MODEL
Nissan Z
NHTSA safety across every Nissan Z model year we cover.
Across the 4 model years of the Nissan Z we cover (2023 to 2026), no year has an NHTSA crash-test score on record. 4 recalls have been issued across those years.
The Nissan Z is a two-seat rear-wheel-drive sports coupe that revives one of the longest-running nameplates in the segment. Aimed squarely at driving enthusiasts who want an affordable, Japanese-bred sports car with genuine performance credentials, the Z competes in a small but passionate corner of the market where style and driver engagement take center stage.
From a pure safety-data standpoint, the 2023-2025 Nissan Z presents a picture that demands careful attention from shoppers. NHTSA has not crash-tested the Z in any of the model years we cover, which means there are no star ratings or Safety Index scores to lean on. That is a meaningful gap. Buyers cannot look to federal crash-test results for reassurance on structural protection, frontal impact performance, or side-impact behavior. The absence of data is not a green light. Across the three model years covered, NHTSA has recorded four recalls. For a low-volume sports car with a relatively modest ownership base, four recalls is a number worth noting, and shoppers should verify that any specific Z they are considering has had all open recall work completed through the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. On the complaint side, the picture is quieter: only three owner complaints on file, with zero reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths among them. Those figures are encouraging in tone but carry limited statistical weight given how few Z owners file federal complaints. The honest bottom line is this: the Z is an exciting, purpose-built sports car, but its safety story is largely unwritten by federal standards. Enthusiast appeal is real, but the lack of crash-test data is a genuine unknown that safety-conscious buyers should weigh seriously.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally praise the Nissan Z for its engaging rear-wheel-drive dynamics, its characterful twin-turbocharged powertrain, and a cabin that blends retro styling cues with modern technology. Some critics point to interior materials and refinement that feel a step behind European rivals at a similar price, but most agree the Z delivers strong driving satisfaction and distinctive road presence for its segment.
- NHTSA has not crash-tested the 2023-2025 Nissan Z, meaning there are no federal star ratings or Safety Index scores available to evaluate structural or occupant protection performance.
- Four recalls have been issued across the 2023-2025 model years. Shoppers should run any prospective Z through the NHTSA VIN lookup tool to confirm all recall repairs have been completed before purchase.
- Owner complaints on file with NHTSA are very low at three total, with no reported crashes, fires, injuries, or deaths among them. However, the Z's low sales volume means the complaint pool is small and may not fully reflect the broader ownership experience.
- As a two-seat sports coupe with no rear seat, the Z's occupant universe is limited, but the lack of crash-test data means shoppers have no federal benchmark for how well those two occupants are protected in a real-world collision.
Most-recalled year on record: 2024 Nissan Z with 2 recalls.