NHTSA Complaint #10551028 — 2007 NISSAN 350Z

NISSAN HAS A CLUTCH ORIFICE VALVE THAT HELPS REGULATE PRESSURE TO THE CLUTCH. THIS VALVE, WHEN FAULTY CAN CAUSE A CAR TO LOSE ABILITY TO SHIFT THEIR CAR INTO AND OR OUT OF GEAR. NISSAN IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE WITH THE CLUTCH ORIFICE VALVE, AND HAS DISCONTINUED ITS USE. THIS VALVE IS NOT LISTED IN NISSAN'S FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL, NOR IS IT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR PART. THIS PART CANNOT BE PURCHASED EITHER THROUGH NISSAN OR IT'S DEALERS, NOR IS IT AVAILABLE ONLINE THROUGH AN AFTERMARKET DEALER. AS A RESULT, NISSAN IS REQUIRING THAT THE FAULTY VALVE (30589-CF00B) BE REPLACED WITH THREE ADDITIONAL PARTS, AT THE CONSUMERS COST. THESE PARTS ARE CLUTCH ORIFICE VALVE (30650-CD000), TUBE ASSEMBLY (30851-CD00A), AND CLUTCH COVER ASSEMBLY (30205-JK0C). NISSAN WILL NOT REPLACE THIS VALVE FOR ANY CONSUMER, UNLESS THEIR VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY. GIVEN THAT THIS IS AN ENGINEERING ISSUE, AND NOT A CUSTOMER ISSUE, NISSAN SHOULD ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL FOR ANYONE WHO MAY EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE. THIS PART CAN CAUSE SEVERE SAFETY ISSUES TO NOT ONLY THE DRIVERS, BUT ANY PASSENGERS THEY HAVE AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS/VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. BY NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT INTO OR OUT OF GEAR, THIS SIMPLE $50 OEM VALVE, CAN CAUSE DRIVERS UNDUE HARM. THIS IS SIMPLY A MONETARY ISSUE FOR NISSAN, AND IS NOT AN ISSUE THAT ANY MOTORIST SHOULD HAVE TO ENDURE AS A RESULT OF THEIR FAULTS FOR CHOOSING A FAULTY PRODUCT. *TR