DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Nissan 370Z steering problems
moderate 22 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
22
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
When does it fail?
Of the 22 steering complaints filed for the 2011 Nissan 370Z, 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.
What stands out
Steering accounts for 55% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 3 categories tracked.
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 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 steering 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.
DIAGNOSIS OF VEHICLE PULL (DRIFT) AND/OR STEERING WHEEL OFF-CENTER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous versions of this bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION When servicing run flat tires or low profile tires: - Special equipment and procedures are required to avoid damage. - Specifically, Tire Pressure Monitor transmitters (TPMS sensors) can be damaged when improperly dismounting and mounting tires. - TPMS sensors becoming damaged during mounting or dismounting tires are not covered under warranty. - To avoid such damage, ensure that the tire changer being used and the operator of the tire changer is capable of servicing run flat and low profile tires. - Operator?s manuals for such tire changers must be followed. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION When diagnosing possible power steering gear (rack and pinion steering rack, or steering rack) leak issues, it may appear the steering rack is leaking when actually, it?s not. Use this service bulletin to help make a more accurate diagnosis of the steering rack. - Go to Power Steering Gear Inspection starting on page 2. See this bulletin for further detail.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SERVICE INFORMATION - This bulletin is to assist you in responding to customer questions about brake operation, and provides diagnostic and repair information for each item listed, if any should occur. - Most brake incidents fall into the following categories: a. Brake Noise: A squeak, squeal, clunk, or groan that occurs when the brakes are applied or released. b. Brake Judder: A vibration that can be felt in the vehicle, steering wheel or brake pedal when the brakes are applied. c. Pedal Feel: The effort needed to operate the brakes is too high or too low. SERVICE PROCEDURE 1. Verify the condition by road testing the vehicle with the customer. 2. Determine the specific brake incident based
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The steering lock unit—Nissan's anti-theft mechanism that locks the steering wheel until the key fob is detected—fails regularly on 2011 370Z models, leaving owners completely stranded. The vehicle simply will not start. Owners press the push-button ignition and nothing happens; the key fob is recognized for door locks but does not unlock the steering column. The ignition indicator stays on 'LOCK' and won't budge to 'ON.' One owner couldn't even shift the car into neutral for towing.
Failures happen suddenly, anywhere from 22,000 to 55,000 miles, always when the owner tries to restart after parking. Some owners report a key-indicator light flickering beforehand, but dealership diagnostics found no root cause. Owners have had to pay Nissan dealers $1,000 to $1,431 to replace the steering lock unit, plus towing. One owner had the same part fail a second time at 55,000 miles and got charged again.
Nissan recalled and extended warranty on this identical part for 2009–2010 370Z models but did not recall the 2011, despite the defect being the same. Owners learned via online forums and NHTSA complaints that the problem is widespread and well-known to Nissan, yet the company offers no goodwill repairs, recalls, or technical service bulletins for 2011 owners. Several complained they researched the problem before purchase specifically to avoid it, only to encounter it anyway.
Same Nissan 370Z steering reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Electronic Steering Column Lock (ESCL) / Steering Lock Unit (SLU) Failure
The steering lock mechanism—an anti-theft security feature meant to lock the steering wheel until the key fob comes in range—fails to recognize the key fob or unlock, preventing the vehicle from starting. Even with a working key fob present, the ESCL/SLU does not release the wheel. When the driver presses the push-button start, nothing happens; the ignition stays in 'LOCK' position and will not move to 'ON.' The vehicle becomes completely immobilized and cannot be started or placed in neutral for towing. In one case (#16), power steering itself failed while driving at low speed, causing the vehicle to stall.
When: Mileage ranges from under 28,000 miles to 55,000+ miles; owners report failures occurring suddenly when attempting to restart after parking, with no prior warning in most cases.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start; ignition button press produces no response; Steering wheel remains locked; ignition indicator stuck on 'LOCK' position; Key fob recognized for locking/unlocking doors but does not disable the steering lock; Key indicator light ('Intelligent Key Warning Light') illuminates on dashboard; Vehicle completely immobilized; cannot shift to neutral or be steered onto a flatbed tow truck; In one case, power steering failure and stalling while driving
Repairs/costs cited: Steering lock unit replacement costs owners $1,000–$1,431 depending on dealer and year. Parts quoted include 48700-JF00D (described as 'latest revision' on 2011 models), 48700-JF00A, 48700-JF00B, 48700-JF00C. Labor typically $200–$400. Towing fees range $28–$200. One owner reports the part being back-ordered. One case mentions both brakes and steering wheel sticking due to steering lock failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Nissan recalled the steering lock unit for model years 2009–2010 370Z and extended warranty on those units, but did NOT issue a recall for the 2011 model year despite the same defect and identical part failure. Nissan issued a voluntary service campaign for unspecified other Nissan/Infiniti models but excluded the 370Z. Warranty coverage is typically expired by the time failure occurs, leaving owners to pay out of pocket. Dealership service representatives acknowledged seeing the same problem in multiple 370Z vehicles but claimed initially to be unaware of the issue. Nissan Consumer Affairs confirmed no recall exists for the 2011 370Z.
Synthesized from 22 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Nissan 370z. The contact stated that the vehicle was unable to start due to the steering wheel being locked.the contact was unable to turn the key in the ignition. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed with a lock steering malfunction. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,000. The VIN was…
Key indicator light came on about a week prior to the incident. Made 2 phone calls to local Nissan dealerships (one in portland or and one in vancouver, wa) both dealerships claimed they had no idea what was going on but I should bring it in for a diagnostic test which ran around $118 just to look at. Since nothing appeared wrong with my car I waited because the "key" light would go off. It came…
Car would not start. Faulty steering lock assembly. Had to be towed.
Takata recall. I first occurred a problem with the z on my wedding day. My clutch dropped to the floor and we couldn't get the car in gear. We were put in the middle of the mountains with no way to call a tow truck so we did our best to make it to the closest Nissan dealer. On the way we came to a four way red light and couldn't shift to a low enough gear to get to car to slow down, a semi was…
The car would not start. I was stranded and had to have it towed to the dealership. They had to replace the steering lock unit stating that it was "bad". The same thing is noted on a recall issued for 2009 and 2010 Nissan 370 z, but no recall for the 2011 even though t is the same part.
First incident happened at around 37,000 miles, the car would not start and the push button lights up the lock light but seconds later started working. On june 3rd 2015, after driving to my job to pick up tools to head to the airport I park the car, came back to a car that would not start, the car recognizes the key but locks me out from starting the car. The car had random won't start, I…
For years, there have been widespread defects in the electronic steering column lock (escl) that disabled the push-button ignition in a wide range of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles. The escl's primary job is to keep the steering wheel locked until you bring your key fob in range of the vehicle. It's meant to prevent theft. However, when the escl malfunctions (even with the fob present and…
Had steering trouble with your 2011 Nissan 370Z?
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 steering problem on the 2011 Nissan 370Z?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 22 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 31,400 and 51,000 miles, with the median around 39,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 31,400; a quarter make it past 51,000. 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 $700 for steering 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 steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering 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/2011/Nissan/370Z.
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.