SERVICE INFORMATION Replacement 5-speed rear wheel drive Automatic Transmission (A/T) assemblies and replacement control valves (valve bodies) now come with blank Transmission Control Modules (TCMs). Blank TCMs come without software and must be programmed (not reprogrammed) and then configured after they are installed. When ordering a replacement A/T or control valve, use the Nissan electronic parts information systems to obtain the correct software program part number See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2008 Nissan 350Z powertrain problems
moderate 21 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
21
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 21 powertrain complaints filed for the 2008 Nissan 350Z, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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.
How fast does it fail?
Cumulative share of the 11 mileage-bearing powertrain complaints filed against the 2008 Nissan 350Z by each odometer reading. Median failure: 50,000 mi.
10% have failed by5,500 mi
Half the fleet by50,000 mi
90% have failed by70,000 mi
Curve based on owner-reported odometer mileage at the time of complaint. Reflects when owners filed, not when symptoms first appeared. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve.
What stands out
Reported failure mileage clusters in the 50,000-75,000 mi band — 5 of 11 complaints with an odometer reading on file land there.
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 17 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 powertrain 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.
SERVICE INFORMATION If a customer describes lack of power or poor acceleration, perform the following checks before attempting any repair: * Check for stored DTCs. * Check if the driver is resting their left foot on the brake pedal while accelerating. Advise the customer not to rest their foot on the brake while accelerating. * Use CONSULT-III plus in Engine Data Monitor to check operation of the brake lamp circuit signal. Monitor the brake switch during the incident; it should be "OFF". Please see this bulletn for further details.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2008 Nissan 350Z powertrain complaints center on a failing clutch slave cylinder (also called concentric slave cylinder or CSC) that owners say has a design defect. Owners report the clutch pedal sticks to the floor, goes soft or loses pressure, and won't return without manual assistance — often leaving the car stranded mid-drive. This happens from 400 miles through 70,000 miles. Some owners report the slave cylinder failing multiple times under warranty, sometimes within weeks of replacement with OEM parts. The failures are accompanied by a characteristic burning clutch smell when the pedal drops midway during acceleration.
Secondary issues include difficulty shifting, grinding into second gear (especially cold), and transmission problems including hard shifts and a throwout bearing noise from the factory. One owner reports a transmission replacement at 7,500 miles due to broken bearings. Owners cite costs of $500+ per slave cylinder repair, $2,800 for a full clutch kit, and repeated dealer visits with no permanent fix. One master mechanic states the system design itself is flawed. Multiple complaints reference an earlier 2007 350Z recall for the same slave cylinder issue, yet 2008 models continue to fail with no extended recall coverage mentioned in these narratives.
Same Nissan 350Z powertrain reports on nearby years: 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Clutch slave cylinder failure
Concentric slave cylinder (CSC) fails to maintain hydraulic pressure, causing the clutch pedal to lose firmness, stick to the floor, or fail to return. Owners report repeated failures of the same component, sometimes within weeks of OEM replacement.
When: 400 miles to 70,000 miles; failures occur randomly during highway driving, slow parking lot maneuvers, and acceleration
Symptoms owners cite: Clutch pedal sticks to or stays on the floor; Clutch pedal loses pressure and feels soft or weak; Clutch pedal must be manually pulled back to return to rest position; Vehicle cannot shift gears or grinds when attempting to shift; Characteristic strong burning clutch smell; Car rendered inoperable and stranded; Service Engine Soon light illuminates
Repairs/costs cited: Slave cylinder replacement $500+ per repair; some owners report 3 to 6 replacements; one owner purchased aftermarket part online; OEM replacements failed again within days to weeks
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2007 350Z recall noted for slave cylinder; 2008 model complaints indicate same issue continues; no extended recall mentioned in narratives; dealer warranty coverage disputed (30-day waiting period, diagnosis charges cited)
Clutch pedal sticking and loss of engagement
During acceleration or normal driving, the clutch pedal disengages midway (halfway to the floor) with complete loss of power to the wheels, accompanied by burning smell. Pedal must be pulled up manually to re-engage drive.
