1986 Nissan 300ZX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
38 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
163,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 model year. Data snapshot: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 38 complaints (13.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 18.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 5.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.3% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 2.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 2 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors: 5; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 3
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 35 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 12 |
| 1996 | 12 |
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
1995: 12; 1996: 12; 2000: 3; 2002: 4; 2004: 2; 2007: 1; 2009: 1; 2011: 1; 2013: 2
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10067560 · 2004-04-21 (April 21, 2004)
CALL NISSAN NUMBER LISTED ON THE RECALL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR LEAKING FUEL INJECTOR REPLACEMENT FOR MY VIN. THE RECALL LISTED ON YOUR WEB SITE REFERS TO ALL Z CARS 84-89. IS THE RECALL NOT LONGER VALID. IT APPEARS THEY ARE NO LONGER CONCERNED ABOUT THE FIRE RISK TO MY CAR. VIN NUMBER [XXX] 86 NISSAN 300 ZX NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 95I006000 MAKE: NISSAN MODEL: 300ZX YEAR: 1986 CAUSING FAULT : FLOODS,LEAKS RESULTING FAULT : FIRE, FLUID,ELECTRICAL,GAS(LPG),GASOLINE,OTHER COMPONENT: FUEL:FUEL INJE…
Owner-reported narrative. 153,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10067560 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10207548 · 2007-10-31 (October 31, 2007)
TALKED TO NISSAN USA ABOUT 1986 NISSAN 300ZX, FUEL INJECTOR AND RELATED HOSES LEAKING. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE NEAREST NISSAN DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THE FUEL INFECTOR AND HOSES AS PART OF THE RECALL ID #95I006000 - FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. I TOOK THE CAR TO TOWN CENTER NISSAN AND WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF APPROXIMATELY $3,000 FOR REPAIRS. NISSAN NORTH AMERICA TOLD THE SHOP NOT TO DO THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE ESTIMATE WAS FOR MORE THAN THE VALUE OF THE CAR. NISSAN NORTH AMERICA THEN TOLD ME THAT THEY …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10207548 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 490824 · 1995-12-16 (December 16, 1995)
MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED 6 TIMES. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 490824 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 966675 · 1995-06-12 (June 12, 1995)
VEHICLES TRANSMISSION FLUID BLEW UP FROM DIPSTICK AND HIT THE HOT EXHAUST SYSTEM AND ACCORDINGLY CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 966675 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10094233 · 2004-11-03 (November 3, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL LIGHTS FAILED TO COME ON. THE DRIVER SMELL SMOKE COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER . THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. NO INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND DEEMED IT TOTALED THE INSPECTOR INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD. *JB *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10094233 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 862114 · 2000-05-18 (May 18, 2000)
THER'S A LITTLE PLAY IN STEERING, CONSUMER SAYS ITS THE STEERING RACK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 862114 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 984655 · 1996-05-20 (May 20, 1996)
AFTER MAKING A TURN THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 984655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 978654 · 1996-02-05 (February 5, 1996)
WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN GEAR IT GOES FULL THROTTLE. WILL NOT STOP UNLESS YOU TURN OFF THE IGNITION. BRAKES WILL NOT STOP THE CAR. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 978654 at NHTSA ↗