1993 Mazda RX-7

High concern

Owners filed 82 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine › gasoline. It has been recalled 4 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline12
040
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System9
010
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings6
020
Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery5
020
Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan4
020
Electrical System › Alternator/Generator/Regulator4
010
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery3
020
Fuel System, Gasoline3
010
Engine and Engine Cooling3
000
Vehicle Speed Control2
000

4 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Latches/Locks/Linkages › Hood › Latch00E069000
Filed Nov 6, 200016 vehiclesMazda North American Operations

Defect. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: MAZDA SPEED RESINOUS HOODS, DESIGNED AND SOLD AS ACCESSORY PARTS FOR MODEL YEAR 1992-1995 RX7 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 1, 1997, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 19, 2000.

Risk. A HOOK ON A HOOD STRIKER FOR THE RESINOUS HOOD MAY SEPARATE FROM A BASE PLATE AT THE WELDED PORTION DUE TO INSUFFICIENT WELDING STRENGTH. THE HOOD MAY SUDDENLY OPEN DURING OPERATION, LOSING FRONT VISIBILITY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. MAZDA WILL NOTIFY THE RX7 VEHICLE CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO A MAZDA DEALER TO HAVE THE HOOD STRIKER REPLACED WITH A MODIFIED ONE.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings96V149000
Filed Aug 2, 199613,900 vehiclesMazda (north America),inc

Defect. OIL MIST CONTAINED IN THE ENGINE INTAKE AIR CAN COLLECT OVER TIME IN THE BRAKE VACUUM CHECK VALVE PREVENTING THE CHECK VALVE FROM OPENING AT THE SPECIFIED PRESSURE REDUCING POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKES.

Risk. BRAKE PERFORMANCE CAN BE DIMINISHED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE TWO VACUUM HOSES, INCLUDING THE CHECK VALVE, WITH MODIFIED HOSES.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings95V069000
Filed Mar 30, 199513,400 vehiclesMazda (north America),inc

Defect. RESIDUAL ENGINE HEAT CAN CAUSE PREMATURE DETERIORATION OF THE FUEL HOSE CAUSING THE HOSE TO LEAK. ALSO, REMOVING AND REINSTALLING THE DETERIORATED FUEL HOSES INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF A LEAK.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL CONTROL UNIT FOR THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN. THE FAN WILL THEN ACTIVATE AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF WHEN THE COOLANT EXCEEDS A SPECIFIED TEMPERATURE. THE FUEL HOSES WILL ALSO BE REPLACED WITH REVISED HOSES.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System94V094000
Filed May 11, 199412,316 vehiclesMazda (north America),inc

Defect. THE RADIATOR CAP PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE RELEASE PRESSURE IS SET TOO HIGH. THIS CAN CAUSE THE COOLANT TO REACH TEMPERATURES THAT EXCEED THE THERMAL DESIGN LIMITS OF SOME COMPONENTS OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, ENGINE COOLANT CAN LEAK COLLECT ON TOP OF THE ENGINE.

Risk. IF ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS ONTO THE HOT ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAN RESULT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND IF ANY VEHICLE EXHIBITS COOLANT LEAKAGE OR IF THE COOLANT LEVEL HAS DROPPED TO THE POINT WHERE THE COOLANT LOSS WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO TRIGGER THE COOLANT LEVEL WARNING SYSTEM, COMPONENTS POTENTIALLY SUBJECT TO DETERIORATION FROM OVERHEATING WOULD BE REPLACED. THESE PARTS INCLUDE THE WATER PUMP BEARING HOUSING, THE WATER LEVEL SENSOR AND RADIATOR UPPER HOSE, THE THERMOSTAT GASKET, AND ALL WATER HOSES LOCATED ABOVE THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, ALL VEHICLES IN WHICH THOSE COMPONENTS ARE REPLACED WOULD ALSO HAVE THE COOLING SYSTEM AND OTHER SYSTEMS THAT CARRY FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS CHECKED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT ENGINE OVERHEATING HAD NOT CAUSED ANY PROBLEMS IN THOSE SYSTEMS. ANY IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS WILL BE REPAIRED. THE RADIATOR CAP, FILLER CAP, AND FILLER CAP BODY OF ALL RECALLED VEHICLES WILL BE REPLACED BY NEWLY DESIGNED PARTS.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed May 24, 201651,976 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA RX-7. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC; HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC REFUSED TO DIAGNOSIS IT AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO GO TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,976.

EngineFire
Filed May 22, 201288,813 milesNJ

DROVE ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. PULLED OFF AN EXIT, OPENED HOOD AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAR IS SITTING AT A GARAGE WAITING TO BE REPAIRED. THIS IS THE THE 3RD ENGINE IN THE CAR, ALL RESULTING FROM OVERHEATING OR FIRE. 6/2001- ANTIFREEZE FIRE- ISSUED A USED ENGINE 5/2005- ANTIFREEZE FIRE- BOUGHT A USED ENGINE 3/2006-ANTIFREEZE AND OIL LEAK- REPLACE ALL ASSOCIATED HOSES/O-RINGS 2/2012- ENGINE FIRE- WAITING FOR REPAIRS. *TT

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Apr 20, 200750,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA RX7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACTWAS UNSURE AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE, BUT STATED THAT HE SMELLED GAS FUMES BEFORE THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.*AK

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v BatteryFire
Filed Feb 9, 2006106,000 milesUT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND LEFT IDLING, UPON RETURNING THERE WAS FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA AROUND THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WIRING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A REPORT. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT'S HOME.

