1991 Mazda RX-7

Routine

Owners filed 22 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the seat belts. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Seat Belts8
000
Fuel System, Gasoline3
020
Seat Belts › Front › Webbing2
000
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor2
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Tires › Tread/Belt1
000
Structure › Frame and Members1
000
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly1
000
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Fuel Rail1
000
Exterior Lighting1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Seat Belts › Front › Webbing96V173000
Filed Sep 16, 199617,800 vehiclesMazda (north America),inc

Defect. THE RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT CAN WEAR SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WILL BECOME JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE COLLISION, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE INOPERATIVE SHOULDER BELTS. MAZDA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RAIL AND MOTOR FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Seat Belts
Filed Sep 13, 2022NY

My seatbelt motor and rail has a recall that the dealer confirmed it when I took it to them. My seatbelts get stuck sometimes causing safety concerns. The recall sent in 1996 from Mazda states the cable can wear sufficiently that the cable which retracts the buckle assembly will jam in the rail making it inoperative, if a collision the occupants will not be properly restrained.Recall states the dealer will extend warranty and replace shoulder belt rail and motor for the life of the vehicle. I took my car around October of 2021 they had the car and confirmed recall said they will call me when they get the parts, it’s September of 2022 and I haven’t gotten a call from them, when I call they tell me they don’t have them yet or say they know nothing regarding this car. Can someone help me to get this recall taken care of since I still own the car and have safety concerns with the seatbelts. Sometimes they get struck and don’t want to release properly.

Seat Belts
Filed Nov 10, 2021106,000 milesNY

The contact owns a 1991 Mazda RX-7. The contact stated that the front driver's and passenger's side automatic seat belts failed to retract when the doors are opened. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they had the parts to repair the front passenger's side seat belt but not the parts for the front driver's side seat belt. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 96V173000 (Seat Belts). The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

Seat Belts
Filed Nov 11, 2014OR

I AM HEAVILY CONCERNED WITH THE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES OF MY BELOVED MAZDA AND NEED YOUR HELP. MY SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ARE BROKEN (EMERGENCY), THE HORNS DO NOT WORK (EMERGENCY), MY REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER AND FLUIDS DO NOT WORK (VISIBILITY), MY BRAKE LIGHT IS ON(EMERGENCY), AND MY PULSATION DAMPER IS LEAKING FUEL (FIRE HAZARD). I HAVE READ MANY STORIES ABOUT RX7'S THAT WOULD CATCH ON FIRE DUE TO THE FUEL PULSATION DAMPERS LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE, EVENTUALLY IGNITING THEIR WHOLE CAR TO ASHES. *TR

Fuel System, GasolineFire
Filed Apr 11, 2014150,000 milesMS

PULSATION DAMPER FAILURE. LEAKED FUEL. CAUSED ENGINE FIRE. *JS

Fuel System, GasolineFire
Filed Mar 14, 2012144,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MAZDA RX7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, ALL OF THE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 144,000. . UPDATED 03/26/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL AT 30 MPH. A SMELL OF FUEL WAS ALSO PRESENT. WITHIN ONE MILE OF THE MISFIRING, THE GAS PEDAL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT EXPLODED IN FLAMES. THERE WAS NO SMOKE, JUST BURNING FUEL. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND FLAMES SHOT UP 20 FEET IN THE AIR. UPDATED 05/07/12

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Mar 9, 2011211,000 milesNY

MAZDA'S RX-7 MODEL FC3S FROM MODEL YEAR 1986-1992'S FUEL PULSATION DAMPER HAS AN ISSUE THAT IT WILL LEAK, SINCE THE DEVICE SITS ON TOP OF THE ENGINE SO IF THE TIMING IS RIGHT, AN ENGINE FIRE WILL START. IT IS A VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE IN THE RX-7 COMMUNITY. IM SURPRISED NO ONE EVER FILED A COMPLAIN OVER THIS. 1986-1988'S FUEL PULSATION DAMPER IS VERY PRONE TO THIS DEFECT, THEY CHANGED THE DESIGN AND USE THEM ON LATER MODEL YEAR OF RX-7 FROM 1989-1992, BUT IT WILL STILL LEAK. *TR

Seat Belts › Front › Webbing
Filed Jan 31, 2008127,940 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MAZDA RX7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INSTALLED WITH AN AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT THAT DID NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V173000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING) IN 1997. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT HE WOULD CONSULT WITH THE CONTACT AT A LATER DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,980 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,940.

