RoadVitals

1985 Nissan 300ZX Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
16
Latest Nov 14, 2009
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
21%
of 75 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
11
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1985 Nissan 300ZX submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Nov 14, 2009

NISSAN 300ZX 1985 ENGINE WIRING AND COMPONENT WIRING INTERIOR. WIRING IS BRITTLE, BECOMES HOT. AND BREAKS VERY EASY.THE ENGINE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION RUNNING WISE , THE WIRING TO COMPONENTS BRITTLE BREAKS EASILY. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD. AND A SAFETY DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10292169
Incident
Feb 20, 2007
Engine
Filed Jul 24, 2007
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1985 NISSAN 300ZX. APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED IN JANUARY OF 2007 UNDER RECALL NUMBER 95I006000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 168,000.

NHTSA ID
10197383
Incident
Jul 23, 2007
Mileage
168,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed May 18, 2002

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO TWO NISSAN DEALERSHIPS FOUR OR MORE TIMES FOR THE SAME SAFETY DEFECT. IT HAS ALSO BEEN TO A "Z-DOCTOR" WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR IT.THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN SURGES WHEN WARMING UP. NOW WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE ACCELERATOR WILL OCCASIONALLY STICK AT THE WIDE OPEN POSITION, WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY DISENGAGE THE ENGINE FROM THE POWER TRAIN OR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WILL RESULT. THE DEFROSTER/HEATER/A/C NOWS DOESN'T WORK (AFTER PICKING IT UP FROM THE DEALER). THE DEALER AND NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA IS UNWILLING TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS, DESPITE IT BEING SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD.*AK

NHTSA ID
762039
Incident
Aug 26, 1997
EngineFuel system
Filed Jan 19, 1999

ALL FAILURES OCCURRED JUST AFTER THE FUEL INJECTION RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED IN LATE 1996. AFTER THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED PER THE SAFETY RECALL, THE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO START IF THE WEATHER WAS HOT OR THE ENGINE WAS HOT FROM RUNNING. THE ENGINE FAILED A FEW MONTHS LATER IN FEB 1997. THE ORIGINAL FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM NEVER HAD FAILED AND I WAS EXPERIENCING NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. I ONLY HAD THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED BECAUSE I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE CAR HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THEN. THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM IN 1985 (NEW) WORKED ON THE CAR FOR OVER 2 YEARS, REPLACING MANY OTHER PARTS THAT NISSAN CORPORATION CLAIMED WAS THE CAUSE OF THE STARTING PROBLEMS. NONE OF THESE CHANGES FIXED THE PROBLEM. IN EXTREMELY HOT WEATHER THE NEWLY REPLACED ENGINE (COST: $4,200) DIED ON THE FREEWAY, AT FREEWAY SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH ON 3 OCCASIONS. AT THAT POINT, NISSAN REFUSED TO WORK ON THE CAR ANY MORE AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD PRESENTED. I HAD TO BUY A USED CAR FOR TRANSPORTATION TO WORK. NISSAN CORPORATION CONTINUES TO DENY THE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO THE FUEL INJECTION RECALL CAMPAIGN WORK AND WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE RECALL WORK.

NHTSA ID
702388
Engine
Filed Feb 4, 1998
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE CAUSING DAMAGE TO HOME, VEHICLE AND BUSINESS.

NHTSA ID
514532
Incident
Jan 2, 1994
Engine
Filed Nov 25, 1997
Fire reported

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE IGNITION OFF IT CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ID
812309
Incident
Oct 30, 1995
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Mar 11, 1997
1 injury reported

THROTTLE BOOT BROKE AWAY AND BECAME LODGED WITHIN THE ACCELERATOR SYSTEM, SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT.(ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER).

NHTSA ID
514451
Incident
Oct 30, 1992
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system
Filed Aug 12, 1996
Fire reported

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

NHTSA ID
800765
Engine
Filed Jun 26, 1996
Fire reported

THE RECALL WAS DONE WITH FUEL INJECTERS AND 10 MINUTES LATER THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. RECALL 95I006000. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
986208
Incident
Jun 25, 1996
Engine
Filed Jun 24, 1996
Fire reported

NISSAN WILL NOT REPAIR THE 300ZX BECAUSE IT IS TOO EXPENSIVE. NISSAN WILL ONLY PAY 60 PERCENT OF THE COST FRO RECALL 95I006000. *AK

NHTSA ID
986079
Engine
Filed May 20, 1996
Fire reported

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *SD

NHTSA ID
504844
Incident
Apr 24, 1996
Engine
Filed Apr 30, 1996
Fire reported

DUE TO FUEL LEAKS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL (95I-006). *AK

NHTSA ID
983767
Incident
Apr 30, 1996
Engine
Filed Apr 5, 1996

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

NHTSA ID
982358
Incident
Apr 4, 1996
Engine
Filed Oct 17, 1995
Fire reported

THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. TT CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, HE NOTICED GAS PEDAL WOULD NOT RESPOND WHEN STEPPING ON IT, HE BEGAN TO SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD, HE OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, ENGINE WAS CAUSE OF FIRE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
973420
Incident
Feb 14, 1995
Engine
Filed Jul 26, 1995
Fire reported

ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *DSH

NHTSA ID
484567
Incident
Jun 22, 1995
EngineFuel systemTransmission
Filed Apr 24, 1995
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED FIRE BEGAN UNDER THE HOOD DUE TO FAULTY LEAKING FUEL INJECTOR.ALL 6 HAD TO BE REPLACED.(EA94-018). TT

NHTSA ID
964266
Incident
Dec 20, 1994

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .