Nissan Z Owners Are Happy With Their Sports Car, But One Annoying Issue Is Starting To Manifest Itself

Seeing all the posts in the Nissan Z forums and the various social media groups dedicated to the Japanese sports car, it's hard to believe the Z is a sales flop. Back when it was introduced in 2022, Nissan was praised for making its own sports car, unlike Toyota, which cooperated with BMW for the GR Supra.

Even today, the Nissan Z is a more budget-friendly alternative to Toyota's iconic sports car, which could, apparently, get an exciting new engine. Between the Nissan Z NISMO and the Heritage Edition, owners have a bunch of variants to choose from. Those who are lucky enough to own one are happy, but one minor annoyance is starting to manifest itself. 

I stumbled upon a thread on Nissan Z Club, where one owner is curious whether he is the only one who experiences problems when shifting the Z's six-speed manual transmission. There was a recall for the Nissan Z's Mercedes-derived, nine-speed automatic, which may have contributed to the stick shift getting a larger market share, but now it seems the more driver-centric version of the car may be showing a darker side.  

The thread was started in October 2024, but even now, members continue to talk about the issue. Here's what the latest complaints are:  

El mágico says: “1st to 2nd is not smooth. My Z33 was the same way. Can't speak to the 370. Either way, I look past it. 
Only manual I've ever driven with this issue. I thought it was just a Nissan thing or Z. I have even driven a Fiat 500 (imagine clown car), and the shift was flawless.” 

CaliforniaZ says: “Mine is the same way. 1st to 2nd is notchy and the rest of the gears are grindy sometimes. It's the worst brand-new transmission I've experienced but being a Nissan and Z I knew that before I bought it lol.” 

Hernandooo says: “I only have issues with 3rd gear, even with a short shifter, I still find myself grinding into 3rd. I figure it maybe because my hand is faster then my clutch foot, I don't know.” 

Despite the Nissan Z's manual transmission being a direct carry-over from the 370Z, the shift action seems to be different. Z owners attest to the “notchiness” of the shift action. I have driven a 370Z (I almost bought one) and the shift action is relatively smooth – the same is confirmed by owners with even modified examples of the Z34 platform who compare it to the new Nissan Z. 

Many would agree that the first-to-second shift is what makes or breaks a sports car. In the case of this Japanese sports car, people consistently report notchy shift between the first and second gear. Some owners also point out that the Z is a tricky car to launch properly – a fact emphasized by the car's factory tires, Bridgestone Potenza, which are considered subpar for this level of power. 

More importantly, the grind on third gear is something new that not many owners report. I recently reported on the Mazda MX-5 Miata ND's known transmission issues and how to avoid voiding your warranty. The Nissan Z is too new to speak of any common issues, but at the same time, the architecture is old. The VR30 DDTT seems to be holding up very well, except for some earlier versions featured in Infiniti's Q50 and Q60 models, and the 370Z manual transmission doesn't have any known issue either.  

That said, the Nissan Z is the only car that pairs the VR30 DDTT engine with a manual transmission, so it could be a case of the transmission not handling the power as well as it does on the 370Z. It is important to note that the clutch in the Nissan Z is different and feels more like a normal car than a sports car.

Can it be a case of Nissan using subpar clutches on the manual Z? I am seeing a noticeable trend with modern cars where the manual versions are intentionally neutered, to make you buy the automatic. In the case of the Subaru BRZ, certain safety systems were, supposedly, not available for the manual. 

Regardless of whether manufacturers have disdain towards the manual transmission or not, I am curious to see how this goes. What is your take on the matter? Do you think this is the Nissan Z starting to reveal common problems, is it the company using subpar clutches, or is it simply driver mistake? Let me know in the comment section below. 

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.

Image source: Nissan Z press kit