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1985 Nissan 300ZX

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 4 of 75 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports54 fire reports3 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

49 reports
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120,000 miles · Jul 25, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 NISSAN 300ZX. THE CONTACT SMELLS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FOLLOWED BY A HESITATION IN THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS AND RELATED HOSES WERE LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIG…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 NISSAN 300ZX. THE CONTACT SMELLS A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE FOLLOWED BY A HESITATION IN THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS AND RELATED HOSES WERE LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 95I006000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO ASSUME FINANCIAL LIABILITY FOR THE REPAIR COST, WHICH EXCEEDED $2,000. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 145,000. UPDATED 11/14/08. *LJ UPDATED 11/18/08*JB

NHTSA ODI #10235776

199,849 miles · Jul 31, 2007
Fuel System, GasolineFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 NISSAN 300ZX. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE FUEL INJECTORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED RECALL NUMBER 95I006000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM), HOWEVE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 NISSAN 300ZX. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE FUEL INJECTORS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED RECALL NUMBER 95I006000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM), HOWEVER, THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THERE WERE NO SERVICE RECORDS AVAILABLE. AS OF JULY 31, 2007, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 199,849. UPDATED 09/05/07.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10197929

100,000 miles · Apr 14, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 95 I 006 000. REGARDING THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10015781

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline

RECALL 95 I 006 000/FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM: CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN THIS RECALL. AFTER TAKING VEHICLE INTO DEALER SHOP FOR SECOND TIME, DEALER REFUSED TO DO RECALL REPAIRS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #898836

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2000
Fuel System, GasolineVehicle Speed ControlFire

FUEL LEAKS NEAR INJECTORS DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY.UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #720347

Mileage unknown · Jan 19, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

ALL FAILURES OCCURRED JUST AFTER THE FUEL INJECTION RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED IN LATE 1996. AFTER THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED PER THE SAFETY RECALL, THE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO START IF THE WEATHER WAS HOT OR THE ENGINE WAS HOT FROM RUNNING. THE ENGINE FAILED A FEW MONTHS LATER IN FEB 1997. THE ORIGINAL FUEL INJE…

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ALL FAILURES OCCURRED JUST AFTER THE FUEL INJECTION RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED IN LATE 1996. AFTER THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED PER THE SAFETY RECALL, THE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO START IF THE WEATHER WAS HOT OR THE ENGINE WAS HOT FROM RUNNING. THE ENGINE FAILED A FEW MONTHS LATER IN FEB 1997. THE ORIGINAL FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM NEVER HAD FAILED AND I WAS EXPERIENCING NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. I ONLY HAD THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED BECAUSE I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE CAR HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THEN. THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM IN 1985 (NEW) WORKED ON THE CAR FOR OVER 2 YEARS, REPLACING MANY OTHER PARTS THAT NISSAN CORPORATION CLAIMED WAS THE CAUSE OF THE STARTING PROBLEMS. NONE OF THESE CHANGES FIXED THE PROBLEM. IN EXTREMELY HOT WEATHER THE NEWLY REPLACED ENGINE (COST: $4,200) DIED ON THE FREEWAY, AT FREEWAY SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH ON 3 OCCASIONS. AT THAT POINT, NISSAN REFUSED TO WORK ON THE CAR ANY MORE AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD PRESENTED. I HAD TO BUY A USED CAR FOR TRANSPORTATION TO WORK. NISSAN CORPORATION CONTINUES TO DENY THE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO THE FUEL INJECTION RECALL CAMPAIGN WORK AND WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE RECALL WORK.

NHTSA ODI #702388

Mileage unknown · Dec 9, 1998
Fuel System, GasolineFire

ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A SPLIT INJECTOR CABLE AND A SPARK FROM THE BATTERY. I JUST HAD IT CHECKED OUT THAT SUMMER.

NHTSA ODI #701243

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL INJECTORS FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #522860

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

RECALL REPAIR (95I-006) WAS COMPLETED AND FAILED CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. MJS

NHTSA ODI #527934

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 1997
Fuel System, GasolineFire

THE VEHICLE HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE RECALL OF THE FUEL INJECTERS. THE OWNER JUST RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ON MARCH 6, 1997 AND THE FIRE HAPPENED LAST YEAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #809843

Official recalls

1

87V098000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Jul 6, 1987

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION MAY OCCUR, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN SHIFTING FROM THE PARK POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL A SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM WHICH PREVENTS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER FROM BEING MOVED FROM THE PARK POSITION UNLESS THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA94018 · Fuel Injector Assembly Leakage

Opened Jun 23, 1994 · Closed Nov 8, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System

AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT IS INCLUDED IN THE PUBLIC FILE.SERVICE CAMPAIGN 95I-006.

EA85029 · Sudden Acceleration

Opened May 9, 1985 · Closed Jul 11, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

SUMMARY: ODI HAS SENT FOUR IRS TO NISSAN (11/29/84, 10/10/85, 4/9/86, &11/14/86).ETF HAS TESTED 6 NISSAN VEHICLES AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATESUDDEN ACCEL.ODI INSPECTED 9 VEHICLES AND ALL OPERATED NORMALLY.ALL15 VEHICLES WERE REPORTED TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SUDDEN ACCELERATIONINCIDENTS.ANALYSIS: THERE ARE THREE POSSIBLE CAUSES OF SA. (1) THE DRIVER PUSHED ONTHE ACCELERATOR INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, (2) THE VEHICLE WAS UNRESPON-SIVE TO THE DRIVERS INITIAL APPLICATION OF ACCELERATOR PEDAL PRESSURESO THE DRIVER PRESSES HARDER AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLYACCELERATES AT A FASTER RATE THAN ANTICIPATED AND WITH THE CLOSE PROXIMITYOF OTHER CARS OR BUILDINGS THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO RECOVER IN TIME TOAVOID AN ACCIDENT, (3) FLOOR MAT BUNCHES UP AND INTERFERESWITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL.STATUS:BY LETTER DATED 6/29/87, NISSAN ANNOUNCED THE RECALL OF183,519 VEHICLES (87V-098) TO INSTALL A SHIFT INTERLOCK KIT.AN AUDITSURVEY OF THE RECALL WILL BE INITIATED BY NHTSA IN THE FALL OF 1988.NHTSA WROTE TO NISSAN ON MAY 24, 1988 CONCERNING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THESHIFT-LOCK DEVICE INSTALLED DURING RECALL CAMPAIGN 87V-098.A RESPONSEIS DUE ON AUGUST 16, 1988.===