1986 Nissan 300ZX: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
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 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 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 10267414 · 2009-05-01 (May 1, 2009)
CAR RUNS HOT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE REPLACED FAN CLUTCH, WATER PUMP,THERMOSTAT, CHANGED HOSES, GASKETS. STILL CAR GET HOT AFTER RUNNING ONLY FOR 20 MIN. RADIATOR EMPTIES BUT OVERFLOW IS FULL. NO LEAKS FROM UNDER CAR. IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY NISSAN. ALSO SLIPS OUT OF 2ND GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10267414 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10378251 · 2011-01-22 (January 22, 2011)
I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION ON APRIL 9,2010. NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 95I006000. THIS WAS AND IS THE ONLY RECALL THAT I HAVE RECEIVED SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE THAT WAS BOUGHT FROM GIES NISSAN OF CORTLANDT MANOR, NY BACK IN 1989. THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY SOLD FROM NEWBURGH NISSAN OF NEWBURG NY. THE VEHICLE IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT THE CAMPAIGN DESCRIBES. THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING GAS FROM THE INJECTORS. THE VEHICLE IS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORST. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL NISSAN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY CAN NOT PERFORM THE RECALL DUE TO PARTS AVAILABILITY.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10378251 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10504806 · 2013-03-28 (March 28, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1986 NISSAN 300ZX (NA) EQUIPPED WITH LANDSAIL TIRES (NA), SIZE 205/65/R15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER AND DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, HE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND IT SPUN OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. AFTER DIAGNOSIS, THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE DESIGN OF THE TIRE MAY BE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS APPROXIMATELY 186,000 ON THE VEHICLE AND 7,000 ON THE TIRES. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 186,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10504806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10508671 · 2013-04-18 (April 18, 2013)
NISSAN IS DECLINING TO HONOR A RECALL FOR FUEL INJECTORS THAT WAS ISSUED ON ALL 1986 NISSANS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 163,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10508671 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 482238 · 1995-03-10 (March 10, 1995)
DIGITAL DASH FAILED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 482238 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 ↗