YearToAvoid

2012 Nissan 370Z Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

56/100

#5 most-complained of 10 370Z years

The 2012 Nissan 370Z has a Complaint Index of 56 and ranks 5th worst out of 10 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 75% of its 16 complaints, with a median failure mileage of 36,392 miles.

Complaints
16
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
0 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
20.5
18 city / 25.5 hwy

Top 2012 Nissan 370Z problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain12 (75%)
  2. Airbags3 (19%)
  3. Engine2 (13%)
  4. Other1 (6%)

What owners report

  • Owners report clutch pressure loss tied to the clutch slave cylinder (CSC), sometimes leaving the car undrivable.
  • Some describe intermittent juddering when starting off in first gear before the clutch pressure fully fails.
  • A rattling sound was reported when shifting into first gear, traced to the drive shaft.
  • Multiple owners report the SRS/airbag warning light staying on due to occupant sensor or airbag control unit failures.
  • One owner reported the clutch pedal slowly sinking until it became stuck, preventing the car from being driven.
2012 Nissan 370Z complaints: complaints filed per month3Apr 2012Jun 2015Oct 2015Jan 2016Mar 2017Jun 2017Mar 2018Mar 2020
18 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2012 to Mar 2020; peak Jul 2015 (3).

2012 Nissan 370Z recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2012 Nissan 370Z fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
25.5 MPG
Combined
20.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,900
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2012 compared with other 370Z years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013201420152016201720182019
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid100110021
2011Avoid8940120.5
2012Caution5616020.5
2013Avoid7817020.5
2014Best2210021

All Nissan 370Z years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Nissan 370Z reliable?
NHTSA lists 16 complaints for the 2012 370Z, giving it a Complaint Index of 56 and a Caution verdict, ranking 5th worst among the 10 model years with data.
What is the main problem with the 2012 Nissan 370Z?
Transmission & Powertrain complaints dominate, accounting for 75% of all reported issues, with a median failure mileage of 36,392 miles.
Does the 2012 Nissan 370Z have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 0 recalls for the 2012 370Z.
How does the 2012 370Z compare to other years?
The 2012 370Z has a Complaint Index of 56, better than the 2010 (100, Avoid), 2011 (89, Avoid), and 2013 (78, Avoid), but worse than the 2014 (22, Best) and 2017 (44, Good).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.