IllustrationSS10, P205/60R15, DOT UNKNOWN, REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON A 1983, DATSUN 280 ZX, WITH 17000 MILES. DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE HAD A BLOWOUT, VEHICLE ROLLED TWICE, TIRE SHREDDED. *AK DRIVER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT,FIRESTONE FIREHAWK, DOT VDUNJBB. *SLC
1983 Datsun 280Z
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all 280Z years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
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: 0 of 1 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.
- Tires. Review the 1 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 reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
1 reportsOfficial recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
1EA85029 · 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.===