Nissan 370Z Z34: common faults & what to check
The Z34 is the Nissan 370Z built 2009–2021. It was sold here with the 3.7 V6 petrol. Of the 15 faults documented for the 370Z, 14 apply to this generation, each with its symptoms, what to inspect and a typical repair cost. Free, no account needed.
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15
Critical
$400–$3,500
5
You're looking at the Z34 · 3.7 V6 petrol
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A 2010 Nissan 370Z is the Z34 generation (2009 to 2021).
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Nissan 370Z · 2010
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matched on year only
What to look out for
Serious issue
Watch for: Clunking or knocking from the front suspension when traversing speed bumps, pot holes or during parking manoeuvres.
Front Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Wear
The Z33 and Z34 front suspension uses pressed-in ball joints in the lower control arms. Road grit, moisture and the high cornering loads generated by the stiff suspension geometry accelerate wear of the ball joint socket and bearing surface. As clearance increases the joint develops axial play, which allows the knuckle to move unpredictably under braking and cornering loads — a safety-critical failure mode. In advanced cases the joint can separate, resulting in immediate loss of steering and wheel collapse; many WoF inspection failures on higher-mileage Z33s cite front ball joint play as the rejection reason.
What you would notice
Costly issue
Watch for: Vehicle pulling to one side under moderate or heavy braking, with the pull becoming more pronounced as the brakes heat up.
Brake Caliper Guide Pin Seizure
The front and rear brake calipers on the Z33 and Z34 use sliding guide pins that allow the caliper body to float and apply equal clamping force to both brake pads. In New Zealand's coastal and wet-road environment, road salt and water ingress corrode the guide pin bores in the caliper bracket, causing the pins to seize in position. A seized guide pin prevents the outboard pad from releasing fully after brake application, creating continuous rotor contact that causes accelerated pad and rotor wear, elevated brake fluid temperatures, and progressive braking pull toward the seized side. Rear calipers are disproportionately affected because they also incorporate the electric park brake mechanism, which further complicates disassembly.
What you would notice
See all 14 issues for this one
Body, brakes, suspension & interior1 critical
01Front Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Wear
The Z33 and Z34 front suspension uses pressed-in ball joints in the lower control arms. Road grit, moisture and the high cornering loads generated by the stiff suspension geometry accelerate wear of the ball joint socket and bearing surface. As clearance increases the joint develops axial play, which allows the knuckle to move unpredictably under braking and cornering loads — a safety-critical failure mode. In advanced cases the joint can separate, resulting in immediate loss of steering and wheel collapse; many WoF inspection failures on higher-mileage Z33s cite front ball joint play as the rejection reason.
Example of the part — not this vehicleA separated lower ball joint: the control arm has dropped and the wheel has splayed out under the guard.
Symptoms to notice
What to check
Ask the seller
02Rear Multi-Link Suspension Bush Collapse
The Z33 and Z34 rear suspension is a sophisticated five-link independent layout with rubber-bonded bushes at each arm pivot point. The toe-link and inner lateral link bushes are particularly vulnerable to degradation because they carry high longitudinal loads and are positioned close to hot exhaust components in the tunnel area. As the rubber compounds harden, crack or debond from the outer sleeve, the arms lose their intended geometry compliance and the rear axle develops uncontrolled toe changes under braking and acceleration. The result is a rear end that feels nervous or loose on corner exit, and the failure is frequently misdiagnosed as shock absorber wear before alignment data reveals the root cause.
Symptoms to notice
What to check
Ask the seller
03Brake Caliper Guide Pin Seizure
The front and rear brake calipers on the Z33 and Z34 use sliding guide pins that allow the caliper body to float and apply equal clamping force to both brake pads. In New Zealand's coastal and wet-road environment, road salt and water ingress corrode the guide pin bores in the caliper bracket, causing the pins to seize in position. A seized guide pin prevents the outboard pad from releasing fully after brake application, creating continuous rotor contact that causes accelerated pad and rotor wear, elevated brake fluid temperatures, and progressive braking pull toward the seized side. Rear calipers are disproportionately affected because they also incorporate the electric park brake mechanism, which further complicates disassembly.
Symptoms to notice
What to check
Ask the seller
Fluid leaks
04Rear differential pinion/cover oil seepage
The Z34 370Z rear diff commonly weeps oil from the pinion seal and diff cover gasket, worsened by hard driving and heat cycling. Left unchecked it can lower diff oil level and cause bearing whine.
Symptoms to notice
What to check
Ask the seller
Depends on the exact engine — 10 more
Engine, transmission & cooling
01VVEL Variable Valve Lift Actuator Failure
Can't confirm for this car02VQ35/VQ37 high oil consumption at high km
Can't confirm for this car
Can't confirm for this car
Both the Z33 VQ35 and Z34 VQ37 V6 are known to consume oil, particularly beyond 120,000km, due to piston ring and PCV wear. Owners often top up between services, and low oil accelerates bearing wear.
