Consumers Reports Reliability Rating
 

Has anyone seen the latest reliability rating from Consumers Reports on the 09 370Z? I came up as "Much Worse than Average" which is their worst rating. I have not had any issues but I know others have. What are other opinions on this rating?

Reliability as in mechanical failures? If that's the case, I'm not sure how they came up with that rating. The car does have its issues, ECU whine, shitty paint/clear, rattles, hatch getting stuck, etc... but none of those would I consider to be reliability issues.

This has been discussed. All the nay-sayers griping about engine temps, high pitch whines and stuck hatches led to that shitty rating.

I agree the car is VERY unreliable. Heck, my oil temp hit 210 degrees one time in traffic. /sarcasm

The handful of engine and transmission replacements didn't help either.

still would not justify a much worse rating. i do not think the rx8'S had that with all their issues did they?

All I know is I think they are lumping in quality issues with reliability. Crappy paint != unreliable car.

But, I think we already had a 10+ page thread about this very issue so no point in continuing the discussion.

Oh right. And the infectious oil consumption problem. Don't forget the oil cooler hose failures. Wait a second...

If the 370z received that rating then the RX8 should have received a take it off the road and get you money back rating. I owned an RX8,with all the recalls and issues I felt like I knew the dealer all my life. lol!! Honestly, within the first year of owning the RX8 I already had 5 recalls, which included 500.00 back for lying about the amount of horsepower it put out.
I have owned by 370z since June had have not had any issues, knock on wood. The only issue I see posted on the board that really concerns me is the oil comsumption issue.

I love my "Z" and don't have any second thoughts on buying it (knock on wood it will continue to be trouble free for me) but I'm disappointed Nissan dropped the ball on this one. The Consumer Reports reliability surveys have been around for 40 years or more and are generally quite accurate. This rating is only for the 2009 model year and it could be because it's a new design and still had issues.

The 350Z's generally had average or better ratings in the magazine all the way to the 2008 model year. Let's hope when the 2010 370Z model is rated by next summer it will be back to at least average.

The 2nd model year is almost always more reliable than the first so it will definitely be interesting to see how the 2010 ranks.

I'm happy with mine. I don't need consumer reports to tell me I shouldn't be happy.

There you go. If someone who wants a 370 thinks, "Hey, I better not because consumer reports says it sucks" then they probably shouldn't have one in the first place.

i just got two mailers regarding my feelings towards my new 370z, basically i get to rate the 2010 i bought. So question is, do i go all to the right or to the left?

This "unhappiness" of the 370z consumer. A lot of their unhappiness could be a reflection of bad experience at the dealership. Dis satisfaction highly out rates , satisfied results at the dealer ship. Members have gone thru hell to get a problem fixed, or they have had to go thru the run around.

Nobody likes nissan's enforcement of the warranty.

I agree with the rating. Newest car I have ever owned and most issues of any car I have ever owned.

CR's Reliability Ratings - Fact or Fiction?
 

I currently own a 2003 G35 Coupe, but its getting to be high in mileage and its time for a new car. I LOVE the 370Zs, and have wanted to buy a few of the previous body styles but was never able to. I am ready to buy a 2010, 2011, or possibly 2012 Touring, but the only thing that is keeping me from going to the dealership right now and taking home a Z is the consumer reports reliability ratings. Consumer reports gave them horrible ratings- I believe all years were given a black dot. I know that this is just one opinion, so I was wondering what has your experience been?

Get an 11' to be safe, was mostly revised for any issues.

With Nissan honoring warranty work (or not doing it), I would be worried too

You are absolutely right but again like movie critics some say poor movie but when you see it for yourself

You find out that they were wrong, And it's not as bad they would lead you to believe.

Take it with a grain a salt and go test one out for yourself and make a decision based on your experience.

JD power has it ranked "among the rest" two stars out of five.

Check it out at us news rankings.

Damn, that bad? A little hot oil never hurt nobody. Hehe.

First. Consumer Reports sucks wind.

Second. See first.

Seriously, they have been off on so many products over the years that IMO they are like the "National Enquirer" of critics.

personally i dont trust magazines that review toaster ovens along side cars so i went and actually test drove one for myself and never looked back. as far as reliability is concerned they don't know what the hell they are talking about, 23000 miles in and still solid as a rock. did have a small issue with getting used to the way the transmission shifts, but other than that the only other small thing i could think of that was covered under warranty was my passenger side window motor shorted out and was replaced no questions asked by the dealer i purchased my Z from.

I don't think any magazine has given the light of day to the 350Z or the 370Z.