When: During acceleration in first or second gear at mid-high RPMs; one failure reported at 4,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Clutch disengages to midway point during acceleration; Complete loss of power to wheels mid-drive; Very strong burning clutch smell; Vehicle power returns only after manual pedal reset; Pedal feels noticeably softer after failure; Difficulty or inability to shift into gear
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report aftermarket Exedy clutch, flywheel, and pressure plate installation; repeated full clutch kit replacement at $2,800; one owner suggests aftermarket heavy-duty slave cylinder from Z-Speed Sports as only solution
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Problem observed in 2007 350Z and continued into 2008; one owner notes 2007 recall for same issue but 2008 models not covered
Grinding and hard shifting
Transmission grinds when engaging second gear from first, or produces grinding noise on downshifts. Hard shifts from factory or after service.
When: From cold start conditions; when shifting between 3,500–4,500 RPM; one report at 4,500 miles on new vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Grinding noise when shifting into second gear; Transmission stalls or grinds more in cold weather; Hard shifting from factory; Throwout bearing noise from factory; Gear engagement irregular or bouncy
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer advised inspection; one owner reports transmission replacement at 7,500 miles due to broken bearings
Premature flywheel wear
Flywheel breaks or wears prematurely, requiring resurfacing or replacement early in vehicle life.
When: 3,700 miles (new car); one owner reports multiple resurfacing and replacement events by 68,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission does not shift smoothly; Flywheel failure
Repairs/costs cited: One owner at 3,700 miles told needs new clutch and flywheel; Nissan denied warranty coverage despite low mileage; another owner reports 2 flywheel resurfacing events and 1 replacement by 68,000 miles, all work at dealer with OEM parts
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Warranty claim denied for vehicle at 3,700 miles
Synthesized from 21 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 17 most recent
Hello I have a 2008 Nissan 350z 6 speed manual base model, that I had brought in dec 12 of 2007 brand new. Since then the clutch on the car has gotten stuck three times. All three times are random. Twice was on the highway and once while doing a u turn. The cause of this is burning up my clutch and the Nissan dealerships here in the orlando area are giving me the classic dealership run around. I…
2008 Nissan 350z nismo / clutch pedal sticks,when the gear engages it`s very bouncy?. *tr
When rpms are high in first gear, the clutch disengages to the halfway point and you lose all power to the wheels. This is usually followed by a burning clutch smell. It is my understanding that Nissan recalled the 2007 350z for the same issue (clutch slave cylinder), but it's apparent that the problem continues with the 2008 model and I'm asking that the NHTSA instruct Nissan to extend the fix…
Car would not shift smoothly. Dealer says the flywheel is broken and car needs a new clutch. The car has 3700 miles on it and Nissan will not cover this under warranty. Problem has existed since the car had 400 miles on it. *tr
I was driving my 2008 Nissan 350z on the freeway at about 65 MPH and when I stepped on the clutch to switch gears it was stuck on the floor and didn't come back up. The clutch was stuck in gear and I had to pull over and get it towed. *tr
Clutch gets very loose after driving a little bit. *tr
Csc failure 6 times. Failure occured in multiple places, on the highway, side streets, country road.
I purchased my 08 350z grand touring october 5, 2015 from hoy fox Toyota in el paso tx. 3 days later it left me stranded. The clutch stayed to the floor and it wouldn't gear. They sold it to me saying it had a new clutch so I decided after test driving it to take it. I had to wait 30 days for my power train warranty to kick in so I can make a claim. Initially it was the master cylinder which was…
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Nissan 350z. While driving approximately 30 MPH, the clutch failed to respond when engaged. The brake pedal was applied with force and the vehicle came to a stop. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact inspected the vehicle and stated the slave cylinder would need to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the…
The clutch slave cylinder has gone out on the vehicle 3 times since I have owned it. It has cost me over $500 each repair. Others have complained about this. The second time it went out was in a parking lot when I was going slow and the third time happened this morning when I left for work. This is ridiculous and all Nissan wants to do is charge off the wall prices. I'm a master mechanic and the…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2008 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 powertrain problem on the 2008 Nissan 350Z?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 21 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 13,000 and 60,000 miles, with the median around 36,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 13,000; a quarter make it past 60,000. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2008/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.