Total Complaints
2 filings
NISSAN 300ZX · model year
1996 NISSAN 300ZX
2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1996NISSAN300ZX carries 2 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 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 1996 300ZX is vehicle speed control with 1 filings, followed by steering: steering wheel/handle bar (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 1996 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.
2
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
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
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20000523CrashSTEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT TURN LEFT OR RIGHT, AND LOST ALL STEERING. ENTIRE STEERING COUPLING FELL OFF VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, NISSAN REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE MALFUNCTION. OWNER BELIEVES THAT THE REPAIRS DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM WERE DONE INCORRECTLY, THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T LINE UP EVENLY WITH THE COLUMN, MAY LEAD TO ANOTHER STEERING FAILURE. *ML
19960722VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. *DH
Compare 1996NISSAN300ZX 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 1996 NISSAN 300ZX have?▼
The 1996 NISSAN 300ZX has 2 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 NISSAN 300ZX?▼
The most-complained component for the 1996 NISSAN 300ZX is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR.
Is the 1996 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.