IllustrationCAR 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
1986 Nissan 300ZX
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 300ZX years →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: 3 of 59 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 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. 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.
5 crash reports32 fire reports4 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
7 reportsCYLINDER HEAD BOLT BROKE. HEAD OF BOLT GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN CAMSHAFT AND CYLINDER HEAD WHICH CAUSED THE CAMSHAFT TO STOP ROTATING. THIS CAUSED THE CAMSHAFT SPROCKET TO SHEAR THE END OF THE CAMSHAFT OFF. MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE RESULTED.
WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO THE RED SIDE WHICH MEANS THAT CAR IS TOO HOT. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, AND DLR FIXED PROBLEM . CURRENTLY, CAR IS OVERHEATING AGAIN. *AK
ENGINE FIRE.
PLMN HAS BEEN GIVING HIM THE RUN AROUND SINCE FEBRUARY 12, 1996 AND THE WORK HAS NOT BEEN DONE. (RECALL) EXHAUST/CRANKCASE - 95IOO6OOO. *AK
RECALL; THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO GET RECALL WORK REPAIRED, PARTS NOT IN, DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE FEB, 27 RECALL # 951006000. *AK
SITTING AT LIGHT VEHICLE STALLED SMOKE CAME OUT OF FAN. RESULTING IN UNDERHOOD FIRE. TT
Official recalls
187V098000 · 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
2EA94018 · 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.
PE94018 · Engine Compartment Fires
Opened Feb 22, 1994 · Closed Jun 23, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available