Symptoms to notice
What to check
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03VQ37VHR High-Mileage Valve Stem Seal Oil Consumption
Can't confirm for this car
Can't confirm for this car
At higher mileages — typically over 120,000 km — the VQ37VHR engine develops significant oil consumption due to deteriorating valve stem seals and valve guide wear. Oil is drawn into the combustion chambers past the stems, producing blue smoke on cold startup and during overrun, and causing fouled spark plugs. The repair requires cylinder head removal on both banks to replace seals, making it a substantial labour job requiring engine access from above.
Symptoms to notice
What to check
Ask the seller
04Rear LSD Fluid Degradation and Differential Chatter
Can't confirm for this car
Can't confirm for this car
The 370Z Sport and NISMO variants carry a factory mechanical limited-slip differential whose friction modifier additives degrade with heat cycling and mileage. Degraded fluid causes the characteristic LSD chatter during low-speed tight-radius turning as the clutch packs bind rather than slip smoothly. The differential fluid is frequently overlooked as owners assume a lifetime fill — it is not. Correct-spec fluid with friction modifier additive resolves chatter in all but severely worn differentials.
Symptoms to notice
What to check
Ask the seller
056-speed manual 3rd/4th gear synchro wear
Can't confirm for this car
Can't confirm for this car
The 370Z 6MT is prone to synchro wear on 3rd and 4th gears, producing a crunch or baulk when shifting, especially when cold or shifted quickly. Aggravated by track use and worn gearbox oil.
Symptoms to notice
What to check
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06Z34 7-Speed Automatic Torque Converter Clutch Shudder
Can't confirm for this car07Manual Transmission Clutch Pressure Plate Cracking
Can't confirm for this car
Can't confirm for this car
The 6-speed manual Z33 and Z34 use a single-disc clutch assembly where the pressure plate diaphragm spring fingers and the pressure ring itself are subject to thermal stress cracking under hard use. The factory clutch is calibrated for street loads, and repeated high-rpm launches or track sessions generate heat that exceeds the pressure plate's thermal tolerance, causing fatigue cracks to develop at the diaphragm spring fulcrum ring. Cracked pressure plates produce increasingly erratic engagement as the clamping load becomes uneven, and in severe cases the pressure ring or a diaphragm finger can fracture and damage the flywheel, bell housing or gearbox input shaft bearing.
Symptoms to notice
What to check
Ask the seller
08Clutch master/slave cylinder failure
Can't confirm for this car
Can't confirm for this car
The 370Z 6-speed manual suffers hydraulic clutch master and slave (concentric) cylinder failures, causing a spongy or dropping clutch pedal and difficulty selecting gears. Common failure point on higher-km cars.
Symptoms to notice
What to check
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09Clutch Pedal Pivot Pin and Bushing Wear
Can't confirm for this car
Can't confirm for this car
The clutch pedal assembly on Z34 manual variants uses a small steel pivot pin running through a plastic bushing. With use, the pin and bushing wear, producing a creaking or knocking sensation when the clutch pedal is depressed or released. In advanced cases lateral play increases and the pedal feel becomes imprecise. Ignored wear can elongate the hole in the pedal bracket itself, escalating repair complexity. The fix is disassembling the pedal cluster behind the lower dashboard — a fiddly but low-cost job when caught early.
Symptoms to notice
What to check
Ask the seller
10SynchroRev Match Throttle Body Carbon Buildup and Idle Drift
Can't confirm for this car
Can't confirm for this car
The 370Z manual's SynchroRev Match (SRM) system uses the electronic throttle body to blip the engine on downshifts, automating heel-toe technique. The throttle butterfly valve accumulates carbon deposits from crankcase blow-by gases over time, causing the valve to stick at partially open positions. This produces an elevated or unstable warm idle (typically 900-1,500 RPM instead of the normal 650-750 RPM), erratic blip behaviour during SRM operation, and prolonged rough warm-up idle. Resolution requires throttle body cleaning followed by an ECU idle relearn procedure.
Symptoms to notice
What to check
Ask the seller
Other Nissan 370Z engines and years
Engine, transmission & cooling
Nissan 370Z faults in detail
What these repairs cost on other cars
Some of the Nissan 370Z’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.
Other Nissan models
Nissan 370Z buyer questions
Is the Nissan 370Z reliable?
Like any used car, it depends on the specific example and its service history. Across the 15 documented faults for the Nissan 370Z, the recurring problem areas are engine, suspension, and transmission. A Nissan 370Z with a full service history and no signs of the issues listed on this page can be a sound buy but each one needs to be checked individually before you commit.
What are the most common problems with a used Nissan 370Z?
We've catalogued 15 known faults for the Nissan 370Z, covering engine, suspension, and transmission. All 15 are written out in full on this page, with the symptoms to notice, what to inspect, and typical repair costs for each. Free to read, no account needed.
How much do repairs cost on a Nissan 370Z?
Most single repairs on the Nissan 370Z fall between $400–$3,500 at NZ independent-workshop rates. Some of the 15 documented faults cost less and a few cost considerably more, and no one car needs them all. Knowing which ones to look for before you view is what lets you negotiate the price down or walk away.
Should I get a pre-purchase inspection on a Nissan 370Z?
Yes. A Nissan 370Z inspection focused on its known weak points is the single best way to avoid an expensive mistake. KickTyres gives you a guided, model-specific inspection plus a market valuation and negotiation figure for $24.90 far less than the cost of missing one of the faults on this page.