1985 Nissan 300ZX: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
59 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
144,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 model year. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 59 complaints (23.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 10 | 16.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 3.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.7% |
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 | 14 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 14 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 14; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors: 14; Fuel System, Gasoline: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 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 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
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: 2; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 55 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 | 28 |
| 1996 | 21 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
1995: 28; 1996: 21; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10015781 · 2003-04-14 (April 14, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 95 I 006 000. REGARDING THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10015781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031256 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031256 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197383 · 2007-07-24 (July 24, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 NISSAN 300ZX. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED IN JANUARY OF 2007 UNDER RECALL NUMBER 95I006000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 168,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 168,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197383 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197929 · 2007-07-31 (July 31, 2007)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 199,849 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197929 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10235776 · 2008-07-25 (July 25, 2008)
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 MILE…
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235776 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10292169 · 2009-11-14 (November 14, 2009)
NISSAN 300ZX 1985 ENGINE WIRING AND COMPONENT WIRING INTERIOR. WIRING IS BRITTLE, BECOMES HOT. AND BREAKS VERY EASY.THE ENGINE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION RUNNING WISE , THE WIRING TO COMPONENTS BRITTLE BREAKS EASILY. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD. AND A SAFETY DEFECT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10292169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10733764 · 2015-07-13 (July 13, 2015)
I WAS TOLD THERE HAD BEEN A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE 1985 NISSAN 300ZX, SO I TRIED TO LOOK IT UP ONLINE WITHOUT SUCCESS, AND THEN CALLED NISSAN TO FIND OUT IF THE REPAIRS HAD EVER BEEN DONE, SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED AND HAVE NO REPAIR RECORDS. THEY SAID IF THE VEHICLE WAS MORE THAN 11 YEARS OLD, THEY "DE-ARCHIVE" THE DATA FROM THEIR DATABASE, AND THEREFORE MY VIN WILL NOT COME UP IN THEIR RECORDS. THEY SAID IT HAS NO "ACTIVE RECALLS" ON IT, BUT COULDN'T TELL ME IF THE REPAIRS FROM THE 2 RECALLS ON THAT MODEL HAD EVER BEEN DONE. IS THERE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10733764 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 484567 · 1995-07-26 (July 26, 1995)
ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484567 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
87V098000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Floor Shift
Reported: 1987-07-06 (July 6, 1987)
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION MAY OCCUR, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN SHIFTING FROM THE PARK POSITION.
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