NISSAN 300ZX · model year

1993 NISSAN 300ZX

16 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1993NISSAN300ZX carries 16 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, 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 1993 300ZX is electrical system with 4 filings, followed by power train:automatic transmission (3) and air bags (1). 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 1993 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.

16
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

16 filings

Crashes Reported

2 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION3
AIR BAGS1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM1
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL1
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
EQUIPMENT1
STRUCTURE:BODY1

Recent Complaints

20200922STRUCTURE:BODY

THIS IS A STATEMENT PERTAINING TO A MEDICAL DEGREE THAT NEVER SETTLED, A DAY BEFORE I PURCHASED A CAR. THE EVENT STARTED WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT PURPOSELY REMOVED THE CORRECT MEDICAL STATE THROUGH THEMSELVES TO CONJOIN AND INTERRUPT MY OWN MENTAL STATE TO OTHERS PUBLICALLY. THE TYPE OF CHARACTERISTICS IT IS SHOWING TO ME, IS THAT PEOPLE WHERE STALKING ME IN REAL LIFE, AND USING THE EFFORT WITH OTHERS AND DO UNDERSTAND THE MANIFESTATION OF USING MY ENTIRE TOWN AND BEYOND TO INCORPORATE THE WRONG MENTAL RESTITUTION SEPARATION FROM MYSELF. THE END RESULT WAS THAT THE DIAGNOSIS CONTRADICTED MY PROGRESSION THROUGH LATENT ABNORMAL AUDITORY HALLUCINATIONS. AND CAUSED A ONGOING PRO CURE PROBLEM ONCE THE CAR WAS OWNED BY ME. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE CAR WAS OWNED, I AM ASSUMING THE OBVIOUS, THAT THE INDIVIDUALS STOPPED MY OWN GOVERNMENT DEGREE IN MY SLEEP, WHICH INTERRUPTED THE CARS RECREATION TO MY OWN PROFESSIONAL DEGREE. THIS TOOK PLACE AT HOME, UNDER ANOTHER PROFESSIONAL DEGREE OF MY GRANDFATHER.

Mileage: 144,257

20110215ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 NISSAN 300ZX. WHILE INSIDE THE PARKED VEHICLE, THE SECURITY SYSTEM SHUT DOWN CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BE LOCKED INSIDE FOR FIVE TO EIGHT MINUTES. HE STATED THAT A SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND THE WINDOWS, DOORS, STEERING, IGNITION, GLASS T-TOP AND TRANSMISSION WERE LOCKED. THE VEHICLE HAD NO POWER. TWO PEOPLE ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE VEHICLE FROM THE OUTSIDE, BUT THE DOORS REMAINED LOCKED. AFTER THE EIGHT MINUTES LAPSED, THE DRIVER'S SIDE LATCH RELEASED ALLOWING HIM TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WHO ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 208,000. UPDATED 03/24/11*LJ UPDATED 1/4/11 *CN

Mileage: 208,000

20050603ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BOUGHT THE CAR 3 YEARS AGO AND HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE ENGINE & TRANSMISSION WITH APPROX 80,000 MILES ON IT. ENGINE JUST LOCKED DOWN FOR UNKNOWN REASONS WHILE DRIVING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. TRANMISSION WENT COMPLETLY OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. CAR WILL STILL SOMETIMES JUST CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE VEHILE AND IS A MONEY TRAP. SPENT APPROX. $9,000 IN 1 YEAR IN REPAIRS!

Mileage: 80,000

20050603POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

BOUGHT THE CAR 3 YEARS AGO AND HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE ENGINE & TRANSMISSION WITH APPROX 80,000 MILES ON IT. ENGINE JUST LOCKED DOWN FOR UNKNOWN REASONS WHILE DRIVING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. TRANMISSION WENT COMPLETLY OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. CAR WILL STILL SOMETIMES JUST CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE VEHILE AND IS A MONEY TRAP. SPENT APPROX. $9,000 IN 1 YEAR IN REPAIRS!

Mileage: 80,000

20050603ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

BOUGHT THE CAR 3 YEARS AGO AND HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE ENGINE & TRANSMISSION WITH APPROX 80,000 MILES ON IT. ENGINE JUST LOCKED DOWN FOR UNKNOWN REASONS WHILE DRIVING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. TRANMISSION WENT COMPLETLY OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. CAR WILL STILL SOMETIMES JUST CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE VEHILE AND IS A MONEY TRAP. SPENT APPROX. $9,000 IN 1 YEAR IN REPAIRS!

