1986 Nissan 300ZX Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1986 Nissan 300ZX, and owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 1986 Nissan 300ZX
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Floor shift (power train)
Unintended acceleration may occur, for example, when shifting from the park position.
Remedy: Install a shift interlock system which prevents the transmission shift lever from being moved from the park position unless the brake pedal is depressed.
59 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1986 Nissan 300ZX have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash and 32 describe a fire. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 167,333 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 14 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Nissan is declining to honor a recall for fuel injectors that was issued on all 1986 nissans. *tr”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 18, 2013 · Fuel system, gasoline
“Tl* the contact owns a 1986 nissan 300zx (na) equipped with landsail tires (na), size 205/65/r15. The contact stated that during inclement weather and driving at low speeds, he was unable to control t”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 28, 2013 · Tires
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1986 Nissan 300ZX (300ZX 2x2). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 18–19 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–16 / 23–24 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars, Two Seaters |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Nissan 300ZX model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Nissan 300ZX model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 Nissan 300ZX | 0 | 1 |
| 1984 Nissan 300ZX | 4 | 42 |
| 1985 Nissan 300ZX | 1 | 75 |
| 1986 Nissan 300ZX | 1 | 59 |
| 1987 Nissan 300ZX | 1 | 28 |
| 1988 Nissan 300ZX | 0 | 25 |
| 1989 Nissan 300ZX | 0 | 9 |
| 1990 Nissan 300ZX | 0 | 19 |
| 1991 Nissan 300ZX | 0 | 12 |
| 1992 Nissan 300ZX | 0 | 3 |
| 1993 Nissan 300ZX | 0 | 12 |
| 1994 Nissan 300ZX | 0 | 4 |
| 1995 Nissan 300ZX | 0 | 4 |
| 1996 Nissan 300ZX | 0 | 2 |
Checking a specific 1986 Nissan 300ZX
How do I know if my 1986 Nissan 300ZX has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1986 Nissan 300ZX; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Nissan dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 87V098000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Nissan models
- Altima15,472 complaints
- Pathfinder7,355 complaints
- Rogue7,322 complaints
- Maxima6,955 complaints
- Murano5,958 complaints
- Sentra5,954 complaints
- Frontier3,357 complaints
- Versa3,325 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.