RoadVitals

1987 Mazda RX-7 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Sep 26, 2017
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
22%
of 51 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
8
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1987 Mazda RX-7 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Sep 26, 2017
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IT OUT BEEN SITTING EVER SINCE

NHTSA ID
11030072
Incident
Jun 15, 2014
Mileage
86,831 mi
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Nov 8, 2012
Fire reported

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

NHTSA ID
10483752
Incident
Nov 7, 2012
Mileage
178,983 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 11, 2006
Fire reported

DRIVING HOME FROM MY PARENTS HOUSE I NOTICED MY GAS LIGHT COME ON ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE I HAD JUST PUT GAS IN THE TANK. I PULLED OFF ONCE I HAD GOTTEN DOWN ON A SIDE STREET NEAR A GAS STATION TO HAVE A LOOK TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. IMMEDIATELY AS I GOT OUT I NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT THE HOOD. I RAN INTO THE GAS STATION GRABBED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND ANOTHER GUY RAN OUT WITH ME AND WHEN I POPPED THE HOOD THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAME. AFTER PUTTING IT OUT I HAD TO GET MY FRIEND TO HELP ME TOW IT BACK TO MY PARENTS WHERE IT STILL SITS TOTALED. AFTER A BIT OF INVESTIGATING I CAME TO THE DISCOVERY MY PULSATION DAMPERS ON MY 1987 RX7 HAD LEAKED GAS DIRECTLY ONTO THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD CATCHING THE ENTIRE COMPARTMENT ON FIRE. I ALSO INVESTIGATED OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THE RX7, ESPECIALLY YEARS 1986 TO 1988. WITH THIS I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A RECALL AND REIMBURSEMENT OF DAMAGES FOR THE VICTIMS OF PULSATION DAMPER FAILER RESULTING IN ENGINE FIRE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10155088
Incident
Feb 24, 2004
Mileage
121,338 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 13, 2003
Fire reported

*OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT* A FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *JG *JB

NHTSA ID
10006849
Incident
Nov 26, 2002
Engine
Filed Mar 15, 2002

MODERATE FUEL LEAK. REPLACED TO AVOID ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. CAR DOES NOT RUN LIKE IT DID BEFORE. NO POWER ABOVE 3500 RPM.*AK

NHTSA ID
759408
Incident
Mar 10, 2002
Engine
Filed Aug 23, 2001
Fire reported

I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MAZDA DEALER FOR A COOLANT LEAK. THEY SAID THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. WHILE THEY WERE TEST DRIVING THE CAR, THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS CLOSE TO THE SHOP, AND THEY PUT DOWN THE FIRE WITHOUT ANY INJURIES. THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS AT THE DEALERSHIP, AN OIL LINE IS VERY CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST PIPE IN THIS MODEL. THE EXHAUST PIPE IS AS HOT AS 800-900F WHEN THE VECHILE IS OPERATION. THERE IS ONE PLASTIC CONNECTION ON THE NEARBY OIL LINE. THE PLASTIC CONNECTION CRACKED OPEN THAT DAY, POSSIBLY BECAUSE OF AGE AND/OR TEMPRETURE CHANGE (IT WAS ABOUT 0F THAT DAY.). TE ENGINE OIL THEN CAME OUT AND CAUGHT ON FIRE BECAUSE OF THE NEARBY HOT EXHAUST PIPE. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, THE 87 RX7 TURBO IS THE FIRST OR SECOND MODEL YEAR OF THIS PATICULAR MODEL. IF THE FIRE WAS INDEED CAUSED BY OIL PIPE, MANY OTHER RX7'S WOULD HAVE THIS DANGER SOON. I AM REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF OTHER RX7 OWNERS. BY THE WAY, THIS CAR WAS ALWAYS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. THOUGH I AM THE 2ND OWNER, I KNOW THE FIRST OWNER QUITE WELL AND WE HAVE ALWAYS KEPT GOOD MAINTAINANCE OF IT.*AK

NHTSA ID
750995
Incident
Jan 4, 2001
Engine
Filed Mar 13, 2001

PULSATION DAMPENER FAILED AND FILLED THE VACUM LINE ASSEMBLY WITH FUEL.

NHTSA ID
742355
Engine
Filed Nov 15, 2000

COOLANT LEAK (INTERNAL). *AK

NHTSA ID
736340
Engine
Filed Sep 17, 1997
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE.

NHTSA ID
522182
Incident
Aug 28, 1997
Engine
Filed Jul 31, 1995
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE. *SKD

NHTSA ID
484720
Incident
May 25, 1995
Engine
Filed Jul 31, 1995
Fire reported

ENGINE FIRE. *DH

NHTSA ID
484561
Incident
May 25, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Fuel system32

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .