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1988 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: 3 of 25 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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports16 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

25 reports
151,296 miles · Dec 30, 2017
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

THE CAR WOULD LOSE POWER WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS. WOULDN'T DIE BUT WOULD SPUTTER AND THEN THE BATTERY WOULD DIE

NHTSA ODI #11057631

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2015
Fuel/propulsion System

FUEL INJECTOR LEAKED AND CAR CAUGHT FIRE WHILE DRIVING I ALMOST BLEW UP IN THE CAR REPORTED IT TO NISSAN AND TOLD THEM THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI #10779415

224,000 miles · Nov 15, 2007
Fuel System, GasolineFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 NISSAN 300ZX. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS FUMES AND NOTICED SMOKE RISING UNDER THE HOOD. HE PULLED OVER, OPENED THE HOOD, AND FLAMES ERUPTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT GAS LEAKED FROM THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THERE IS A RECALL…

Read full complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 NISSAN 300ZX. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS FUMES AND NOTICED SMOKE RISING UNDER THE HOOD. HE PULLED OVER, OPENED THE HOOD, AND FLAMES ERUPTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT GAS LEAKED FROM THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 95I006000). AS OF NOVEMBER 15, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 224,000.

NHTSA ODI #10208983

Mileage unknown · Mar 15, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED DRIVER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. ALSO, DRIVER SMELLED FUEL COMING FROM THE REAR. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10115188

107,000 miles · May 12, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, UNTIL THEY RECEIVED PERMISSION FROM NISSAN. RECALL # 95I006000. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10019605

Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE AND WITHOUT WARNING THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE UNDER THE HOOD FOLLOWED BY FIRE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING ADEQUATE REIMBURSEMENT. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK *NLM

NHTSA ODI #8014639

Mileage unknown · May 19, 2002
Electrical SystemFire

I WAS GETTING IN THE CAR TO MOVE FROM DRIVEWAY TO THE STREET AN SMELLED GAS, TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CAR STARTED SMOKING AND THEN WENT INTO FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD. *AKI

NHTSA ODI #762067

Mileage unknown · Jun 25, 1999
Fuel System, GasolineUnknown Or Other

THERE IS A LEAKAGE WITHIN FUEL INJECTORS, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS STAYING ON DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #841170

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 1998
Fuel System, GasolineFire

ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO FUEL LEAK FROM FUEL INJECTION.

NHTSA ODI #540792

Mileage unknown · Mar 5, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

VEHICLE BACK FIRED TWICE, THAN VEHICLE INSIDE FILLED UP WITH SMOKE.

NHTSA ODI #511391

Official recalls

0

No 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

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.

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