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full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2006 Nissan 350Z engine problems
severe 16 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $3,100 · see engine across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
1fire
When does it fail?
Of the 16 engine complaints filed for the 2006 Nissan 350Z, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Engine accounts for 30% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 5 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 18 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
OBD II EVAP Tube Warranty Enhancement The update below was sent out to Regions and Dealers in August of this year. We are re-circulating this update to make regional and dealer personnel aware that we are re-notifying customers at this time.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION After ECM reprogramming, the Calibration Verification Number (CVN) needs to be automatically calculated prior to State emissions testing (also known as Inspection Maintainence, I/M, or SMOG testing depending upon location). Allowing the vehicle to idle for 22 minutes will allow for faster CVN calculation. It is recommended that customers utilize this method if the vehicle needs to be tested for emissions soon after ECM reprogramming. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005-2006 350Z; ENGINE OIL LEVEL IS LOW. UPDATED 4/8/08. UPDATED 5/6/08. UPDATED 9/22/10.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗AIRFLOWMETER SERVICE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
2006 Nissan 350Z owners consistently describe excessive engine oil consumption, with the problem surfacing within months or a few thousand miles of ownership. Owners report burning 1 quart per 1,000 miles at minimum, and several describe losing 2-4 quarts between standard 3,000-mile oil changes. One owner burned 5+ quarts in just 6,500 miles. There are no visible oil leaks; the oil is burning internally. Accompanying the consumption are valve tapping or lifter-type noises, especially under acceleration or uphill driving, and check engine lights. In severe cases, unchecked consumption has led to total engine seizure and fire while driving at low speed.
Nissan issued technical service bulletins (NTB07-088 series) dating to 2007 and initially told owners this consumption was normal for the model. After pressure from owners and lemon law threats, Nissan offered engine replacement under warranty or goodwill. However, owners report that replacement engines—sourced as "counter measure" units—experienced the same oil consumption within 4,000 miles. Short-block replacements per TSB NTB07-088D did not resolve severe consumption cases.
Owners also faced resistance: Nissan blamed driving habits, refused insurance claims for fire damage, withheld rental car coverage during lengthy inspections, and failed to deliver promised compensation. One owner was forced into voluntary repossession after Nissan quoted $6,000 for a new engine and refused warranty coverage.
Same Nissan 350Z engine reports on nearby years: 2005
Failure modes owners describe
Excessive Oil Consumption
2006 Nissan 350Z engines, particularly the RevUp model, consume oil at abnormally high rates. Owners report burning 1 quart per 1,000 miles or worse—up to 2-4 quarts between 3,000-mile oil changes, or 5+ quarts within 6,500 miles. The issue develops early in ownership and worsens over time. No external leaks are visible; the oil is burned internally. Nissan issued TSBs (NTB07-088, NTB07-088B, NTB07-088D) dating to 2007, but the manufacturer initially told owners this consumption rate was normal for the model.
When: As early as 2,300 miles; escalates between 20,000-95,000 miles. Issue present at purchase or shortly after.
Symptoms owners cite: Valve tapping or rattling noise under the hood as oil level drops; Engine noise described as lifter-type sound that worsens going uphill; Check engine light illumination; Empty or critically low oil on dipstick despite recent fill-ups; Rough idle after engine work
Codes mentioned: P0300 or similar (check engine light)
Repairs/costs cited: Nissan dealerships offered engine replacement under warranty or goodwill, with some owners receiving replacement engines within a year of complaint. However, replacement engines sourced as 'counter measure' units experienced the same oil consumption problem, sometimes within 4,000 miles of installation. Short-block replacement (TSB NTB07-088D) did not resolve the issue for owners with severe consumption. One owner paid $6,000 out of pocket after insurance and Nissan refused coverage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSBs NTB07-088, NTB07-088B, NTB07-088D issued by Nissan for high oil consumption. Initial response: manufacturer told owners 1 quart per 1,000 miles was normal. Later offered engine replacement under warranty or after pressure from lemon law threats. Nissan also blamed owners, telling one to 'drive it slow' and not push the car. One owner received a promised $2,000 for installation error but never received it. Nissan refused to cover rental car during 3+ month inspection in one case.
Engine Failure from Oil Starvation
Severe or unchecked oil consumption leads to total engine failure. One engine seized and caught fire at a traffic light with less than one year of ownership. Another required head gasket and complete engine replacement at 72,000 miles. These failures occur without warning lights in some cases, creating a hazard.
