Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Mazda RX-7, most frequently naming the fuel system, body & structure and driver assistance categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 4 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Jun 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| Jan 1996 | 1 | 3 |
| Feb 1996 | 2 | 5 |
| Mar 2002 | 1 | 6 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 7 |
| Feb 2005 | 1 | 8 |
| Aug 2005 | 1 | 9 |
| Feb 2006 | 1 | 10 |
| May 2013 | 1 | 11 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govSERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
PULSATION DAMPER FAILURE LEAKING FUEL ALL OVER THE HOT EXHAUST THAT THE HEAT CAUGHT MY ENGINE ON FIRE! OVERHEATED AND DAMAGED INJECTOR CONNECTERS DUE TO FIRE BURNING THEM. INJECTORS THEM SELF : BURNT. TOTAL DAMAGE : NEAR $1058. *TR
FUEL INJECTION PULSATION DAMPENER BEGAN LEAKING. DUE TO IT BEING LOCATED OVER THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD WHICH IS RIGHT OVER THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHEN IT LEAKS FUEL RUNS DOWN THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLD AND ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS EXTREMELY HOT AND THIS PROBLEM LEADS TO MANY FIRES ON THE MAZDA RX7 WHICH CAN AND DO CAUSE DAMAGE THAT RUNS INTO THE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPAIR. I SMELLED FUEL WHEN GETTING OUT OF MY CAR AND WAS ABLE TO REPLACE THE FUEL RAIL BEFORE ANY ADDITIONAL DAMAGE OCCURRED. BECAUSE THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON WITH THESE CARS MAZDA SHOULD DO SOMETHING SUCH AS REPLACE THE EXISTING DAMPENER WITH ONE THAT WILL NOT LEAK OR AT LEAST REDESIGN THE DAMPENER SO THAT IT DRAINS ANY LEAKING FUEL THROUGH A TUBE OF SOME SORT TO THE GROUND INSTEAD OF ALLOWING IT TO LEAK ON A HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD. MANY AN RX7 HAS DIED A FIERY DEATH DUE TO THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. *JB
RECENTLY PURCHASED THE CAR WITH A REBUILT MOTOR, BUT SEVERAL OLD PARTS WERE NOT REPLACED. OCCASIONALLY GAS FUMES ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. LOOKING AT THE PLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PULSATION DAMPNER, ONCE IT LEAKS IT WILL DRIP UNBURNED FUEL DIRECTLY ONTO THE MOTOR, RESULTING IN AN ENGINE FIRE. I WILL ORDER A NEW FUEL PULSATION DAMPNER AND WILL BE READY TO REPLACE THAT ONE ONCE IT FAILS. *JB
THE CAR IS A DAILY DRIVER AND HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN BEYOND THE AVG DAILY ABUSE. ONE DAY I RETURN HOME AND IN THE DRIVEWAY THE CAR STALS AND I START IT AGAIN AND IT STALED AGAIN, UPON OPENING THE HOOD I"M GREETED WITH A BBQ SIZE FIRE ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I PUT IT OUT WITH WATER AND LET IT COOL, BEING A MECHANIC I REPLACED THE PULSATION DAMPNER WITH A BANJO BOLT TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK
FAULTY OOULSATION DAMPNER.. CAUSED ENGINE FIRE.. APROXIMATE REPAIRE OVER 1000 AND THAT WITH USING USED WIRING HARNESS.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
BOTH DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN AND BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES REGARDLESS OF WEATHER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE FUEL LINE.(PHONE EXT 516). TT
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
EXPERIENCING OIL LEAK AT REAR STATIONARY GEAR O-RING / ON - CAR REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *YC
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
USE OF A/C TRACER DYE. *TW
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY - DIAGNOSTIC AND CHARGING PROCEDURE. *TW
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
WIPER MOTOR INOPERATIVE - CIRCUIT BREAKER ACTIVATION. *TW
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.