Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 51 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1987 Mazda RX-7, most frequently naming the fuel system, engine and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 5 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 |
| May 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| Jun 1995 | 1 | 3 |
| Jul 1995 | 2 | 5 |
| Sep 1996 | 2 | 7 |
| Apr 1997 | 1 | 8 |
| Sep 1997 | 1 | 9 |
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 10 |
| Sep 1998 | 1 | 11 |
| Nov 1998 | 1 | 12 |
| Dec 1998 | 1 | 13 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 14 |
| Jan 2000 | 1 | 15 |
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 16 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 17 |
| Jan 2001 | 2 | 19 |
| Mar 2001 | 2 | 21 |
| Aug 2001 | 1 | 22 |
| Mar 2002 | 9 | 31 |
| Apr 2002 | 2 | 33 |
| Nov 2002 | 1 | 34 |
| Feb 2003 | 1 | 35 |
| Jun 2003 | 2 | 37 |
| Feb 2004 | 2 | 39 |
| Apr 2005 | 1 | 40 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 41 |
| Oct 2005 | 1 | 42 |
| Apr 2006 | 1 | 43 |
| May 2006 | 1 | 44 |
| Jan 2009 | 1 | 45 |
| Apr 2009 | 1 | 46 |
| Jul 2009 | 1 | 47 |
| Oct 2009 | 2 | 49 |
| Nov 2012 | 1 | 50 |
| Sep 2017 | 1 | 51 |
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
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IT OUT BEEN SITTING EVER SINCE
ON 11/07/2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:15 A.M. WHILE LEAVING WORK I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM BEHIND THE RADIO. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND REALIZED THERE WAS FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT OUT QUICKLY BEFORE IT SPREAD. THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS SOMEWHAT SUBSTANTIAL UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED, AND EXPLAINED THAT IT'S A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. I DID A LITTLE MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE ISSUE IS THE PULSATION DAMPENER THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL RAIL MOUNTED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSING IT TO FAIL AND COM-BUST. *TR
WHY SHOULD I DIE FOR MAZDA MESSED UP PULSATION DAMPERS THAT LEAK AND CAUSES FIRES AND KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE. RECALL THIS '!@#$% SO I CAN DRIVE THIS SOME GOD '!@#$% PIECE OF MIND. *TR
FIRST OFF I THOUGHT YOU GUYS CARED ABOUT THE CARS WE DROVE, THEN HOW COME YOU ALLOW THIS TO GO ON WITHOUT A RECALL IT AMAZES ME HOW STUPID YOU GUYS HAVE TO BE TO LET THIS ONE JUST SLID ON BY. MY DAMPER IS LEAKING FUEL RIGHT AS I TYPE THIS TO YOU. IF I DRIVE MY CAR IT MAY CATCH FIRE AND KILL INNOCENT VICTIMS. PLEASE MAKE THIS PROBLEM A SAFETY RECALL FOR DEALERSHIPS TO FIX AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. THIS FAILURE IS EXTREMELY COMMON ON 86-88 MAZDA RX7'S, AND MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT IT. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY FOR KEEPING MY VEHICLE SAFE IF IT IS THEIR PROBLEM. SO MANY VICTIMS, SHOULD I BE THE NEXT ONE? PLEASE MAKE THIS A MANDITORY RECALL SO I CAN MAKE MY CAR ROADWORTHY ONCE MORE. I AM AFFRAID THAT MY CAR WILL CATCH FIRE IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THE PULSATION DAMPER IS MOUNTED TO THE FUEL RAIL OF ALL RX7'S AND ALL RX7'S HAVE A RISK OF BURNING TO THE GROUND. I HAVE SEEN SO MANY CARS LIKE MINE IN THE LOCAL JUNK YARDS, BLOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT, FIRE DAMAGE EVERYWHERE. MAZDA EVEN MADE AN IMPROVEMENT ON THE REPLACEMENT PIECE SO THAT IT WILL NEVER LEAK AGAIN. I NEED THAT NEW DAMPER RIGHT NOW! *TR