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Aug 7, 2004112,000 milesMD

ON SUNDAY EVENING 5/23/04 AT 10:00 PM I EXPERIENCED A TIRE FAILURE/TREAD SEPARATION ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE OF MY CAR WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON I-95 NORTH IN HARFORD COUNTY, MD. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED BY THE CAR, BUT IT DID NOT ROLL, AND THERE WAS NO OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE TIRE WAS A PACEMARK RADIAL SR60, SIZE P205/60R15 90S, MADE IN BRAZIL BUT PURCHASED AT A SERVICE STATION IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND. THERE IS SOME REFERENCE ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS TIRE COMPANY IS A SUBSUDUARY OF KELLY SPRINGFIELD.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Jan 7, 200488,000 milesMD

FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE NOT RETRACTING. THIS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR FRONT PASSENGERS TO WEAR SEAT BELTS. RECALL 96V17000 WAS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM; HOWEVER, DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELTS BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Fuel Rail
Filed Jan 9, 2001CA

DUE TO DEFECTIVE FUEL RAIL, CONNECTED TO FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, LEAKS FUEL ONTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSE A FIRE. COMMON PROBLEM. DEALER NEEDED TO REPLACE FUEL RAIL. *AK THERE WAS EXCESSIVE FUEL SMELL AROUND THE VEHICLE WITH THE HOOD CLOSED. THE FUEL RAIL AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD ARE ON THE SAME SIDE. *YH

Exterior Lighting
Filed Jul 23, 2000CA

AS I WAS DRIVING HOME ONE EVENING AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30PM IN MY 1991 MAZDA RX7, MY INTERIOR GAUGE LIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE OTHER LIGHTS ON THE OUTSIDE OF MY CAR. THE PARKING LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND ALL SIDE MARKER LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I CHECKED FOR A BLOWN FUSE AND THE FUSE WAS OK. I HAVE TALKED WITH MY "MAZDA" MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT HE HAS COME ACROSS MANY RX7'S THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 23, 1999NJ

PAINT ON HOOD AND ROOF OF VEHICLE IS PEELING. HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM. MY MAZDA DEALER'S BODY SHOP HAS SAID THEY HAVE PAINTED OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM DO TO IMPROPER ADHESI VE PROCEDURES USED AT FACTORY, WHEN PAINTING VEHILCE ORIGINALLY.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Jul 30, 1997MD

ENGINE FAILED.

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Apr 16, 1997TX

PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE VEHICLE. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Webbing
Filed Mar 4, 1997MD

SHOULDER BELT MECHANISM FAILED.

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Dec 16, 1996GA

SHOULDER BELT BUCKLE OPENED WHEN STRUCK FROM BEHIND.

Seat Belts
Filed Oct 18, 1996FL

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT IS STUCK IN THE FORWARD POSITION. *AK

Seat Belts
Filed Oct 9, 1996AL

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER STRAP ON DRIVER'S SIDE INOPERATIVE, CABLE COMES OFF TRACK AND OUT OF MOLDING.

Seat Belts
Filed Oct 1, 1996TX

FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT, AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED PE96-027.*AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Sep 30, 1996PA

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT PROPERLY.

20 of 22 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1993
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
19952200Routine
199418420Routine
1993824230High concern
19920100Routine
1991 — this page22120Routine
199028220Routine

Compare every RX-7 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Sep 16, 1996. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.