When: Less than 1 year of ownership (under 12 months); also at 72,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Engine seizing while driving (at traffic light); Engine compartment catching fire; Vehicle stalling at low speed (35 mph); Smoking from engine compartment; Condensation observed under engine after overheating
Repairs/costs cited: Complete engine replacement required. One owner quoted $6,000 for new engine; another had head gasket and engine replaced at dealership but repair details cost not stated. Insurance denied coverage in fire case.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan refused warranty coverage for fire damage, blamed owner for 'pushing' the vehicle, quoted $6,000 for engine replacement after denying fault, did not cover rental during inspection. No recall issued despite acknowledged problem affecting thousands.
Engine Knock or Valve Noise
Owners report tapping, rattling, or lifter-type sounds from the engine, particularly under acceleration or uphill driving. The noise correlates with low oil levels and typically emerges as consumption accelerates. One owner recognized the sound as a precursor to engine damage from an earlier vehicle.
When: As early as 4,000 miles; develops or worsens as oil consumption increases. Noise may persist even after engine replacement.
Symptoms owners cite: Valve tapping or rattling under the hood; Lifter-type noise that worsens going uphill; Noise loudest as engine warms up; Sound resembles pre-seizure knocking from prior oil-starved engines
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repair listed by owners; engine replacement did not eliminate noise in one case.
Transmission Shift Difficulty (Secondary Issue)
One owner reported transmission grinding and shift difficulty (1-2 and 4-3 shifts) concurrent with severe engine oil consumption. The transmission was found faulty and replaced, but shift problems persisted after engine short-block replacement, suggesting possible collateral damage or unrelated defect.
When: At 6,500 miles after purchase
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding noise during 1-2 and 4-3 gear shifts; Difficulty engaging shifts; Difficult shifting from 1-2 and 5-6 even after transmission replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replaced by dealer. Shift difficulty remained unresolved after engine short-block replacement and new transmission installation.
Accelerator and Brake Pedal Unresponsiveness
One owner reported loss of accelerator and brake pedal response while driving at highway speed (70 mph). Vehicle regained function after restart. Check engine light was illuminated. This is a separate failure mode but occurred in a 2006 350Z and may indicate electrical or engine control issues.
When: At 95,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal unresponsive when depressed; Brake pedal unresponsive when depressed; Check engine light illuminated; Function restored after engine restart
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was informed; owner awaited response at time of complaint filing.
Synthesized from 16 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
I noticed my 2006 350z was using small amounts of oil between oil changes. Around 21,000 miles I saw a dramatic increase in oil usage. More than 1 quart low at only 1900 miles into my oil change. I have been working with dealer to show oil consumption and it has increased as time has gone on. This will result in decreased value of my car as the word gets out to the general public. I will not be…
I purchased a 2006 Nissan 350z manual 6 speed. After several thousand miles, the car started to burn an excessive amount of oil. I was told that this was normal. I stated that this was a new car and new cars do not burn oil. Nissan consumer relations was contacted and after almost a year and with many threats to hire an attorney and sue for consumer fraud, Nissan finally agreed to replace the…
The contact owns a 2006 Nissan 350Z. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the accelerator and brake pedals became unresponsive while depressed. The contact was able to pull over and restart the vehicle and the vehicle regained functionality. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer. The manufacturer was…
On 10/6/2010 I took my vehicle in for an oil change and evaluation of problem in shifting manual transmission. The transmission had problem with 1-2 and 4-3 shifts with grinding and difficulty shifting. The car was found to have a faulty transmission. The vehicle was also found to have, as stated by the tech, no visible oil in the engine. This indicates a consumption of 5+ quarts within 6500…
Purchased a new Nissan 350z 2006 model year with the rev-up enginein june 2006. At 2300 miles, august 2006-check engine light came on and dealer had to replace over 2quarts of oil. Asked to return at 500 mile intervals for checks, fist 500miles oil indicates less than half on the high to low mark on the dipstick. 1000 miles, more than 1quart added to engine. 1500 miles, less than 1/2 on the…
I own a 2006 Nissan 350z coupe that consumes entirely too much oil. I regularly change the oil myself every 3000 miles, yet in between changes the vehicle consumes anywhere from 2 to 4 quarts. It appears that many consumers with this particular vehicle year and model have had the same problem. I wanted to bring this issue to your attention because I'm sure many other consumers have had this…
Had engine trouble with your 2006 Nissan 350Z?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2006 Nissan 350Z?
It's a meaningful issue. 16 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $3,100.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most engine failures cluster between 8,000 and 30,991 miles, with the median around 22,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 8,000; a quarter make it past 30,991. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Nissan/350Z.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.