Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
19
Latest Dec 21, 2009
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
4
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported
Overview
Our database contains 19 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Nissan 300ZX, most frequently naming the engine, fuel system and transmission categories. 5 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
Monthly complaints peaked at 2 in Mar 1996. Most recent month: 1.View as table
Monthly owner complaints for the 1990 Nissan 300ZX
Month
Complaints filed
Cumulative
Jan 1995
1
1
Jun 1995
1
2
Mar 1996
2
4
Jun 1996
1
5
Nov 1997
1
6
Feb 1998
1
7
Apr 1998
2
9
Aug 1998
2
11
Sep 1998
1
12
Feb 1999
1
13
Apr 1999
1
14
Feb 2000
1
15
Aug 2000
1
16
Apr 2004
1
17
May 2005
1
18
Dec 2009
1
19
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Engine626.1%
Fuel system521.7%
Transmission417.4%
Brakes313.0%
Electrical14.3%
Interior & seats14.3%
Powertrain (other)14.3%
Steering14.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
IN DECEMBER 2008 I BOUGHT A WATER PUMP FOR MY 1990 NISSAN 300ZX FROM ADVANCE AUTO PARTS IN MAULDIN, SC. IT FAILED WITHIN FOUR WEEKS, CAUSING MY ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. I HANDED THE DEFECTIVE PUMP BACK TO THE STORE PERSONNEL. A WEEP HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE PUMP WAS SPURTING OUT WATER, AND THE SPINNING PART WAS CHEWED UP. THE STORE PERSONNEL TOLD ME THE PUMP WAS VISIBLE DEFECTIVE. THE STORE GAVE ME A RECEIPT FOR A REPLACEMENT PUMP, WHICH I PICKED UP FROM AN ADVANCE AUTO STORE/PARTS WAREHOUSE IN SPARTANBURG, SC. WITHIN THREE WEEKS THAT PART FAILED, MY ENGINE OVERHEATED, AND WAS DESTROYED. INCREDIBLY, THE STORE AND THE REGIONAL MANAGER TOLD ME THEIR SYSTEM HAD LOST THE FIRST PUMP, WHICH THEY HAD SENT BACK TO A REGIONAL PARTS RETURN WAREHOUSE IN GEORGIA. THEY WANTED THE SECOND PUMP, BUT COULD NOT GIVE ME A NAME, POSITION, OR DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD ACTUALLY RECEIVE THE PUMP, OR A TRACKING NUMBER OR METHOD. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE PUMP FAILURES HAD NOT PUT ME IN A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION ON A HIGHWAY MEDIAN, OR FAILED ME DURING A FREEZING RAINSTORM. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TWO FAILURES DESTROYED MY CAR ENGINE. I WAS SHOCKED THAT NO TECHNICAL INVESTIGATION HAD BEEN DONE OF THE FIRST PART, NO DOCUMENT HOLD HAD BEEN ISSUED, AND THEY SEEMED UNCONCERNED ABOUT THEIR INABILITY TO TRACK DEFECTIVE PARTS WHICH HAD BEEN RETURNED TO THEM. IN FACT THE STORE MANAGER, AND REGIONAL MANAGER, DID NOT SEEM TO TAKE SERIOUSLY THE FAILURE OF TWO PUMPS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WEEKS APART. I EXPECT A COMPANY TO STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCTS, AND TO TAKE THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC SERIOUSLY. *TR
NHTSA ID
10296632
Incident
Jan 30, 2009
EngineTransmission
Filed May 1, 2005
AT 63000 MILES VEH DEVELOPED UNEXPLAINED OIL LEAKS RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE. LESS THAN 15000 MILES LATER WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, TRANSMISSION FAILED TO CHANGE FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. *AK
NHTSA ID
10118767
Incident
Apr 1, 1997
Mileage
63,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Apr 7, 2004
VEHICLE RAN ROUGH AND WOULDN'T ACCELERATE FASTER THAN 10 MPH. THIS WAS DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THERE WA FUEL INJECTION RECALL 95I006000, BUT IT ONLY INCLUDED EARLIER MODEL YEAR VEHICLES. *AK
NHTSA ID
10066727
Incident
Jul 2, 2000
Mileage
98,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 31, 2000
PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WHATSOEVER. PERSON ON PASSENGER SIDE COULD BE TRAPPED IN CAR, UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE DRIVERS SIDE ELECTRONIC LOCK ALSO FAILED COMPLETELY.
NHTSA ID
729728
Incident
Jun 10, 2000
Engine
Filed Feb 3, 2000
WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT CONSUMER COULD START THE ENGINE FOR A FEW MINUTES. THEN, IT WILL SHUT OFF. BUT, WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD ENGINE WILL START UP FINE. *AK
NHTSA ID
856214
Incident
Feb 3, 2000
Fuel system
Filed Apr 7, 1999
Crash reportedFire reported
CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. FAILURE MORE THAN LIKELY DUE TO FUEL INJECTOR DEFECT, SPRAYING GAS OVER ENGINE. RESULT WAS INTENSE FIRE DESTROYING CAR. NOTHING SALVAGABLE. RECALL OF 90'S NISSAN 300ZX IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. *AK
NHTSA ID
705382
Incident
Mar 7, 1999
Brakes
Filed Feb 14, 1999
EXCESSIVE SHAKE AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION WHILE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. HAVE TURNED ROTORS TWICE AND REPLACED BRAKE PADS. PROBLEM WILL DISAPPEAR FOR ABOUT 1 MONTH THEN WILL START AGAIN.
NHTSA ID
703286
Incident
Nov 28, 1998
Engine
Filed Sep 24, 1998
PLASTIC COOLIING FAN CRACKS AT HUB. DANGER THAT FAN BLADES MAY FLY OFF AND CAUSE DAMAGE OR INJURE SOMEONE.
NHTSA ID
541672
Incident
Jan 1, 1996
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
NTB-09-101
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
NISSAN: TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WARNING LIGHT ON/FLASHING. NO MODELS OR MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED ON 08-11-2011. *KB
NTB-09-129
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
NISSAN: VENT CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENT. WHEN REPLACING THE EVAP CANISTER VENT CONTROL VALVE FOR REASON: USE THE ONE LISTED ON PAGE 2; FOR VENT CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE, REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE SECTION OF THE ELECTRONIC SERVICE MANUALS (ESM; WHEN INSTALLING THE NEW VALVE, DO NOT ADD ANY LUBE TO ITS O RING; FOR FRONTIER (D40 SERIES) ONLY, INSTALL THE PROTECTOR LISTED IN PARTS INFORMATION. *PE INCLUDES 2005-09 FRONTIER. UPDATED 12/8/10. *PE
NISSAN: THE 12 VOLT BATTERY IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND IS REQUIRED TO STAY CONNECTED WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO VEHICLE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS/CAUTIONS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE
NTB97011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSIONS DETENT HOLES ELIMINATED FROM ADAPTER PLATE. *JD
NTB94117
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VOLUNTARY SERVICE CAMPAIGN ON IGNITION POWER TRANSISTOR UNIT. *TW
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.