AI Damage1989 Nissan 300ZX: common problems
Owners of the 1989 Nissan 300ZX filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 9
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 67% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 11% of all complaints
- 3 Equipment 11% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel/propulsion system 11% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 11% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 6 complaints (67% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (11% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (11% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (11% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (11% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 3 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- 3 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 9 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the failure. The contact indicated that the car jack stands were purchased at Harbor Freight but were not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 20E046000 (Equipment).
A few days after noticing the fuel smell (which I could not locate the source) the car suddenly developed a fuel rich condition and the engine began to idle poorly. For background, the car was running fine and after leaving a restaurant, the issue appeared suddenly.
Tl contact owns a 1989 nissan 300zx. The contact stated that the fuel hoses were leaking along with other fuel components. The contact smelled gasoline both inside and outside of the vehicle.
Vehicle fire due to faulty fuel injector, consumer did not received notice of recall on faulty unit, however vehicle was included in the recall.
I experienced a fire caused by the leakage of a fuel injector on the right side of the engine in my car. I have contacted nissan and have received very poor to put it mildly response from them. They have used a clause in the warranty book requiring me to maintain maintenance records for the life of my car.
While changing gears the engine took off at 40 to 45mph without application of accelerator. Dlr has not seen vehicle
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 11,366 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 31% most complained about).
On average one model year of the 300ZX has 20 complaints (15 years in the data). This year has 9, below average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1989 Nissan 300ZX?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, engine, equipment. Total complaints: 9. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (22%), fuel system, fuel smell (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 Nissan 300ZX?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1989 Nissan 300ZX from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1989 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.