Complaints
66
Crashes
5
Fires
35
Injuries
5
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1986 Nissan 300Zx Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#117 complaints
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
Fires:12
#28 complaints
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors
Avg mileage:153,000 mi
Fires:7
#36 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Crash-related:4
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1986 Nissan 300Zx.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 17 | — | 12 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors | 8 | — | 7 | 153,000 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 6 | 4 | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail | 4 | — | 4 | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine & Cooling | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Equipment:Electrical | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System, Other:Fuel Injection System | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Automatic Transmission | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cables | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages | 1 | — | — | — |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
17
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
12
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
7
Avg Miles
153,000
Unintended Acceleration
6
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Electrical
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Other:Fuel Injection System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Cables
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1986 Nissan 300Zx. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Nissan 300Zx Years
1986 Nissan 300Zx — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1986 Nissan 300Zx reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1986 Nissan 300Zx has 66 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System with 17 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1986 Nissan 300Zx?
Top reported problems: Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System (17 complaints); Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Injectors (8 complaints, avg 153,000 mi); Unintended Acceleration (6 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1986 Nissan 300Zx?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 153,000 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1986 Nissan 300Zx?
NHTSA complaints for the 1986 Nissan 300Zx include 5 crash-related reports, 35 fire reports, 5 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1986 Nissan 300Zx have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1986 Nissan 300Zx as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1986 Nissan 300Zx?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Nissan 300Zx reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1986 Nissan 300Zx
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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