Nissan 300ZX engine problems

ENGINE

THE CAR WOULD LOSE POWER WHEN YOU HIT THE GAS. WOULDN'T DIE BUT WOULD SPUTTER AND THEN THE BATTERY WOULD DIE

NHTSA complaint #11057631 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10972185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

IN DECEMBER 2008 I BOUGHT A WATER PUMP FOR MY 1990 NISSAN 300ZX FROM ADVANCE AUTO PARTS IN MAULDIN, SC. IT FAILED WITHIN FOUR WEEKS, CAUSING MY ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. I HANDED THE DEFECTIVE PUMP BACK TO THE STORE PERSONNEL. A WEEP HOLE IN THE SIDE OF THE PUMP WAS SPURTING OUT WATER, AND THE SPINNING PART WAS CHEWED UP. THE STORE PERSONNEL TOLD ME THE PUMP WAS VISIBLE DEFECTIVE. THE STORE GAVE ME A RECEIPT FOR A REPLACEMENT PUMP, WHICH I PICKED UP FROM AN ADVANCE AUTO STORE/PARTS WAREHOUSE IN SPARTANBURG, SC. WITHIN THREE WEEKS THAT PART FAILED, MY ENGINE OVERHEATED, AND WAS DESTROYED. INCREDIBLY, THE STORE AND THE REGIONAL MANAGER TOLD ME THEIR SYSTEM HAD LOST THE FIRST PUMP, WHICH THEY HAD SENT BACK TO A REGIONAL PARTS RETURN WAREHOUSE IN GEORGIA. THEY WANTED THE SECOND PUMP, BUT COULD NOT GIVE ME A NAME, POSITION, OR DEPARTMENT THAT WOULD ACTUALLY RECEIVE THE PUMP, OR A TRACKING NUMBER OR METHOD. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE PUMP FAILURES HAD NOT PUT ME IN A LIFE OR DEATH SITUATION ON A HIGHWAY MEDIAN, OR FAILED ME DURING A FREEZING RAINSTORM. UNFORTUNATELY, THE TWO FAILURES DESTROYED MY CAR ENGINE. I WAS SHOCKED THAT NO TECHNICAL INVESTIGATION HAD BEEN DONE OF THE FIRST PART, NO DOCUMENT HOLD HAD BEEN ISSUED, AND THEY SEEMED UNCONCERNED ABOUT THEIR INABILITY TO TRACK DEFECTIVE PARTS WHICH HAD BEEN RETURNED TO THEM. IN FACT THE STORE MANAGER, AND REGIONAL MANAGER, DID NOT SEEM TO TAKE SERIOUSLY THE FAILURE OF TWO PUMPS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WEEKS APART. I EXPECT A COMPANY TO STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCTS, AND TO TAKE THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC SERIOUSLY.

NHTSA complaint #10296632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

NISSAN 300ZX 1985 ENGINE WIRING AND COMPONENT WIRING INTERIOR. WIRING IS BRITTLE, BECOMES HOT. AND BREAKS VERY EASY.THE ENGINE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION RUNNING WISE , THE WIRING TO COMPONENTS BRITTLE BREAKS EASILY. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD. AND A SAFETY DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #10292169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CAR RUNS HOT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE REPLACED FAN CLUTCH, WATER PUMP,THERMOSTAT, CHANGED HOSES, GASKETS. STILL CAR GET HOT AFTER RUNNING ONLY FOR 20 MIN. RADIATOR EMPTIES BUT OVERFLOW IS FULL. NO LEAKS FROM UNDER CAR. IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BY NISSAN. ALSO SLIPS OUT OF 2ND GEAR WITHOUT WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #10267414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BOUGHT THE CAR 3 YEARS AGO AND HAVE SINCE REPLACED THE ENGINE & TRANSMISSION WITH APPROX 80,000 MILES ON IT. ENGINE JUST LOCKED DOWN FOR UNKNOWN REASONS WHILE DRIVING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. TRANMISSION WENT COMPLETLY OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. CAR WILL STILL SOMETIMES JUST CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE VEHILE AND IS A MONEY TRAP. SPENT APPROX. $9,000 IN 1 YEAR IN REPAIRS!

