1989 Nissan 300zx problems

Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list
Recalls list

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Common 1989 Nissan 300zx problems

Based on complaints from owners of the 1989 Nissan 300ZX, several common problems have been reported:

Faulty Alternator: The alternator in the 1989 Nissan 300ZX is a common issue. The alternator is responsible for charging the battery and powering the electrical system while the engine is running. If the alternator fails, it can lead to a drained battery and cause the car to start or run improperly.
Starter Motor Failure: Another prevalent problem is with the starter motor. The starter motor is crucial for starting the engine, and if it fails, the engine won't turn over, resulting in the car not starting. This issue can be frustrating, especially when it occurs unexpectedly.
Electrical Wiring Issues: Over time, the electrical wiring in the 1989 Nissan 300ZX can become brittle and damaged. This deterioration can lead to problems with various electrical components such as headlights, taillights, and interior lighting. Regular maintenance is essential to prevent these wiring issues.
Battery, Fuse Box, and Sensor Problems: Owners may also face challenges with the car's battery, fuse box, and various sensors. The battery can drain if left unused for extended periods, while the fuse box may corrode or get damaged. Sensor issues can result in poor performance and decreased fuel efficiency.

These common problems with the 1989 Nissan 300ZX highlight the importance of regular maintenance and prompt attention to any signs of trouble to ensure the smooth operation of the vehicle.

What problems does the 300ZX have?

Was the 300ZX a good car?

The 300ZX offered supercar-level performance at a significant discount to many of its rivals, although by the end of its production run, a strong yen had made it less of a bargain than it once was (via MotorTrend). Sales slumped, and the car was killed off in the U.S. in 1996, without an immediate successor.

How much is a 1989 Nissan 300ZX worth?

Coupe

1989 Nissan 300ZX	Specs	Price
Targa	Specs: 3.0L, Unleaded Petrol, 4 SPEED AUTOMATIC	Price: $5,060 - $7,480
Targa	Specs: 3.0L, Premium Unleaded Petrol, 5 SPEED MANUAL	Price: $7,150 - $10,010
Targa	Specs: 3.0L, Unleaded Petrol, 5 SPEED MANUAL	Price: $4,840 - $7,040

How safe is a 300ZX?

In the US, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 1991-1993 300ZX 3 out of 5 stars in front driver collision crash test ratings.

1989 Nissan 300zx car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Nissan 300zx problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Fuel system problems
Gasoline problems
Equipment problems
Power train problems
Engine problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1989 Nissan 300zx vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1989 Nissan 300zx complaints

The NHTSA has received 9 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1989 Nissan 300zx.

2021-12-27

EQUIPMENT PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2021-12-25
VIN: IN1HZ1455F
Components: EQUIPMENT
Summary: The contact owns a Pittsburgh automotive jack stand set, Model Number: 91760, Model Type: 3 Ton aluminum racing, Serial Number: 352351424. The contact stated that his 1989 Nissan 300ZX was lifted onto the jack stands and after sliding from under the vehicle grabbing the frame of the vehicle to lift up both the jack stands positioned on the front driver’s side and front passenger’s side suddenly failed to cause the vehicle to crash to the ground nearly landing on top to the contact. 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).

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2017-04-13

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2017-03-08
VIN: JN1HZ16SXKX
Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Summary: I AM THE OWNER OF A 1989 300ZX THAT I PURCHASED USED IN 2013. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 160,000 MILES ON IT. APPROXIMATELY 6 WEEKS AGO, I NOTICED A FUEL ODOR AND AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH DETERMINED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE IN 1996 FOR DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTORS. THAT RECALL IS ATTACHED, I ALSO HAVE COPIES OF THE TSBS (10 DOCUMENTS TOTAL). 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. I CONTACTED NISSAN AND THEY TELL ME THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF THE RECALL OR ANY REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER (DICK SMITH IN COLUMBIA SC) AND THEY TELL ME THE SAME. THEIR DIAGNOSIS IS THAT MY RACK AND PINION ARE LEAKING. I DO NOT DISAGREE WITH THEIR DIAGNOSIS, BUT I DOUBT IT IS LEAKING FUEL. BASED ON THEIR TSB, IT APPEARS THAT THE REPAIR WORK WAS NEVER PERFORMED ON THIS VEHICLE AND SINCE THE RECALL WAS ISSUED MORE THAN SEVEN YEARS AFTER THE BUILD DATE, THAT OWNER AND SUBSEQUENT OWNERS WERE LIKELY NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. I HAVE ASKED THEM TO PERFORM THE RECALL WORK PER THE TSB INSTRUCTIONS BUT SO FAR THEY HAVE REFUSED.