I ROUTINELY STARTED THE CAR FOR A NICE SUNDAY DRIVE AND WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR THE CAR TO WARM UP I NOTICED FUEL LEAKING ON THE GROUND. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE CAR OFF AND DISCOVERED THAT FUEL HAD LEAKED ALL OVER THE TOP OF THE ENGINE AND WAS RUNNING DOWN THE SIDE AND ONTO THE EXHAUST. THE FUEL LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE FUEL PULSATION DAMPER LOCATED ON THE PRIMARY FUEL INJECTOR RAIL. I CAN BUY A REPLACEMENT PART WHICH WILL FIX THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, I HAVE HEARD MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PART FAILING ON A REGULAR BASIS SO IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE RISK OF A FIRE DUE TO A LEAKING POSITION DAMPER IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO REPLACE IT EVERY 2 YEARS. IF THIS HADN'T HAPPENED IN MY DRIVEWAY I MIGHT BE AN UNFORTUNATE VICTIM OF A CAR FIRE. *TR
I OWN A 1987 MAZDA RX-7 TURBO II WITH 44,500MILES ON IT, THE PULSATION DAMPER ON THE FUEL RAIL STARTED LEAKING AND LEFT A SMALL PUDDLE OF FUEL ON TOP OF THE ENGINE, AND ON THE FLOOR. I HAVE READ THAT THE PULSATION DAMPER OFTEN FAILS IN THESE CARS CAUSING FIRES. I WOULD LIKE MAZDA TO RECALL THIS PART AND ISSUE ME A NEW/UPDATED/SAFE PART. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE FAILED PULSATION DAMPER WITH A BANJO BOLT TO ELIMINATE ALL CHANCES OF A POSSIBLE FIRE/FUEL LEAK. BUT I THINK MAZDA USED A PULSATION DAMPER FOR A REASON, AND I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP MY RX-7 AS ORIGINAL AS POSSIBLE. *TR
I OWN AN 87 RX-7 N/A. THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE I FILLED UP AT THE GAS STATION AND DROVE OFF AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF I SMELLED FUEL. SO I PULLED OVER TO INSPECT I SHUT OFF THE MOTOR AND THE SMELL CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I QUICKLY OPENED THE HOOD AND TO MY SURPRISE THERE WAS A SMALL FLAME. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT OUT USING MY SHIRT. THE CULPRIT WAS THE FUEL PULSATION DAMPER THE SCREW HAD FALLEN OUT OF THE END OF IT AND INTO THE CAP LETTING THE ENGINE COOL I THEN PUT THE SCREW BACK INTO PLACE AND CONTINUED DRIVING. ONLY FOR THE SAME THING TO HAPPEN AGAIN MINUS THE FIRE. I SCREWED IT BACK IN AND TIGHTENED IT THE BEST I COULD AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. AT THIS POINT I WAS HOME SO I LOOKED AROUND THE GARAGE AND FOUND A FUEL RAIL FROM A 91 HONDA CIVIC AND I TOOK THE FUEL DAMPER OFF AND REMOVED THE SCREW CLEANED IT AND REPLACED THE O-RING ON IT. I THEN REPLACED THE ONE ON MY MAZDA WITH THE HONDA ONE ITS HELD FOR GOING ON 6 MONTHS NOW. NO MORE LEAKS. *TR
MY PULSATION DAMPNER ON MY 1987 MAZDA RX7 IS FAILING. IT IS A VERY WEAK PART AND EASILY SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE. THE PULSATION DAMPNER IN MY CAR HAS FAILED AND ALLOWED GAS TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE BAY AND ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST, THEREBY RESULTING IN A FIRE. IT WAS CAUGHT EARLY AND NOT SERIOUS, BUT I SMELLED BURNING GAS AND LUCKILY FOUND THE PROBLEM BEFORE IT IGNITED OTHER GAS. *NM
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
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HARD SHIFT, R-TYPE TRANSMISSION. *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.