NISSAN 300ZX · model year

1987 NISSAN 300ZX

30 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1987NISSAN300ZX carries 30 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 20 fires, 0 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1987 300ZX is fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system with 5 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline (5) and fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:injectors (5). 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 1987 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.

30
Complaints
1
Crashes
20
Fires
0
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

30 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1

Recent Complaints

20041216FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SMELLED GASOLINE COMING FROM THE REAR. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED.*AK

20041213FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

I HAVE A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM MY ENGINE THROUGH MY VENTS, AND INTO THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM OF MY CAR (1987 NISSAN 300ZX). I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF NISSAN IS STILL ABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK

20040309FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. *AK

Mileage: 150,000

20030524FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

MAKE: NISSAN MODEL: 300ZX TURBO YEAR: 1987 RECALL NUMBER: 95I006000 AFTER RECENTLY PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE, I LEARNED ABOUT A MAJOR SAFETY RECALL BY NISSAN IN WHICH ALL 84-89 NISSAN 300ZX'S HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, WHICH RESULTS IN THE CARS CATCHING FIRE. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO SHOWCASE NISSAN, IN BOURNE MASSACHUSETTS (508-759-4400) TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED. THEY CHECKED MY VIN NUMBER, AND AFTER CONFIRMING THAT MY CAR WAS COVERED UNDER THAT RECALL WE SET AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE WORK PERFORMED. A FEW DAYS AFTER DROPPING THE CAR OFF I CALLED THEM TO FIND OUT THE STATUS. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE WRITER THAT MY CAR HAS HAD THE MOTOR REPLACED AND THE MOTOR THAT IS IN IT HAS TOP-FEED INJECTORS WHICH ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. I FOUND THIS ODD SINCE ALL THE YEARS OF THE MOTOR THAT ARE IN MY CAR (VG30ET) HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND ARE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY. SO I CALLED THE NISSAN CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER TO ASK THEM WHY MY CAR WOULD

20021017CrashFireSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

CONSUMER STATES WHILE GOING 25-30MPH THE BRAKES LOCKED UP WHEN APPLYING FOR A SUDDEN STOP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID. THE SKIDDING OF THE VEHICLE RESULTED TO A REAR END ACCIDENT AND THE FRONT END CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED NO ABS OR BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING A MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. TS

20020820POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THE BELTWAY COMING HOME FROM WORK. I WAS ABOUT A MILE FROM MY HOME WHEN MY CAR WOULDN'T PULL UP THE HILL. NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRIED IT JUST DIDN'T HAVE ANY PULL. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON THE TRANSMISSION SO I JUST WENT AND HAD ANOTHER TRANSMISSION PUT IN WHICH IS NOT WORKING EITHER. IT HAS NO POWER AND THIS IS A TURBO ENGINE CAN YOU LET ME KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I CAN NOT DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE IT WON'T EVEN GET OUT OF ITS OWN WAY.*AK

19991020FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

AFTER FILLING GAS TANK, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1RST TO 2ND GEAR WHICH CAUSED A LOUD EXPLOSION IN ENGINE RESULTING IN FIRE. *YC

19990325FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

MY NAME IS ANNETTE, I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM JAMES SIPPLE ON A PAYMENT PLAN. WHEN PAYMENT WAS RECEIVED IN FULL, JAMES SIPPLE WOULD THEN SIGN OVER PINK SLIP. 2 MONTHS LATER IT CAUGHT FIRE. THEN I HEARD THAT THE CAR HAD BEEN RECALLED DUE TO BAD INJECTORS. I HAVE SPOKE WITH 4 DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT NISSAN AND GOT DIFFERENT STORIES BY ALL 4. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR ALMOST 3 MONTHS. ESTIMATE I RECEIVED FROM NISSAN OF GARDEN GROVE IS $7,800 PLUS I OWE THEM $150 FOR THE TOW AND ESTIMATE CHARGES. NISSAN LOST ALL MY PAPER WORK I SENT IN. I ORIGINALLY SPOKE WITH A WOMAN AND TOLD HER I DIDNT HAVE "COPIES" OF THE REPAIR ORDERS, BUT HAD ALL THE ORIGINALS FROM 1987 WHEN THE CAR WAS BUILT. SHE SAID SEND THEM IN AND WE WILL GET THEM BACK TO YOU. TODAY IS MARCH 25, 1999, AND TODAY NISSAN IS SAYING THEY HAVE NOTHING OF MINE.

19970106FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE ENGINE WHICH CAUSED A ENGINE FIRE AFTER DRIVING FOR 10 TO 15MINUTES. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

19961231FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

FUEL INJECTOR REPLACED DUE TO GAS SMELL INSIDE VEHICLE.

19961030FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

MADE APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS ON FUEL INJECTION , BEFORE APPOINTMENT THE CAR WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE 95I006000. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

19960924FireFatalFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FUEL INJECTION FAILURE PRIOR TO/AFTER SERVICE RECALL (95I-006). *AK

19960923FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

VEHICLE BEGAN MISFIRING AND AREA DEALERSHIP SERVICED FOR A WEEK, WHILE SERVICED MT. KISCO NISSAN FIXED RECALL, A MONTH LATER VEHICLE HESITATED NOT GETTING FUEL WHICH THEN RESULTED IN A FIRE THAT STARTED IN GARAGE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK

19960725FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR CAUSED FIRE. *DH

19960624FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

FUEL RAIL CONNECTOR HOSE LEAKED FUEL, CAUSING FIRE. *SD

19960617ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

FUEL INJECTION RECALL; COLES CHRYSLER, NISSAN WOODBRIDGE VA., HAS NO PARTS AND HAS HAD HIS VEHICLE FOR OVER (50) DAYS 95I006000. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

19960601FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FUEL LEAK CAUSED FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *DSH

19960513FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS

SMELLED FUEL INSIDE VEHICLE, LIFTED HOOD, FUEL INJECTOR #1 WAS LEAKING FUEL; CLOSED HOOD, 1 MINUTE LATER, HEARD ALARM, VEHICLE ON FIRE; FAULTY INJECTORS. *AK

19960425FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY CAUGHT FIRE. *DSH

19960307SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

DRIVERS SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT INTO ITS HOUSING. *AK

Compare 1987NISSAN300ZX to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 5 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1987 NISSAN 300ZX have?
The 1987 NISSAN 300ZX has 30 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 20 fires, 0 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1987 NISSAN 300ZX?
The most-complained component for the 1987 NISSAN 300ZX is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS.
Is the 1987 NISSAN 300ZX safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.