Mileage: 80,000

20050603EQUIPMENT

BOUGHT THE CAR 3 YEARS AGO AND HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE ENGINE & TRANSMISSION WITH APPROX 80,000 MILES ON IT. ENGINE JUST LOCKED DOWN FOR UNKNOWN REASONS WHILE DRIVING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. TRANMISSION WENT COMPLETLY OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. CAR WILL STILL SOMETIMES JUST CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE VEHILE AND IS A MONEY TRAP. SPENT APPROX. $9,000 IN 1 YEAR IN REPAIRS!

Mileage: 80,000

20031219ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE POWER TRANSISTOR ON THIS CAR IS PRONE TO FAILURE. THIS RESULTS IN THE ENGINE SHUTTING OFF COMPLETELY, LEAVING THE DRIVER WITH NO POWER, GREATLY REDUCED STEERING AND BRAKING, MAKING THE CAR HARD TO CONTROL. A REAL HAZARD DURING MERGING INTO HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC AND IN CORNERING. THE COMPANY HAD A "VOLUNTARY PROGRAM" TO REPLACE THESE, BUT THE REDESIGNED PART ALSO FAILS. IN MY CASE IT ONLY LASTED 15,000 MILES!*AK

Mileage: 35,528

20000725EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

SPEAKERS CUT OUT AND ANY POINT, FOR SUCH A HIGH DOLLAR CAR THIS SHOULD BE RECALLED. *AK

20000630POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION BURNED UP DUE TO A DESIGN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION COOLING FILTER. THE FILTER IS LOCATED IN THE RADIATOR AND IF IT GETS CLOGGED THERE IS NO WAY OF KNOWING UNTIL THE TRANSMISSION BURNS UP. MOST CARS SHOULD HAVE COOLING FILTER EXTERNAL TO RADIATOR WHERE IT CAN BE SERVICED. THIS PROBLEM IS OF DESIGN AND NISSAN HAD NO RECALLS CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. TOTAL COST WAS $3000 WITH AN EXTERNAL COOLER ADDED. THERE ARE TWO OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I KNOW. ALL AT ROUGHLY THE SAME MILAGE. *AK

20000504CrashPARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 70MPH AND VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL AND HIT A TREE BECAUSE EMERGENCY BRAKE DIDN'T HOLD. *AK

20000302FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

THREE FUEL INJECTORS FAILED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. TRANSMISSION FAILED FOR NO KNOW REASON AT 72000 MILES, PURCHASES CAR W/56000 MILES. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND I TAKE GREAT CARE OF THIS CAR. I PURCHASED CAR AT THIS DEALERSHIP AND MY CONFIDENCE IS LOW WITH THEM. *AK

20000302POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THREE FUEL INJECTORS FAILED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. TRANSMISSION FAILED FOR NO KNOW REASON AT 72000 MILES, PURCHASES CAR W/56000 MILES. IT IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND I TAKE GREAT CARE OF THIS CAR. I PURCHASED CAR AT THIS DEALERSHIP AND MY CONFIDENCE IS LOW WITH THEM. *AK

19990914SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

19990217UNKNOWN OR OTHER

OWNER REQUESTING ANY RECALL INFORMATION.

19990115CrashAIR BAGS

CAR STRUCK HEAD ON (40MPH). AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.

19981023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE HAD CUT OFF, LOSS ALL OF ITS POWER, ELECTRICAL. JUST WOULD NOT START, AND I DID NOT KNOW WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I HAD CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT I HAD TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A (RECALL)? THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE BROUGHT IN WHEN IT HAD REACHED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MILEAGE. THAT INFORMATION WAS NOT IN THE MANUAL, AND IS THIS PROBLEM GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN?

Compare 1993NISSAN300ZX to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 5 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1993 NISSAN 300ZX have?
The 1993 NISSAN 300ZX has 16 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 NISSAN 300ZX?
The most-complained component for the 1993 NISSAN 300ZX is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and AIR BAGS.
Is the 1993 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.