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2008-03-12

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2008-02-19
VIN: JN1HZ14S2KX
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Summary: TL*THE 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. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 95I006000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM). THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 202,262 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 202,000.

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2000-11-03

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Summary: VEHICLE WAS ON RECALL FOR PARTS OF THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR FREE OF CHARGE. CONSUMER WAS CHARGED A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

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2000-07-17

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2000-01-01
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Summary: CONSUMER WAS SMELLING GASOLINE. FUEL INJECTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER HAS BEEN SMELLING THIS ORDOR FOR TWO YEARS.*AK

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2000-06-28

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2000-05-23
Fire: 1
VIN: JN1HZ14S9KX
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Summary: 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. I HAVE NO REASON TO MAINTAIN 11 YEARS OF RECORDS OF OIL CHANGES, AND THIS FIRE WAS NOT CAUSED BY A WARRANTED PART BUT DUE TO A "SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN" BY NISSAN. THEY HAVE ADVISED THAT UNLESS THE CAR IS DRIVEABLE INTO THEIR DEALERSHIP THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO REPLACE, REPAIR OR CORRECT THEIR FAULTY PARTS. I CANNOT GET REPLACEMENT PARTS FROM THEIR DISTRIBUTORSHIPS TO EFFECT THIS REPAIR AS ALL OF THESE PARTS ARE HELD BY DEALERSHIPS FOR THIS "CAMPAIGN." I BELIEVE IT IS TIME FOR THE NHTSA TO REVIEW THIS MATTER. THERE ARE DOCUMENTED IN YOUR FILES FIRES AND EXPLOSIONS GENERATED THE SAME AS MINE. WHO HAS TO DIE BEFORE YOU BECOME INTERESTED? CHECK YOUR ODI NUMBERS 953919,947955, AND 908679 FOR VERIF. *AK

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2000-06-13

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2000-05-20
Fire: 1
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Summary: VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAULTY FUEL INJECTOR, CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVED NOTICE OF RECALL ON FAULTY UNIT, HOWEVER VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *MJS

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1999-09-09

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Summary: WHILE CHANGING GEARS THE ENGINE TOOK OFF AT 40 TO 45MPH WITHOUT APPLICATION OF ACCELERATOR. DLR HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE *AK

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1996-08-30

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 1995-06-01
VIN: JN1RZ24A2LX
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Summary: OWNER HAS CALLED NISSAN MANUFACTURER AND THEY FAILED TO IDENTIFY IF CAR INVOLVED IN RECALL FOR FUEL INJECTION. *AK

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1989 Nissan 300zx recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1989 Nissan 300zx.

1995-11-01

Manufacturer: NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
Summary: THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL REGULATION 573. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. THE CAMPAIGN WILL REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTORS AND RELATED HOSES OF AFFECTED VEHICLES WHICH COULD LEAK.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKS IN THE ENGINE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: NISSAN DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL INJECTORS AND RELATED HOSES ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Additional sources

More sources of information about 1989 Nissan 300zx problems:

Known problems with the 300zx | ZCar Forum

https://www.zcar.com/threads/known-problems-with-the-300zx.167939/

May 7, 2002 ... I have a 1990 300zx, and my bank account was killed because of the transmission change from 1989 to 1990. When my transmission went, I took ...

I'm heavily thinking about buying a '89 300zx as a project car and ...

https://www.reddit.com/r/Autos/comments/o9cnm5/im_heavily_thinking_about_buying_a_89_300zx_as_a/

Jun 28, 2021 ... For any owners out there or people who have worked on them what are the primary or common problems you run into with either how they run or ...

Problems with the 1984 Nissian 300ZX | ZCar Forum

https://www.zcar.com/threads/problems-with-the-1984-nissian-300zx.128991/

Aug 6, 1999 ... Problems with the 1984 Nissian 300ZX ... However this is not a common problem.Main ... engine, I am now getting that fixed free of charge by Nissan.

List of Common 240sx Problems;list them here! - Nissan Forum ...

https://forums.nicoclub.com/list-of-common-240sx-problems-list-them-here-t443911.html

Aug 16, 2009 ... I would like to help them out by having the list of common problems on the 240's so that they know what they might be going against if the car ...