All the good ratings are for the Mustang, Genesis Coupe, etc.

All the cars have issues one time or another, so you can make your decision based on a test drive, not a magazine.

However, the 370Z is the best bang for the buck! :tup:

You can find people having "huge problems" with almost any make & model of car. My experience with Nissan both with the 3 new ones I have bought and two different dealer service centers has all been excellent.

Although I don't generally keep cars for a long time or put a lot of miles on them, so I can't say anything about long-term quality, I've had more quality issues with other brands than any of my Nissans have had in the first 15,000 miles.

nothing to do with the post.. but damnit Trip's.. i almost smashed my screen trying to kill that "insect".

My Wife had to have the car...A Black 2009 370 Sport/Touring with Ray Rims..

She is very happy. So then, I am very Happy..

If down the road the Car becomes a lemon, I will sell it, but for now, if the Wife loves it, then I am cool with that.

You know the saying,"Happy Wife means I get to spend money on my Z/28"

For what it's worth, JD Power gives the 370z a nearly perfect rating in every mechanical category going all the way back to 2009.

If you want to buy a toaster, read Consumer Reports. If you want to buy a car, stick with the car experts.

Consumer reports is one of the most misleading pieces of Junk Ever...

Thanks guys for all of your replies we (my fiance and I who share this account) really appreciate it. My fiance really wants the car and just can't seem to fall in love with anything else. My train of thought is similar to the man who's wife "had to have it". If it becomes problematic we will reassess, but at least for now - after reading these posts and doing some more research- our thought is to just get the car. The next step is finding out how many miles we can get on the warranty. We need to find out whether or not they will start the clock from when we buy the car (presumably used with low mileage and great condition) or if we only get a set amount of miles total on the warranty. I appreciate everyone's candidness with consumer reports, as I've always kind of thought the same thing. Bottom line, none of you have had any major issues that we should watch out for?

Thanks again for all of the insight!

The steering-lock-intelligent-key issue alone is enough to severely hurt that rating. Since that happened to me I have never again felt the car was reliable. Every time you drive it out of town you worry about if it will start. Now, with the harness and cut wire I feel better, but my faith in the other components of that system remains so-so at best. If Consumer Reports called me, 'reliable' would not be in my description of this car. I've said it before, but after 22 years of Nissan Z's (and two Nissan trucks and a Maxima) I am done, I won't buy another Nissan.

you do know they stopped putting in the steering lock on the later 2011 and up Z's don't you? as for me, have gone through a 2002 altima 4 cyl. 2005 altima 6 cyl. and now the Z and have not had one issue with any of them that wasnt my fault to begin with for neglecting things such as maintenance. at worst the only problem i ran into with my Z was the passenger side power window motor burnt out and was replaced no questions asked. it all really depends on the dealer you deal with and sadly for alot of people that come to be dissatisfied with the brand often times it's because of the way the dealership treated you in some way or another.

Cagan
 

Never had an issue with mine and I bought in August of 2009. I have a clear bra and new Avant Garde wheels and Hankook tires which offers a better ride in my opiinion than stock Advans. But, no issues with paint since i baby it and nothing else at all. Very satisfied.

Sure, but are you aware this is the 2009 being discussed, not the 2011.

My Z has been the most reliable car I've owned yet, except when it snows...

edit - actually I was thinking about this more, even in the snow the car does pretty well for what it is. yes I dd my car and use snow tires in the winter.

I knew they stopped, but that really doesn't affect my car. And sure, my feelings about Nissan are influenced, probably heavily, by their horrible dealerships and my painful experiences with them - like when my under-warranty and bought-there 370Z was hauled in on a flatbed only to see them attempt to put me off for a week because I did not have an appointment (REED NISSAN, Orlando FL). But here's the deal, to buy a Nissan I have to go to a Nissan dealership, and so it is a big part of it. Look, I love the Z, I own two currently and plan to keep both as both are paid off, but I won't be back for another. One too many bad experiences/car issues/etc.

Dont ever buy a Ford-they (as a company) are also horrible to deal with...knock on wood-Been driving Honda's for years not one bad dealership issue.why?! No issues w the car-0 probs...i have lots of faith in Honda (japanese) vehicles as a whole...

Only issue I've had is that the color of my car (magnetic black) is true to it's name, I've been hit 4 times in 8 months by morons. Other than that it's been an absolute pleasure to own! Yes, and it's a 2009 model.

Only use reports of others peoples opinion (biased or otherwise) as a guideline, never as gospel! Know the facts yourself firsthand before making a decision.