, and the dealer informed the contact that the vehicle could not be repaired under Nissan Voluntary Service Campaign Number: P3208; free of charge, because the vehicle had already been previously repaired under the Voluntary Service Campaign. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact the vehicle history did not display the completion of Nissan Voluntary Service Campaign Number: P3208, and the contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 176,000.
The worst 2009 Nissan 370Z problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Steering88
- Electrical67
- Transmission26
- Engine12
- Fuel system11
- Airbags6
- Body3
- Brakes3
- Acceleration2
- Seat belts1
- Seats1
- Wheels1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2009 Nissan 370Z
Steering lock-up 81Won't start 40Key fob 11Fuel gauge 7Stalling 7Airbag light 5
Trouble codes owners of the 2009 Nissan 370Z mention
P0309 3P3208 2
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Defect investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
EA21002
Technical service bulletins for the 2009 Nissan 370Z 97
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Wiring harness repair information
- Certification label and VIN plate replacement service information
- CAN communication codes – diagnostic tips and guidelines
- CAN communication – network diagnostic flow chart
- Vehicle key not detected / authenticated, engine will not start
- Windshield cracking
- Removing foreign material from the window glass
- Window glass warranty information
- Diagnosis of vehicle pull (DRIFT) and/or steering wheel off-center
- 12 volt battery testing for in-service vehicles service information
2009 Nissan 370Z fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.7L 6‑cyl | RWD | 18 | 26 | 21 |
What 2009 Nissan 370Z owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Seatbelts won’t retract easily from both driver and passenger side.
My vehicle has only 12,400 miles, and the passenger air bag light will not go off and the airbag light in the dash keeps blinking. Millions of Nissan vehicles have had the same problem. I want my Nissan dealership, where I purchased this vehicle ( M’Lady in Crystal Lake, IL ), to fix this at no cost to me.
Vehicle fuel gauge said 1/4 of a tank as I was driving the car suddenly shut off on a busy road making it very dangerous. I had the car towed home and as I was trying to diagnose the problem I added gas to the tank and the car started. Obviously the problem is the fuel sending unit.
The dashboard in the car is greying and sticky (same as 2008-09 altimas, 2011 maximas, toyotas, etx) and can create a glare on the windshield from the sun reflecting off of the glue. This is a manufacturing defect.
I purchased my first nissan, a 2009 370z, in 2018. I went to start my car and it would not start, after reading various forums on the internet I found the issue with the 370z is well documented to the escl (electronic steering column lock) issue. There is no warning to this occurring; I drove my car to the store and then home, an hour later went to start to the car and it would not start. The only lead I had was the intelligent key warning light, that when referenced in the owner's manual states this will lock the steering column and prevent the car from starting. This is usually triggered from an unregistered key but my keys were registered and had worked with the car from the time I bought it. The car has had this module changed out for parts are dated, and the current module is dated from 2012, after the car was released in 2009. I am not faced with replacing this part to get my 370z to start, I have to have the car towed to the nissan shop and was told it will be about $1100 to fix. It is well documented that the escl that nissan uses is malfunctioning. The internet is full of stories of people stranded. Nissan claims to have fixed this issue but clearly they have not. Currently nissan is recalling the 2009 altima due to a defective escl and repair them for free. However, if you had bought a 2009 370z, the same year as the altima, you must pay for the defect. The escl that has to be installed is part # 48700-9n00b, which is the sixth (6) part number for the escl.
My vehicle is equipped with an electronic steering column lock (escl) that locks the steering wheel when the vehicle is parked and turned off to help prevent theft. On some vehicles, due to a manufacturing irregularity,the escl may malfunction after the vehicle has been locked and could prevent the engine from starting. This condition, should it occur, will only occur when attempting to start the vehicle, which happened with my nissan 370z yesterday. Thank god I wasn;t stranded in the middle of nowhere. And luckily this did not happen in the middle of an intersection or other busy road. I have read that nissan has already recalled this part for their 2009-10 nissan altima, altima coupe, altima hybrid, and maxima vehicles but have not read about including their 2009-10 nissan 370z models. Multiple 370z forums confirm that the 2009-10 370z models have the same issues as the recalled nissan models. This needs to be corrected. 2009-10 nissan 370z customers shouldn't have to pay for the new part and labor just like nissan altima, altima coupe, altima hybrid, and maxima customers don't have to.
The gas reading is always messed up since I bought the car, it's left me stranded my last 350z also did this I won't shop nissan with these issues if I'm forced to pay for this issue twice
I purchased my first nissan, a 2009 370z, in 2009. As of today the car has had four (4) electronic steering column locks (escl) installed. The escl that nissan uses is defective, which results in leaving their customers stranded. This, in my opinion is unconscionable. The latest failure of the escl left me stranded out of town. I have no faith that the fourth escl will be any better than the previous three that nissan has installed. It is well documented that the escl that nissan uses is malfunctioning. The internet is full of stories of people stranded in unsafe areas due to this defective part. Nissan claims to have fixed this issue but clearly they have not. My car would have no problems starting, however the escl that nissan have installed will not allow it to start. Nissan will not allow my car to start unless I pay them to install a defective part. So I had to pay them. Currently nissan is recalling the 2009 altima due to a defective escl and repair them for free. However, if you had bought a 2009 370z, the same year as the altima, you must pay them, again and again and again. This makes no sense. The fourth (4) escl that was installed is part # 48700-9n00b, which is the sixth (6) part number for the escl. I can attest to the fact that all previous versions of this part are complete failures. Nissan will tell you that they have now got the part to work. They have been completely wrong on all five previous attempts. It is time for the nhsta to get involved and declare this a safety issue. Whenever you turn your car off, you never know if it will restart. When you fill your gas tank up, you have to decide if you should turn it off and then block the fuel pump for an hour while waiting on a tow truck, or let it run and risk a fire. I wrote nissan a letter about this issue, waited three (3) months, and they never replied!!
I got into my stationary vehicle and when I push the start button it remained in the lock position. The steering lock sensor light was on and it won't change into the acc or on position. This is the second time it has happened to me, first time the dealership had to fix it.
Compare the 2009 Nissan 370Z
Other model years
Questions about the 2009 Nissan 370Z
Is the 2009 Nissan 370Z reliable?
Owners have filed 153 complaints about the 2009 Nissan 370Z, 15.3 times a typical 370Z model year. It is one of the years we flag to avoid.
What is the 2009 Nissan 370Z year score?
The 2009 Nissan 370Z scores 5 out of 100 (poor). The score compares it with the other model years of the Nissan 370Z: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2009 Nissan 370Z?
Steering, with 88 complaints, typically around 38,560 miles. Next is electrical (67).
How many recalls does the 2009 Nissan 370Z have?
No recalls on record.
What year does the Nissan 370Z have bad steering?
The Nissan 370Z model years with the most steering complaints are 2009 (88 complaints), 2010 (62 complaints) and 2011 (22 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2009 Nissan 370Z get?
Official estimates for the 2009 Nissan 370Z range from 21 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.7L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 18 city and 26 highway.
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