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v BatteryFire
Filed Feb 9, 200636,500 milesUT

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE GOING UP HILL. LATER, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER LIFTING THE HOOD FLAMES CAME OUT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AFTERWARDS TO ENSURE IT WAS CONTAINED. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA AROUND THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WIRING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING REPAIRS.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Dec 3, 200310,800 milesNJ

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NHTSA#94-V-094-000 ON MAY 1997 ON THE RADIATOR CAP PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE. THE RELEASE PRESSURE WAS SET TOO HIGH WHICH COULD CAUSE THE COOLANT TO REACH TEMPERATURES THAT EXCEED THERMAL DESIGN LIMITS OF SOME COMPONENTS OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM. SHOULD THIS OCCUR THE ENGINE COOLANT COULD LEAK DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS RECALL FAILED. *NLM THE RECALL WAS PARTIALLY COMPLETED. BOTH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE COOLING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE WATER PUMP WHICH WAS NOT DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE LOST THE WATER PUMP ON THE ROAD. *SCC *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Other Fuel Types › Turbo/Supercharger
Filed May 17, 200331,000 milesHI

OIL LINE TO TURBO'S COLLAPSED CAUSING THE INNER COOLERS TO BE FLOODED WITH OIL. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE APEX SEAL COMING OFF IN THE ROTARY TUBE WHICH CAUSED THE COMPRESSION LEVELS TO DROP. THIS DAMAGE COSTS ME IN EXCESS $10000 AND HAPPENED AT 30000 MILES. AN INVESTIGATION IS CURRENTLY UNDER WAY. *JB

Fuel System, Other
Filed Dec 26, 2002135,000 milesFL

FUEL PUSTATION DAMPNER SPONTANEOUSLY FAILED AND BEGAN SPRAYING A 6" STREAM OF FUEL UNDER THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THANK GOD I NOTICED THE SMELL OR THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY NASTY ENGINE FIRE. THE FUEL LEAKS DOWN FROM THE FPD AND RUNS OFF ONTO THE TURBO ASSEMBLY. SCC ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS***770788

Fuel System, Gasoline › DeliveryFire
Filed Dec 5, 2002CA

I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING INTO THE CAR WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. I STOPPED THE CAR RIGHT AWAY AND OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE THE BACK OF THE ENGINE ON FIRE. I PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MAZDA ROTARY ENGINE SPECIALIST. I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE FIRE WAS A RESULT OF THE FAULTY FACTORY FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, WHICH ARE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM BY MAZDA MECHANICS. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THESE FIRES HAPPEN QUITE FREQUENTLY IN 1993-1996 RX-7'S AS WELL AS IN THE PRIOR BODY STYLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED FROM THIS INCIDENT, AND MY CAR NOW NEEDS OVER $3,000 WORTH OF REPAIRS, ALL DUE TO A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED. PLEASE HELP ME. DT

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Aug 13, 200289,000 milesCA

FUEL LEAKS HAVE DEVELOPED FROM THE PRIMARY INJECTORS AND FUEL LINES. *AK *NLM *DT

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Aug 8, 2002AR

3.8L ENGINE WOULD CONTINUALLY OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATIO INFORMATION.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Fan
Filed Apr 30, 2002AR

94 V 094 000/ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM : THIS RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER CONCERNING OTHER RECALLS FOUNDED ON THE WEB, THEY INFORMED THAT VEHICLE HAD TWO RECALLS THAT WERE ALREADY COMPLETED, AND RECALL CONCERNING COOLING SYSTEM DID NOT SHOW UP ON THIS VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection SystemFire
Filed Mar 18, 2002NV

PULSATION DAMPERS FAIL ON ALMOST ALL FI MAZDA RX-7S. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › FanFire
Filed Jan 10, 2002CA

94 V 094 000/ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM: A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER. INFORMATION.*AK

TiresCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 2, 2001CA

VEHILCLE HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH. VEHICLE SPUN 3 TO 4 TIMES CAUSING FRONT AND SIDE DAMAGE. (TIRESIZE: P225/50R16)

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 19, 2001MD

THE ENGINE HAD AND OVERHEATING PROBLEM WHICH LEAD TO EXCESSIVE HEAT DETERIORATING THE ENGINE SEALS, A NEW ENGINE WAS INSTALLED, THE NEW ENGINE DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK, THE CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank AssemblyFire
Filed Aug 15, 2000CA

THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK THAT LED TO A FIRE, MECHANIC SAID A SCREW CAME LOOSE, ALLOWING GAS TO LEAK ONTO MANIFOLD, WHICH A CAUSED FIRE. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › DeliveryFire
Filed May 25, 2000TX

FUEL LINE LEAKED DUE TO CRACKED LINE RESULTING IN FIRE. YH

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 21, 2000CA

WHEN CHANGING FROM 2ND TO 3RD, 3RD TO 4TH GEAR, ENGINE MAKING A LOUD NOISE (RPM GO UP), THE CAR IS JERKING. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Feb 1, 2000NC

VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE BEEN REPLACED EVERY 45,000 MILE OF WEARS. ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

20 of 82 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1993
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
19952200Routine
199418420Routine
1993 — this page824230High concern
19920100Routine
199122120Routine
199028220Routine

Compare every RX-7 year →

Reading this record

A high number of complaints describe fires or crashes.

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: Nov 6, 2000. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.