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1985 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: 4 of 75 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 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. 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.

1 crash reports54 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

75 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 16, 1996
Fuel System, GasolineFire

LEAKY FUEL INJECTOR CAUSED ENGINE FIRE. *DSH

NHTSA ODI #503515

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 1996
Fuel System, GasolineFire

CONSUMER WAS STARTING CAR UP AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #982486

Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 1996
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T HAVE THE PARTS AND DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY ARE GOING TO GET THEM (95I-006). PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #982358

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 1996
Vehicle Speed ControlFire

RECALL RELATED, 95I006000, FUEL INJECTOR LEAK, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI #980539

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 1996
Fuel System, GasolineFire

FUEL INJECTORS LEAKED, CAUSING FIRE. *SD

NHTSA ODI #501757

Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 1996
Fuel System, GasolineFire

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAUGHT ON FIRE . TT

NHTSA ODI #979283

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 1996
Fuel System, GasolineFire

FUEL INJECTOR CAUGHT FIRE. *SD

NHTSA ODI #501048

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 1995
Fuel System, GasolineFire

EA94-018; WHEN STARTING, LOUD BANG W/VEHICLE CATCHING FIRE IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

NHTSA ODI #976330

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 1995
Electrical SystemFire

THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. TT

NHTSA ODI #975460

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1995
Fuel System, GasolineFire

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, POSSIBLE FUEL INJECTORS LEAKING FUEL. TT *JB

NHTSA ODI #974548

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.

EA85029 · 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.===