Total Complaints
66 filings
NISSAN 300ZX · model year
66 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986NISSAN300ZX carries 66 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 35 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1986 300ZX is fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system with 17 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:injectors (8) and vehicle speed control (6). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 54 investigation files overlapping the 1986 300ZX, and 5 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
66 filings
Crashes Reported
5 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 17 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS | 8 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 6 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL | 4 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
NISSAN IS DECLINING TO HONOR A RECALL FOR FUEL INJECTORS THAT WAS ISSUED ON ALL 1986 NISSANS. *TR
Mileage: 163,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 NISSAN 300ZX (NA) EQUIPPED WITH LANDSAIL TIRES (NA), SIZE 205/65/R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER AND DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND IT SPUN OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE DESIGN OF THE TIRE MAY BE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS APPROXIMATELY 186,000 ON THE VEHICLE AND 7,000 ON THE TIRES. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR
Mileage: 186,000
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION ON APRIL 9,2010. NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 95I006000. THIS WAS AND IS THE ONLY RECALL THAT I HAVE RECEIVED SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE THAT WAS BOUGHT FROM GIES NISSAN OF CORTLANDT MANOR, NY BACK IN 1989. THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD FROM NEWBURGH NISSAN OF NEWBURG NY. THE VEHICLE IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE CAMPAIGN DESCRIBES. THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING GAS FROM THE INJECTORS. THE VEHICLE IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORST. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY CAN NOT PERFORM THE RECALL DUE TO PARTS AVAILABILITY. THEY TOLD ME THAT I CAN FIND THE PARTS AFTER MARKET PRODUCED AND THEY WOULD NEGOTIATE PAYMENT REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PARTS BUT COST OF LABOR WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY, THIS WAS ALSO TOLD TO ME BY NISSAN CONSUMERS AFFAIRS SERVICE OF NORTH AMERICA THE REGIONAL DIRECTORS NAME THAT I SPOKE TO ONLY WOULD GIVE ME HIS FIRST NAME "MIKE". I WAS ABLE TO LOCATED THE PARTS WHICH ARE AVAILABLE THRU NISSAN. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO H
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION ON APRIL 9,2010. NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 95I006000. THIS WAS AND IS THE ONLY RECALL THAT I HAVE RECEIVED SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE THAT WAS BOUGHT FROM GIES NISSAN OF CORTLANDT MANOR, NY BACK IN 1989. THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD FROM NEWBURGH NISSAN OF NEWBURG NY. THE VEHICLE IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE CAMPAIGN DESCRIBES. THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING GAS FROM THE INJECTORS. THE VEHICLE IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORST. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY CAN NOT PERFORM THE RECALL DUE TO PARTS AVAILABILITY. THEY TOLD ME THAT I CAN FIND THE PARTS AFTER MARKET PRODUCED AND THEY WOULD NEGOTIATE PAYMENT REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE PARTS BUT COST OF LABOR WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY, THIS WAS ALSO TOLD TO ME BY NISSAN CONSUMERS AFFAIRS SERVICE OF NORTH AMERICA THE REGIONAL DIRECTORS NAME THAT I SPOKE TO ONLY WOULD GIVE ME HIS FIRST NAME "MIKE". I WAS ABLE TO LOCATED THE PARTS WHICH ARE AVAILABLE THRU NISSAN. I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT IT SHOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY TO H
CAR RUNS HOT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE REPLACED FAN CLUTCH, WATER PUMP,THERMOSTAT, CHANGED HOSES, GASKETS. STILL CAR GET HOT AFTER RUNNING ONLY FOR 20 MIN. RADIATOR EMPTIES BUT OVERFLOW IS FULL. NO LEAKS FROM UNDER CAR. IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY NISSAN. ALSO SLIPS OUT OF 2ND GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. *TR
TALKED TO NISSAN USA ABOUT 1986 NISSAN 300ZX, FUEL INJECTOR AND RELATED HOSES LEAKING. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE FUEL INFECTOR AND HOSES AS PART OF THE RECALL ID #95I006000 - FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO TOWN CENTER NISSAN AND WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF APPROXIMATELY $3,000 FOR REPAIRS. NISSAN NORTH AMERICA TOLD THE SHOP NOT TO DO THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE ESTIMATE WAS FOR MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR. NISSAN NORTH AMERICA THEN TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD PAY ME THE FAIR MARKET VALUE OF THE CAR. NOW THEY REFUSE TO DO THIS. MY CAR IS STILL AT THE NISSAN DEALERSHIP WITH NO RESOLUTION. SUPERVISOR AT NISSAN NORTH AMERICA DOES NOT RETURN CALLS AND HER MAIL BOX HAS BEEN FULL FOR OVER 10 DAYS SO WE CANNOT LEAVE A VOICE MAIL MESSAGE - WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO? *TR
WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL LIGHTS FAILED TO COME ON. THE DRIVER SMELL SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER . THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. NO INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND DEEMED IT TOTALED THE INSPECTOR INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. *JB *SC
CALL NISSAN NUMBER LISTED ON THE RECALL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR LEAKING FUEL INJECTOR REPLACEMENT FOR MY VIN. THE RECALL LISTED ON YOUR WEB SITE REFERS TO ALL Z CARS 84-89. IS THE RECALL NOT LONGER VALID. IT APPEARS THEY ARE NO LONGER CONCERNED ABOUT THE FIRE RISK TO MY CAR. VIN NUMBER [XXX] 86 NISSAN 300 ZX NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 95I006000 MAKE: NISSAN MODEL: 300ZX YEAR: 1986 CAUSING FAULT : FLOODS,LEAKS RESULTING FAULT : FIRE, FLUID,ELECTRICAL,GAS(LPG),GASOLINE,OTHER COMPONENT: FUEL:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM MANUFACTURER: NISSAN MOTORS CORPORATION YEAR OF RECALL: 1995 TYPE OF REPORT: VEHICLE IMPROVEMENT POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 1 SUMMARY: NISSAN DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTORS AND RELATED HOSES OF THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. SYSTEM: FUEL; FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM: THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERALREGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED
Mileage: 153,000
THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BURST INTO FLAMES AFTER I PULLED INTO A STORE RECALL CAMPAIGN #95I006000 WAS COMPLIED WITH THOUGH I HAVE NOT TOUCHED ANYTHING.(ANY REPAIRS MADE) I CAN CLEARLY SEE FUEL SHOOT OUT OF THE HOSE BETWEEN THE INJECTOR SUPPLY TUBES. THIS FIRE DID NOT THIS SPLIT AS CAN BE SEEN BY THE BURN PATTERN..ANY INFORMATION FOR MY COURSE OF ACTION WOULD BE APPRECIATED. DT
A FUEL SMELL COMING ON IN SIDE OF VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TECHNICIAN NOTICED FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. RECALL 95I006000 FOR THIS MAKE/ MODEL WAS ISSUED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
CYLINDER HEAD BOLT BROKE. HEAD OF BOLT GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN CAMSHAFT AND CYLINDER HEAD WHICH CAUSED THE CAMSHAFT TO STOP ROTATING. THIS CAUSED THE CAMSHAFT SPROCKET TO SHEAR THE END OF THE CAMSHAFT OFF. MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE RESULTED.
ATTORNEY IS WRITING ON BEHALF OF MR. ARMSTRONG WHO WAS PERMANENTLY INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF A STUCK THROTTLE DEFECT, THERE IS A ARMSTRONG V. NISSAN CASE PENDING BEFORE THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT. *TT
ATTORNEY IS WRITING ON BEHALF OF MR. ARMSTRONG WHO WAS PERMANENTLY INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF A STUCK THROTTLE DEFECT, THERE IS A ARMSTRONG V. NISSAN CASE PENDING BEFORE THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT. *TT
WHILE DRIVING, THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND CONSUMER TO BE INJURED, A SHOP MANAGER STATED THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO THE THROTTLE BODY BOOT BREAKING AWAY AND BECOMING LODGED IN THE ACCELERATION SYSTEM, NISSAN REDESIGNED THE THROTTLE CABLE IN 1995, ATTORNEY DONALD G. WILHELM FOR CLIENT AND WANTS TO WARN OTHERS ABOUT THE DEFECT. *SLC
THER'S A LITTLE PLAY IN STEERING, CONSUMER SAYS ITS THE STEERING RACK. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STUCK THROTTLE, RESULTING IN PERMANENT INJURY TO CONSUMER. *MJS
WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO THE RED SIDE WHICH MEANS THAT CAR IS TOO HOT. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, AND DLR FIXED PROBLEM . CURRENTLY, CAR IS OVERHEATING AGAIN. *AK
WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO THE RED SIDE WHICH MEANS THAT CAR IS TOO HOT. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, AND DLR FIXED PROBLEM . CURRENTLY, CAR IS OVERHEATING AGAIN. *AK
DAMAGED BY FIRE DUE TO FUEL INJECTOR LEAKAGE.
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM LEAKED, RESULTING IN VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE. THE DEALER FIXED THE VEHICLE ONCE, BUT STILL HAD PROBLEMS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, AND STATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED. *AK
Driver Airbag Inflator Rupture
Inner Tie Rod Failures
Side curtain air bags may deploy inadvertently
Reduced Power After Engine Stall
Loss of motive power due to broken crankshaft with no ability to restart.
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.