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Nissan 350Z reliability

A · Excellent

MOT pass rates and common problems from 46,280 MOT tests of cars first registered 2003–2009.

Jump to: YearsEnginesCommon failures
70.8%pass first time
+13.1 ptsvs typical car
Beats 92%of cars
46,280MOT tests

Verdict

The Nissan 350Z passes its MOT first time on 70.8% of tests, 13.1 points higher than a typical car of the same age and mileage (57.7%). That puts it ahead of 92% of cars on UK roads once age and mileage are taken into account.

By year of first registration, the 2009 350Z does best (beats 98% of cars) and the 2004 worst (beats 91%).

Better than average on lights & electrics, suspension, brakes.

Watch these weak spots

Emissions & leaks1.5×as often as a typical car
Seat belts & airbags1.4×as often as a typical car
Exhaust emissions (catalyst)2.7×as often as a typical car
Airbag warning light2.5×as often as a typical car

MOT pass rate by age

First-time pass rate at each MOT by the car’s age in years.

50%55%60%65%70%75%1112131415161718192072%72%70%71%70%
Nissan 350ZTypical car, same age & mileage

Best and worst years

By year of first registration, ranked against all cars on UK roads after adjusting for age and mileage. Green = better than half of cars.

2003
Beats 93%
2004
Beats 91%
2005
Beats 92%
2006
Beats 91%
2007
Beats 93%
2008
Beats 92%
2009
Beats 98%

Engines

All years, most common first. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

EngineYearsTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.5 Petrol2003–200946,28070.8%Beats 92%A

Where it fails

Each area compared with a typical car of the same age and mileage, in points of pass rate. Tap or hover an area to see what to check.

Exhaust: 8.9% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Suspension: 8.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 15.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Lights: 10.9% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 20.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Tyres: 4.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Brakes: 5.9% of tests fail on brakes, against 12.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Lights: 10.9% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 20.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+9.3 ptsTyres: 4.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+2.4 ptsBrakes: 5.9% of tests fail on brakes, against 12.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+6.0 ptsSuspension: 8.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 15.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+7.2 ptsExhaust: 8.9% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust−2.8 ptsSuspension: 8.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 15.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Brakes: 5.9% of tests fail on brakes, against 12.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Tyres: 4.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Lights: 10.9% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 20.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Exhaust: 8.9% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Lights: 10.9% of tests fail on lights & electrics, against 20.2% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Walk round the car with every light on, including brake, fog and number plate lights.Lights+9.3 ptsTyres: 4.6% of tests fail on tyres, against 7.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Check the tread on every tyre, including the inner edge, and look for cuts or bulges.Tyres+2.4 ptsBrakes: 5.9% of tests fail on brakes, against 12.0% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Brake firmly on the test drive: the car should stop straight with no pulsing or grinding.Brakes+6.0 ptsSuspension: 8.6% of tests fail on suspension, against 15.8% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for knocks over speed bumps and push each corner down: it should settle at once.Suspension+7.2 ptsExhaust: 8.9% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.Exhaust−2.8 pts
Better than typicalTypicalWorse than typical
Exhaust: 8.9% of tests fail on emissions & leaks, against 6.1% for a typical car of the same age and mileage. Listen for a blowing exhaust at start-up and look underneath for oil or fluid leaks.

Every MOT area

Share of tests failing on each area, against a typical car of the same age and mileage (black line).

