1990 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 1990 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
- Engine626.1%
- Fuel system521.7%
- Transmission417.4%
- Brakes313.0%
- Electrical14.3%
- Interior & seats14.3%
- Powertrain (other)14.3%
- Steering14.3%
- Body & structure14.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
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
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
TRANSMISSION--SHIFTS FRON 1ST TO 2ND SLOWLY, LEAKS. TIMING BELT REPLACED TWICE (3,894 MILES IN BETWEEN). BATTERY CAUSED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN CAR. AIR CONDITIONING AND STEREO PROBLEMS. OWNER WANTS TO KNOW IF THESE PROBLEMS ARE COVERED IN A SECRET WARRANTY OR RECALL.
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
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.
ALUMINUM CALIPERS OVERHEAT AND WARP CAUSING OTHER COMPONENTS TO FAIL AS WELL AS VIBRATION, ALUMINUM WHEELS REPLACED W/STEEL WHEELS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION--SHIFTS FRON 1ST TO 2ND SLOWLY, LEAKS. TIMING BELT REPLACED TWICE (3,894 MILES IN BETWEEN). BATTERY CAUSED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN CAR. AIR CONDITIONING AND STEREO PROBLEMS. OWNER WANTS TO KNOW IF THESE PROBLEMS ARE COVERED IN A SECRET WARRANTY OR RECALL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR HATCH LATCH FAILURE, EJECTION, ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED REPEATED PLANETARY FAILURE DUE TO DESIGN OF COOLER.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, CAUSING HE VEHICLE TO COLLIDE . MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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 .