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1986 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: 3 of 59 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 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. 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.

5 crash reports32 fire reports4 injury reports

What owners actually said

59 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2002
Vehicle Speed ControlInjury

ATTORNEY IS WRITING ON BEHALF OF MR. ARMSTRONG WHO WAS PERMANENTLY INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF A STUCK THROTTLE DEFECT, THERE IS A ARMSTRONG V. NISSAN CASE PENDING BEFORE THE TEXAS SUPREME COURT. *TT

NHTSA ODI #564836

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2000
Vehicle Speed ControlInjury

WHILE DRIVING, THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND CONSUMER TO BE INJURED, A SHOP MANAGER STATED THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO THE THROTTLE BODY BOOT BREAKING AWAY AND BECOMING LODGED IN THE ACCELERATION SYSTEM, NISSAN REDESIGNED THE THROTTLE CABLE IN 1995, ATTORNEY DONALD G. WILHELM FOR CLIENT AND WANTS TO WARN OTHERS ABOUT THE DEFE…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING, THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND CONSUMER TO BE INJURED, A SHOP MANAGER STATED THE CAUSE WAS DUE TO THE THROTTLE BODY BOOT BREAKING AWAY AND BECOMING LODGED IN THE ACCELERATION SYSTEM, NISSAN REDESIGNED THE THROTTLE CABLE IN 1995, ATTORNEY DONALD G. WILHELM FOR CLIENT AND WANTS TO WARN OTHERS ABOUT THE DEFECT. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #562135

Mileage unknown · May 18, 2000
Steering

THER'S A LITTLE PLAY IN STEERING, CONSUMER SAYS ITS THE STEERING RACK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #862114

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2000
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED STUCK THROTTLE, RESULTING IN PERMANENT INJURY TO CONSUMER. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #550122

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO THE RED SIDE WHICH MEANS THAT CAR IS TOO HOT. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, AND DLR FIXED PROBLEM . CURRENTLY, CAR IS OVERHEATING AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850350

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 1998
Fuel System, GasolineFire

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM LEAKED, RESULTING IN VEHICLE CATCHING ON FIRE. THE DEALER FIXED THE VEHICLE ONCE, BUT STILL HAD PROBLEMS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, AND STATED THAT THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827615

Mileage unknown · Jul 25, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL INJECTOR WAS SERVICED PER RECALL. SINCE SERVICE VEHICLE STALLS AND WILL NOT CRANK. STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #538750

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 1998
Fuel System, GasolineFire

DAMAGED BY FIRE DUE TO FUEL INJECTOR LEAKAGE.

NHTSA ODI #513793

Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 1998
Vehicle Speed Control

WHEN SETTING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND DRIVING ABOUT 2 OR 3 MILES AFTER SETTING, THE CRUISE CONTROL WILL AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822160

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 1998
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT BUCKLES: PLASTIC HOUSING FOR SEAT BELT BROKE, RELEASE BUTTONS FELL OUT, CAUSING SEAT BELT NOT TO RELEASE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #821132

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.

PE94018 · Engine Compartment Fires

Opened Feb 22, 1994 · Closed Jun 23, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

There is no summary currently available