The 2016 370Z with the VQ37VHR is a genuine sports car that runs hard and hot. When maintained properly it's reliable, but track use, aggressive driving, and heat management issues lead to predictable failures—especially in the cooling system and transmission components.
Transmission Oil Cooler Failure (7-Speed Auto)
Common · high severityTypical onset: 60,000-90,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid in coolant (strawberry milkshake in overflow tank), Coolant in transmission (harsh shifting, delayed engagement), Overheating transmission temp gauge, Check engine light with trans codes
Fix: Replace transmission cooler, flush both coolant and transmission systems completely, sometimes requires transmission rebuild if contamination was severe. 6-8 hours labor for cooler only, 15-25 hours if trans needs rebuild.
Estimated cost: $1,200-$1,800 cooler only, $4,500-$7,000 with transmission rebuild
VQ37VHR Oil Consumption / Piston Ring Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 80,000-120,000 mi
Symptoms: Excessive oil consumption (1 qt per 1,000 mi or worse), Blue smoke on startup or hard acceleration, Fouled spark plugs, Loss of power, rough idle
Fix: Rings fail from heat cycling and aggressive driving. Requires engine teardown, honing cylinders, new rings and bearings at minimum. Most techs recommend short block replacement given labor involved. 25-35 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $5,500-$9,000 depending on machine work vs. short block swap
Fuel Starvation / Fuel Pump Issues (Track/Spirited Driving)
Common · medium severitySymptoms: Engine stumble or cut-out during hard cornering under 1/4 tank, Hesitation or misfire during sustained high-G loads, Fuel pressure drops under load
Fix: Factory fuel system cannot keep pumps submerged in aggressive driving with low fuel. Aftermarket fuel pump solutions exist. Some also replace clogged fuel filter (part of in-tank assembly). 3-5 hours labor for pump/filter work.
Estimated cost: $800-$1,500 for quality aftermarket solution
Transmission Mount Failure
Common · low severityTypical onset: 50,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk when shifting (especially manual trans), Excessive driveline movement on launch, Vibration at idle in gear, Visible sagging or torn rubber on mount
Fix: High-torque V6 tears factory mounts, especially with spirited driving or track use. Manual cars see this more. Replace with OEM or upgraded polyurethane. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $400-$700
Clutch Slave Cylinder Failure (Manual)
Occasional · medium severityTypical onset: 40,000-80,000 mi
Symptoms: Clutch pedal goes to floor with no resistance, Grinding when shifting, Cannot select gears, Fluid leak visible near transmission bellhousing
Fix: CSC is internal and requires transmission removal. Most techs replace master cylinder at same time. Common upgrade is to aftermarket HD unit. 8-10 hours labor due to trans drop.
Estimated cost: $1,200-$1,800 with upgraded components
Steering Lock Actuator Failure
Occasional · high severityTypical onset: 40,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Car won't start, steering wheel locked, Clicking noise from steering column on start attempt, Dash warning about steering lock, Intermittent no-start condition
Fix: Electronic steering lock motor fails and prevents starting. Replace actuator or install bypass fuse (common workaround). Dealer-only part historically, aftermarket options now exist. 2-3 hours labor.
Estimated cost: $500-$900 with new actuator, $0 for fuse bypass (removes functionality)
Differential Bushing Wear / Clunking
Common · low severityTypical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Clunk from rear on acceleration or deceleration, Vibration from rear differential area, Handling feels loose or imprecise
Fix: Subframe and differential bushings wear from torque loads. Replace with OEM or upgrade to solid mounts (adds NVH). 3-5 hours labor depending on access and seized hardware.
Estimated cost: $600-$1,200
Buy one if you want a raw, engaging sports car and can wrench or budget $2k/year for enthusiast maintenance—but avoid high-mileage examples with unknown history or track use unless priced accordingly.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.