NHTSA complaint #10124067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

AT 63000 MILES VEH DEVELOPED UNEXPLAINED OIL LEAKS RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE. LESS THAN 15000 MILES LATER WHILE DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT ROAD, TRANSMISSION FAILED TO CHANGE FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10118767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CYLINDER HEAD BOLT BROKE. HEAD OF BOLT GOT CAUGHT BETWEEN CAMSHAFT AND CYLINDER HEAD WHICH CAUSED THE CAMSHAFT TO STOP ROTATING. THIS CAUSED THE CAMSHAFT SPROCKET TO SHEAR THE END OF THE CAMSHAFT OFF. MAJOR ENGINE DAMAGE RESULTED.

NHTSA complaint #764430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT INTO TWO NISSAN DEALERSHIPS FOUR OR MORE TIMES FOR THE SAME SAFETY DEFECT. IT HAS ALSO BEEN TO A "Z-DOCTOR" WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR IT.THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN SURGES WHEN WARMING UP. NOW WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE ACCELERATOR WILL OCCASIONALLY STICK AT THE WIDE OPEN POSITION, WHICH IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE TO IMMEDIATELY DISENGAGE THE ENGINE FROM THE POWER TRAIN OR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WILL RESULT. THE DEFROSTER/HEATER/A/C NOWS DOESN'T WORK (AFTER PICKING IT UP FROM THE DEALER). THE DEALER AND NISSAN OF NORTH AMERICA IS UNWILLING TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS, DESPITE IT BEING SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #762039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT CONSUMER COULD START THE ENGINE FOR A FEW MINUTES. THEN, IT WILL SHUT OFF. BUT, WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD ENGINE WILL START UP FINE.

NHTSA complaint #856214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO THE RED SIDE WHICH MEANS THAT CAR IS TOO HOT. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, AND DLR FIXED PROBLEM . CURRENTLY, CAR IS OVERHEATING AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #850350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOES TO THE RED SIDE WHICH MEANS THAT CAR IS TOO HOT. TOOK CAR TO DEALER, AND DLR FIXED PROBLEM . CURRENTLY, CAR IS OVERHEATING AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #850350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

TRANSMISSION--SHIFTS FRON 1ST TO 2ND SLOWLY, LEAKS. TIMING BELT REPLACED TWICE (3,894 MILES IN BETWEEN). BATTERY CAUSED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IN CAR. AIR CONDITIONING AND STEREO PROBLEMS. OWNER WANTS TO KNOW IF THESE PROBLEMS ARE COVERED IN A SECRET WARRANTY OR RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #541401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ALL FAILURES OCCURRED JUST AFTER THE FUEL INJECTION RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED IN LATE 1996. AFTER THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED PER THE SAFETY RECALL, THE CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO START IF THE WEATHER WAS HOT OR THE ENGINE WAS HOT FROM RUNNING. THE ENGINE FAILED A FEW MONTHS LATER IN FEB 1997. THE ORIGINAL FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM NEVER HAD FAILED AND I WAS EXPERIENCING NO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. I ONLY HAD THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED BECAUSE I WAS TOLD IT WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE CAR HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THEN. THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM IN 1985 (NEW) WORKED ON THE CAR FOR OVER 2 YEARS, REPLACING MANY OTHER PARTS THAT NISSAN CORPORATION CLAIMED WAS THE CAUSE OF THE STARTING PROBLEMS. NONE OF THESE CHANGES FIXED THE PROBLEM. IN EXTREMELY HOT WEATHER THE NEWLY REPLACED ENGINE (COST: $4,200) DIED ON THE FREEWAY, AT FREEWAY SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 60 MPH ON 3 OCCASIONS. AT THAT POINT, NISSAN REFUSED TO WORK ON THE CAR ANY MORE AND I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD PRESENTED. I HAD TO BUY A USED CAR FOR TRANSPORTATION TO WORK. NISSAN CORPORATION CONTINUES TO DENY THE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO THE FUEL INJECTION RECALL CAMPAIGN WORK AND WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE RECALL WORK.

NHTSA complaint #702388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

PLASTIC COOLIING FAN CRACKS AT HUB. DANGER THAT FAN BLADES MAY FLY OFF AND CAUSE DAMAGE OR INJURE SOMEONE.

NHTSA complaint #541672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

DEFECTIVE ENGINE VALVES. NISSAN PUT OUT A BULLETIN ON 08/07/93, STATING THAT SOME OF THE 300ZX MODELS HAD DEFECTIVE VALVES.

NHTSA complaint #533907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.