can cassette decks overheat?

My Nak CR-5A gets warm even on an open top shelf, but I've also used it years ago as a portable live show recorder in a rack case with other electronics that would get rather toasty without ever having troubles. But, like anything else, you'll want to let it breathe if possible.

I have never heard of a cassette deck overheating but if it gets a lot of radiated heat from other equipment it might make the tape in the cassette suffer some damage due to the extreme conditions it is being exposed to.

I've never seen a deck with vents.  My Teac        V-1050 was worked hard for 20 years totally packed in a cabinet.. Never opened up the case. Good as new.
Throw your Sony's out, I did,  cheap breaking belts.

@audioguy85 cool, thanks! I really love having series of audio equipment. I am trying to get together a B&O turntable collection.

I’ve had my Aiwa AD f770 for going on 38 years now, and not once has it over heated. Short of a belt change, still going strong. Also own its little brother, the ad f660, no issues. These were some of the best cassette decks ever made! Had the king of the hill ad f990 Aiwa but sold it as I needed money at the time. It fetched $900! Back to question, I guess anything is possible, so cannot rule out an issue with over heating. However that is usually a concern with amps.

@oldhvymec thanks! 

Sure it can, now make sure it doesn't. A little air flow goes a long ways. pretty simple..

I been looking at a 1 7/8 and 3.5 pro format.. for recording and playback.

Wife likes cassette.. She has hundreds of those thing and loves to record and tinker..

Regards

i use it about every other day