Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 1986.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 | 4 | 0 |
| 1994 | 4 | 0 |
| 1993 300ZX | 12 | 0 |
| 1992 | 3 | 0 |
| 1991 300ZX | 12 | 0 |
| 1990 300ZX | 19 | 0 |
| 1989 300ZX | 9 | 0 |
| 1988 300ZX | 25 | 0 |
| 1987 300ZX | 28 | 1 |
| 1986 300ZX | 59 | 1 |
| 1985 300ZX | 75 | 1 |
| 1984 300ZX | 42 | 4 |
| 1983 | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981 | 0 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Fuel system, gasoline166
- Engine and engine cooling40
- Power train28
- Electrical system26
- Vehicle speed control22
- Service brakes, hydraulic8
- Steering7
- Equipment5
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 10 300ZX vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 9 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 1 | 0 |
| 1993 | 2 | 2 |
| 1991 | 2 | 1 |
| 1990 | 4 | 5 |
| 1987 | 1 | 1 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 2 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 12.6–12.7 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 300ZX · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 14.2 | 10.7 | 12.6 |
| 1995 | 300ZX · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 14.3 | 10.7 | 12.7 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In the Netherlands
273 300ZX cars are on Dutch roads; 63% arrived later as imports. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 26 | — |
| 1991 | 34 | — |
| 1990 | 56 | — |
| 1987 | 31 | — |
| 1986 | 47 | — |
| 1985 | 43 | — |
| 1984 | 36 | — |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
Recalls
4 campaigns cover the 300ZX.
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION MAY OCCUR, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN SHIFTING FROM THE PARK POSITION.
IMPURE LUBRICATING GREASE USED IN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCHES COULD CONTAMINATE ONE OR MORE CONTACT POINTS. OPERATION OF THE HEADLIGHTS COULD BE DELAYED OR NOT LIGHT WHEN THE SWITCH IS TURNED ON OR WHEN THE DIMMER SWITCH IS OPERATED. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: LOSS OF HEAD LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
BRAKES MAY FAIL SUDDENLY WHEN APPLIED. COMPONENTS WITHIN THE MASTER CYLINDER MAY BE EXPELLED BECAUSE A CLIP WHICH RETAINS THEM MAY NOT BE PROPERLY INSTALLED.
THE HOOD LATCH MAY FAIL TO HOLD THE HOOD IN POSITION DUE TO A MISALIGNMENT OF THE SECONDARY HOOD LATCH. THIS CONDITION IS DUE TO A DEFORMATION OF THE HOOD DURING MANUFACTURE.
NHTSA recalls