1987 Nissan 300ZX Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1987 Nissan 300ZX, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Fuel system1864.3%
- Electrical621.4%
- Brakes13.6%
- Engine13.6%
- Seat belts13.6%
- Transmission13.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SMELLED GASOLINE COMING FROM THE REAR. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAD NOT BEEN DETERMINED.*AK
I HAVE A STRONG FUEL ODOR COMING FROM MY ENGINE THROUGH MY VENTS, AND INTO THE INTERIOR OF MY CAR. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM OF MY CAR (1987 NISSAN 300ZX). I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF NISSAN IS STILL ABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. *AK
VEHICLE BEGAN MISFIRING AND AREA DEALERSHIP SERVICED FOR A WEEK, WHILE SERVICED MT. KISCO NISSAN FIXED RECALL, A MONTH LATER VEHICLE HESITATED NOT GETTING FUEL WHICH THEN RESULTED IN A FIRE THAT STARTED IN GARAGE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES WHILE GOING 25-30MPH THE BRAKES LOCKED UP WHEN APPLYING FOR A SUDDEN STOP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID. THE SKIDDING OF THE VEHICLE RESULTED TO A REAR END ACCIDENT AND THE FRONT END CAUGHT FIRE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED NO ABS OR BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING A MALFUNCTION. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. TS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL INJECTION RECALL; COLES CHRYSLER, NISSAN WOODBRIDGE VA., HAS NO PARTS AND HAS HAD HIS VEHICLE FOR OVER (50) DAYS 95I006000. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVERS SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT INTO ITS HOUSING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THE BELTWAY COMING HOME FROM WORK. I WAS ABOUT A MILE FROM MY HOME WHEN MY CAR WOULDN'T PULL UP THE HILL. NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRIED IT JUST DIDN'T HAVE ANY PULL. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER ON THE TRANSMISSION SO I JUST WENT AND HAD ANOTHER TRANSMISSION PUT IN WHICH IS NOT WORKING EITHER. IT HAS NO POWER AND THIS IS A TURBO ENGINE CAN YOU LET ME KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I CAN NOT DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE IT WON'T EVEN GET OUT OF ITS OWN WAY.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .