Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1986 Nissan 300ZX, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, gasoline32
- Vehicle speed control8
- Engine and engine cooling7
- Electrical system4
- Seat belts3
- Power train2
- Steering2
- Equipment1
- Tires1
- Fuel system, other1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1986 Nissan 300ZX failed the safety check 0.28% of the time — 64% less often than the average 1986 passenger car (0.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 96,552 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
47 first registered in 1986 are on Dutch roads; 74% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Stuurkogel te veel speling4
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde4
- Fusee(kogel) te veel speling4
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm3
- Overmatige vloeistoflekkage overige vloeistoffen2
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld2
- Uitlaatsysteem niet gasdicht / onveilige afvoer uitlaatgasse2
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting ondeugdelijk bevestigd2
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1986 Nissan 300ZX.
| 1987070 8 Jul 1987 | Engine WHEN SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION FROM `PARK' TO EITHER `REVERSE' OR `DRIVE', UNINTENDED ACCELERATION MAY OCCUR WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF A VEHICLE CRASH. CORRECTI… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION MAY OCCUR, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN SHIFTING FROM THE PARK POSITION.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Nissan told its dealers about the 1986 Nissan 300ZX: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10032506 | 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 |
| 10031305 | NISSAN: TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS) WARNING LIGHT ON/FLASHING. NO MODELS OR MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE UPDATED ON 08-11-2011. *KB |
| 10030165 | 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 |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FUEL INJECTOR ASSEMBLY LEAKAGE
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation