MajorCommonTransmission

Nissan 370Z: Z34 7-Speed Automatic Torque Converter Clutch Shudder

Z34 7-Speed Automatic Torque Converter Clutch Shudder is a common transmission fault on the Nissan 370Z on the 2008 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $350 to $4,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 15 documented faults on the Nissan 370Z.

Vehicle: Nissan 370Z
Years: 2008 onward
Fuel: petrol
Gearbox: auto
System: Transmission

This page covers the Nissan 370Z as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Nissan 370Z faults15 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

A cutaway automatic transmission torque converter showing the internal turbine and stator. — A torque converter, sectioned. The lock-up clutch inside is what shudders.
No machine-readable author provided. BerndB~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims). · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

The Z34 fitted with the JATCO 7-speed automatic (7AT) uses a lock-up torque converter clutch that engages at light throttle cruising speeds to improve fuel economy. The friction material and ATF formulation proved marginally compatible, causing the clutch to oscillate between slip and lock states rather than maintaining steady engagement — a phenomenon felt as a repetitive shudder through the drivetrain. Nissan issued a service procedure specifying a transmission fluid drain and fill with Nissan Matic-S or equivalent to address friction surface conditioning; however, vehicles with high mileage or where the fluid was never changed may have worn friction material requiring torque converter replacement.

What you would notice

Rhythmic vibration or shudder felt through the seat and drivetrain at 80–110 km/h under light throttle, typically between 1500–2200 rpm
Shudder disappears immediately when throttle is increased or released fully, consistent with torque converter clutch modulation
Transmission fault codes P0740 or P0741 stored in some cases alongside perceived shudder

How to check it

Where to look. Inside the automatic transmission bellhousing, torque converter located between the engine flexplate and the transmission input shaft

Test drive at steady highway speeds (80–110 km/h) under light throttle load to reproduce the shudder; check ATF condition and level — fluid should be red and transparent, not brown or smelling burnt; scan transmission module for P0740 (TCC circuit fault) or shudder-related codes; verify the ATF type matches Nissan specification (non-spec fluid worsens the condition); check flexplate bolts for looseness as a secondary cause of vibration at similar speeds.

Parts involved: Torque converter, Clutch.

What it costs to put right

$350 to $4,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the automatic transmission fluid ever been changed, and with what specification fluid?”
“Is there any vibration or shudder at highway cruising speed under light throttle?”
“Has the transmission been serviced or any transmission codes appeared?”

Now check the Nissan 370Z you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Nissan 370Z buyer questions

Is z34 7-speed automatic torque converter clutch shudder serious on a Nissan 370Z?

We rate it major and common on the Nissan 370Z. The Z34 fitted with the JATCO 7-speed automatic (7AT) uses a lock-up torque converter clutch that engages at light throttle cruising speeds to improve fuel economy. The friction material and ATF formulation proved marginally compatible, causing the clutch to oscillate between slip and lock states rather than maintaining steady engagement — a phenomenon felt as a repetitive shudder through the drivetrain. Nissan issued a service procedure specifying a transmission fluid drain and fill with Nissan Matic-S or equivalent to address friction surface conditioning; however, vehicles with high mileage or where the fluid was never changed may have worn friction material requiring torque converter replacement.

How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan 370Z?

$350 to $4,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Nissan 370Z years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2008 onward Nissan 370Z. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.