Total Complaints
29 filings
NISSAN 300ZX · model year
1988 NISSAN 300ZX
29 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988NISSAN300ZX carries 29 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 17 fires, 0 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 1988 300ZX is fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system with 11 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:injectors (5) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (3). 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 1988 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.
29
Complaints
0
Crashes
17
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 11 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20171230ENGINE
THE CAR WOULD LOSE POWER WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS. WOULDN'T DIE BUT WOULD SPUTTER AND THEN THE BATTERY WOULD DIE
Mileage: 151,296
20171230FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE CAR WOULD LOSE POWER WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS. WOULDN'T DIE BUT WOULD SPUTTER AND THEN THE BATTERY WOULD DIE
Mileage: 151,296
20171230POWER TRAIN
THE CAR WOULD LOSE POWER WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS. WOULDN'T DIE BUT WOULD SPUTTER AND THEN THE BATTERY WOULD DIE
Mileage: 151,296
20151002FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL INJECTOR LEAKED AND CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING I ALMOST BLEW UP IN THE CAR REPORTED IT TO NISSAN AND TOLD THEM THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT.
20071115FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 NISSAN 300ZX. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS FUMES AND NOTICED SMOKE RISING UNDER THE HOOD. HE PULLED OVER, OPENED THE HOOD, AND FLAMES ERUPTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT GAS LEAKED FROM THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 95I006000). AS OF NOVEMBER 15, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 224,000.
Mileage: 224,000
20050315FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED DRIVER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. ALSO, DRIVER SMELLED FUEL COMING FROM THE REAR. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
20030512FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, UNTIL THEY RECEIVED PERMISSION FROM NISSAN. RECALL # 95I006000. *JB
Mileage: 107,000
20020724FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE AND WITHOUT WARNING THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE HOOD FOLLOWED BY FIRE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING ADEQUATE REIMBURSEMENT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK *NLM
20020521FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
I WAS GETTING IN THE CAR TO MOVE FROM DRIVEWAY TO THE STREET AN SMELLED GAS, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CAR STARTED SMOKING AND THEN WENT INTO FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. *AKI
19990625FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN FUEL INJECTORS, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS STAYING ON DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
19990625UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN FUEL INJECTORS, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS STAYING ON DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
19980912FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO FUEL LEAK FROM FUEL INJECTION.
19980616FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
STOPPING TO MAKE RIGHT TURN, FUEL/GAS ODORER SMOKE BEGAN TO RUSH INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE A/C DUCTS, IMMEDIATELY RELEASED SEAT BELT, NOTICE FLAME INSIDE THE CAR, RECALL #951006000 FOR REFERENCE.
19980305FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE BACK FIRED TWICE, THAN VEHICLE INSIDE FILLED UP WITH SMOKE.
19970918FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED.
19970810UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO FAILURE PROVIDED.
19970701FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
WHILE SITTING AT A STOP SIGN ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE, BURNING TOTAL FRONT END. *AK
19970117FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
CAR AND CAUGHT ON FIRE, TOOK TO MECHANIC, HE INFORMED HER THAT THE CAR WAS PART OF RECALL 95I006000, CALLED NISSAN AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT CAR WAS UNDER SERVICE RECALL AND MADE A SETTLEMENT OF $3500.000 . *AK
19960509FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
LEAKY FUEL INJECTORS CAUSED ENGINE FIRE. *DSH
19960425FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
FUEL INJECTOR FAILED, CAUSING FIRE. *SD
Compare 1988NISSAN300ZX to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 5 Open
PE25005Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Driver Airbag Inflator Rupture
PE24020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Inner Tie Rod Failures
PE24017Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Side curtain air bags may deploy inadvertently
PE24007Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Reduced Power After Engine Stall
PE23020Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Loss of motive power due to broken crankshaft with no ability to restart.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 NISSAN 300ZX have?▼
The 1988 NISSAN 300ZX has 29 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 17 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 NISSAN 300ZX?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 NISSAN 300ZX is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM with 11 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1988 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.