Lights & electrics
10.9% vs 20.2%
Emissions & leaks
8.9% vs 6.1%
Suspension
8.6% vs 15.8%
Brakes
5.9% vs 12.0%
Visibility
5.4% vs 7.3%
Tyres
4.6% vs 7.0%
Body & structure
3.6% vs 7.3%
Seat belts & airbags
3.2% vs 2.3%
Steering
1.0% vs 3.5%
Wheels
0.4% vs 0.4%

Buying one or MOT due? Check these

  • Exhaust emissions (catalyst) 2.7× typical
    Check past MOT emissions readings in the car's history: rising readings can mean catalyst or sensor problems.
  • Suspension arm bushes 1.6× typical
    Listen for knocks over speed bumps and feel for wandering or vague steering.
  • Sidelights
    Walk around with the lights on: bulb failures are the easiest MOT fails to avoid.
  • Windscreen washers
    Test the washers and wipers: a cheap fix, but a very common MOT fail.
  • Headlight aim
    Park facing a wall at night: both dipped beams should sit level and dip to the left.
  • Engine warning light
    The engine warning light should come on with the ignition and go out once the engine starts. If it stays on, get the fault codes read before you buy.

Pass rate by mileage

First-time pass rate by mileage at the test.

40%50%60%70%80%90%20k30k40k50k60k70k80k90k100k110k120k130k87%79%73%69%66%66%
Nissan 350ZTypical car

Most common MOT failures

ItemThis carTypicalvs typical
Exhaust emissions (catalyst)5.6%2.1%2.7×
Sidelights3.9%5.0%0.8×
Windscreen washers3.3%3.3%1.0×
Headlight aim3.3%5.7%0.6×
Suspension arm bushes2.9%1.8%1.6×
Airbag warning light2.6%1.1%2.5×
Engine warning light2.5%2.3%1.1×
Exhaust system2.3%2.5%0.9×
Tyre damage & cracking2.2%3.8%0.6×
Tyre tread depth2.1%3.0%0.7×

Specific defects found

Tester wording for the most frequent failure items, per 1,000 tests.

Defectper 1,000
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn39.7
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements33.1
Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen33.1
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning31.6
Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer30.5
An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction26.3
Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction25.7
Emissions levels exceed default limits24.1
Check another car

Pick a make and model to see its MOT pass rate, best and worst years and weak spots.

Every year and engine

Tap a year to see its engines. Grades compare each car with cars of the same age and mileage (A = best 20% of cars on UK roads, E = worst 20%), so an older or higher-mileage car can grade above one with a higher pass rate.

2009 Nissan 350Z1 engine79.5% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.5 Petrol1,42679.5%Beats 98%A
2008 Nissan 350Z1 engine73.4% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.5 Petrol3,65173.4%Beats 92%A
2007 Nissan 350Z1 engine72.7% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.5 Petrol6,06372.7%Beats 93%A
2006 Nissan 350Z1 engine70.8% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.5 Petrol8,01170.8%Beats 91%A
2005 Nissan 350Z1 engine70.5% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.5 Petrol11,42970.5%Beats 92%A
2004 Nissan 350Z1 engine68.7% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.5 Petrol11,62068.7%Beats 91%A
2003 Nissan 350Z1 engine69.1% passA
EngineTestsPass rateRankGrade
3.5 Petrol4,08069.1%Beats 93%A

FAQ

What is the Nissan 350Z MOT pass rate?

70.8% of MOT tests on the Nissan 350Z were passed first time, based on 46,280 tests between 2018 and 2026 of cars first registered 2003–2009. A typical car of the same age and mileage passes 57.7% of the time.

Is the Nissan 350Z reliable?

On MOT results it rates A (excellent): it passes first time more often than a typical car of the same age and mileage and does better than 92% of cars on UK roads. MOT results cover safety and emissions items, not every kind of breakdown.

Which Nissan 350Z year is best?

Among years with enough data, the 2009 350Z does best for its age and mileage: it beats 98% of cars on UK roads. The 2004 does worst: it beats 91%.

What are the most common MOT failures on the Nissan 350Z?

The most common failure items are exhaust emissions (catalyst), sidelights, windscreen washers. Compared with similar cars, exhaust emissions (catalyst) comes up 2.7× as often.

How we calculate this. We use official MOT results for cars tested in Great Britain from 2018 to 2026. Each car is compared with typical cars of the same age and mileage, so old and new cars are judged fairly; “pts” are percentage points above or below them. Differences also reflect how cars are used and maintained, not only how they are built.