Nissan370Z2009Overview/nissan/370z/2009/base/

2009 Nissan 370Z

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2009 370Z.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (S7)

The 2009 Nissan 370Z is a passenger‑car sports coupe that pairs a rear‑mounted V‑engine with a seven‑speed automatic (S7) transmission, drawing 5.2 qt of 5W‑30 API oil and achieving EPA ratings of 18 mpg city, 26 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined. Its fuel economy and drivetrain layout reflect the model’s focus on balanced performance rather than outright speed, while the modest oil capacity and standard viscosity underscore the engineering simplicity typical of this generation. With 153 owner complaints recorded—the highest point in a decade‑long span from 2009 to 2019—and steering identified as the principal issue, the 2009 model marks the peak of reported problems in the 370Z’s reliability record, a trend that steadily improves toward the low‑complaint years that follow.

Model year202020192018201720162015201420132009

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque72-87 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy18/26/21 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 · 585 CCA battery, OE oil filter 1520865F0E. Note the factory front wiper blades is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 · 585 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified
Tire sizeP225-50WR18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter1520865F0E
Engine air filter16546JK20A
Spark plug22401JK01D
Front wiper blades288901EA0A discontinued · alt 288901EA1A
Serpentine belt11720EY00A
Thermostat1305031U00 alt 2120031U03

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (S7)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length166.9 in
Overall width72.4 in
Overall height52 in
Wheelbase100.4 in
Curb weight3362 lb
Track (front / rear)60.6 / 61.4 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)54/46

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined18 / 26 / 21 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the 370Z of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

4.6–5.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 4.60 sec — 2009 Touring Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2009Touring Coupe 3.7L V64.60 sec13.10 sec332 hpRWD
2009Touring Coupe 3.7L V64.70 sec13.30 sec332 hpRWD
2009Touring Coupe 3.7L V64.80 sec13.40 sec332 hpRWD
2009Touring Coupe 3.7L V64.90 sec13.50 sec332 hpRWD
2009Touring Coupe 3.7L V65.10 sec13.70 sec332 hpRWD
2009Touring Coupe 3.7L V65.10 sec13.70 sec332 hpRWD
2009Touring Coupe 3.7L V65.10 sec13.70 sec332 hpRWD
2009Touring Coupe 3.7L V65.20 sec13.70 sec332 hpRWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.2 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential. Torque lug nuts to 72-87 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 25.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3-4-5-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidNissan Matic-S
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity9.7
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity3 Pints
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.2 qt
Manual Transmission Fluid75W-85 · 75W-90 · GL-4
Manual Transmission Fluid Capacity6

Engine torques

Engine Flywheel Bolts65 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts22 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug25.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts72-87 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3-4-5-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Timing10, Not adjustable degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance5 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.10 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity5.07 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35
Standard BCI Cranking Performance585 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test23 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief18-22 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature170 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)51.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)51.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance11.1-14.3 ohms
Engine Compression242-341 psi. 14 maximum variation psi.
Engine Oil Pressure14 psi @ Idle, 43 psi @ 2000 rpm psi

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket20 ft-lbs / 32 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle98 ft-lbs / 62 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.079; Rear: 0.079 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0014 in / 0.0022 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.102 in / 0.787 in / 1.26 in / 0.63 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.102 in / 0.787 in / 1.26 in / 0.63 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.024 in / 0.709 in / 1.181 in / 0.551 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
11.4 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4.3 ft. lbs., Step 3: 7.01.4 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
121 ft. lbs., Step 2: Back off 360 degrees, Step 3: 18 ft. lbs., Step 4: 9021 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
133 ft. lbs., step 2: 9033 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages
177 ft. lbs.77 ft. lbs
2loosen all bolts in reverse order
330 ft. lbs.30 ft. lbs
495 degrees95 degrees
595 degrees; Check diameter of bolts at two points, 11 mm and 48 mm from the end. Whenever the difference between these two points exceeds the limit of 0.18 mm, replace bolts.95 degrees
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
15 ft. lbs., step 2: 19 ft. lbs., step 3: intake collector: 85 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Bolts 17-2618 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 3,750 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant every 3,750 mi. The big-interval services (every 3,750 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 3,750 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Differential (inspect fluid level) · Engine Coolant System Hoses (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 7,500 miBattery (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension Ball Joint (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Conditioning System (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect)
Every 30,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Drive Belt (replace) · Emission Control System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel System (inspect) · Headlamp (inspect alignment)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miRadiator Hose (replace)
At 105,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2009 Nissan 370Z stands out with the highest complaint count in the generation at 153, far exceeding the 2010 model’s 110 and dropping sharply to 40 by 2011. Steering-related issues dominate, with 42 complaints for steering alone and another 37 for combined steering and electrical system problems, while the year also records 96 technical service bulletins—the second-highest in the dataset—and 2 crash complaints. Although no recalls were issued for 2009, the complaint trend clearly peaks in this inaugural year and then declines significantly, suggesting early production teething problems that were progressively resolved. The data does not specify root causes, but the concentration of steering and electrical complaints implies a higher risk of encountering these issues compared to later model years. Consequently, 2009 is not the most reliable choice in the 370Z generation; a buyer would be better served by a 2012 or newer example where complaints drop to 16 or fewer.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
96
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
153
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 153 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Steering42
Steering,Electrical System37
Power Train18
Electrical System13
Fuel/Propulsion System5
Air Bags4
Steering,Electrical System,Engine3
Structure2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 96 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB09-131C2026-04-13StructureCERTIFICATION LABEL AND VIN PLATE REPLACEMENT SERVICE INFORMATION Because of collision…
NTB13-107G2024-05-20Electrical SystemVEHICLE KEY NOT DETECTED / AUTHENTICATED, ENGINE WILL NOT START This bulletin has been…
NTB13-027D2024-05-20Electrical SystemCAN COMMUNICATION – NETWORK DIAGNOSTIC FLOW CHART This bulletin has been amended. See…
NTB10-066C2024-05-20Electrical SystemCAN COMMUNICATION CODES – DIAGNOSTIC TIPS AND GUIDELINES This bulletin has been amended…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific 370Z. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2009 370Z take?

5.2 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2009 370Z have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the 370Z get?

EPA figures are 18 city / 26 highway / 21 combined mpg.