1988 Mazda RX-7 Owner Complaints

THE FUEL PULSATION DAMPER FAILED AND GASOLINE WAS LEAKING ONTO THE TOP OF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

10404864

Incident

May 25, 2011

Mileage

135,000 mi

1988 MAZDA RX7 GXL PULSATION DAMPENER ON THE INJECTOR RAIL HAS STARTED SPRAYING FUEL ONTO MY ENGINE DUE TO ITS AGE.. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE AND A MISTAKE BY MAZDA THAT THEY NEED TO FIX! I ALMOST LOST MY CAR TODAY HAD THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IT LET OUT ONTO THE ENGINE WERE TO OF GOTTEN DOWN TO THE EXHAUST AND IGNITED . ( CHANGED BAD FUEL FILTER ) THE NEW AMOUNT OF PRESSURE GETTING INTO THE LINE MAY OF CAUSED THIS.. BUT THE PART IS MADE OF RUBBER AND AGAIN IS KNOWN TO BREAK. THERE WAS NO FIRE BUT ADVISED TO NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR TILL THE ISSUE IS FIXED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10386941

Incident

Mar 9, 2011

Mileage

200,000 mi

MAZDA RX7 DEFECT 86-91. MAZDA IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ONGOING ISSUE BUT WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL. THE PULSATION DAMPER ON ALL MAZDA RX7'S FROM 1986-1991 IS PRONE TO FAILURE. THE DEVICE LITERALLY COMES APART ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK OUT. EVENTUALLY ENOUGH FUEL LEAKS OUT AND ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING A VEHICLE FIRE. I HAVE NOW BEEN INVOLVED WITH TWO OF THESE INCIDENCES. THE FIRST ONE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE ON MY 1986 RX7, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE TOTAL DEVASTATION. THE RESULT OF THE FIRE WAS ABOUT $1500.00 WORTH OF REPAIRS. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE FIRE WAS THE RESULT OF A FUEL LEAK FROM THE PULSATION DAMPER. I NOW OWN A 1988 RX7 CONVERTIBLE AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN I BEGAN TO SMELL FUEL INSIDE THE CAR REALLY STRONG, SO STRONG IN FACT THAT I THOUGHT THAT THE FUEL TANK MUST BE LEAKING. I IMMEDIATELY PARKED THE CAR AND STARTED TO GIVE IT THE ONCE OVER NEVER THINKING THAT WITH THE SMELL BEING SOO STRONG THAT IT COULD BE COMING FROM THE PULSATION DAMPER. I CHECKED THE GAS TANK AND EVERY HOSE ON IT, NOT A DROP OF FUEL, AS A LAST RESORT I FIGURED I BETTER CHECK THE PULSATION DAMPER AND SURE ENOUGH FUEL WAS POURING OUT OF IT. I THINK THAT IF MY CAR HAD NOT BEEN A CONVERTIBLE I WOULD HAVE NOT NOTICED IT UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE AND HAD ANOTHER FIRE. NOW EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO FIRE IT IS STILL GOING TO COST AROUND $500.00 TO REPAIR BECAUSE THE PART IS LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE FUEL INJECTION ASSEMBLY WHICH HAS TO BE COMPLETELY REMOVED IN ORDER TO ACCESS THE PULSATION DAMPER. I BELIEVE MAZDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR, THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS/DEADLY SITUATION AND WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10290517

Incident

Jul 23, 2004

Mileage

134,000 mi

THE FUEL PULSATION DAMPENER ON MY 1988 RX-7 FAILED, LEAKED FUEL AND MY ENGINE ALMOST BURNED DOWN IF I HAD NOT BEEN CARRYING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10275078

Incident

Sep 24, 2008

Mileage

89,749 mi

I PURCHASED A 1988 MAZDA RX-7 GXL A FEW WEEKS. TWO DAYS AGO I BEGIN TO SMELL GAS IN THE CABIN. UPON INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE BAY I HAVE FOUND THE PULSATION DAMPER ON THE FUEL RAIL IS LEAKING. I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART AND HAVE HAD CONCERN ABOUT HOW I'VE FOUND MORE ARTICLES ON THE CONSISTENT FAILURE OF THIS PART AND ITS POTENTIAL TO LEAD TO FIRE. THE COST OF THIS PART IS $137 AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY MAZDA HAS MADE THE PART I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS PART WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN WITHIN THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. I DON'T THINK THIS IS FAIR TO THE CONSUMER AS THIS HAS NEVER BEEN A MAINTENANCE REQUIRED PART AND SURELY MAZDA HAS NEVER ADVERTISED THIS PART AS SUCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10259868

Incident

Feb 22, 2009

(1) NO LEADING EVENTS (2)PULSATION DAMPER FAILED/BROKEN: LOW COMPRESSION IN THE FRONT ROTOR; LOW POWER OVER ALL; CONSTANT SMELL OF RAW/UNBURNT FUEL; INCREASED POWER LOSS AT 3650 R.P.M. LASTING UNTIL WELL AFTER 4500 R.P.M.(SECONDARY FUEL INJECTORS FIRING); 133 MILE TO 16.9 GALLONS OF FUEL (7.86 MILES TO A GALLON); PROBLEM IDENTIFIED BEFORE FIRE BROKE OUT; ZERO DAMAGE (EXCEPT LEAKING PULSATION DAMPER) (3) REPLACED PULSATION DAMPER WITH "BANJO BOLT"; PULSATION DAMPER REMOVED FROM SYSTEM. *JB

NHTSA ID

10206159

Incident

Sep 30, 2007

I RECENTLY NOTICED A FUEL SMELL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY 88 RX7. FOUND IT TO BE THE FUEL PULSATION DAMPENER, A COMMONLY FAILING COMPONENT IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, BEING A LITTLE PLASTIC CAP THAT HOLDS BACK THE FUEL FROM LEAKING DIRECTLY ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I KNOW OF NUMEROUS FIRES CAUSED BY THIS OFTEN RESULTING IN A FULL ENGINE VEHICLE BURN OUT. I HAVE REPLACED THE SYSTEM WITH STRAIGHT FUEL LINES WHICH, BAD FOR THE ENGINE IS THE PRICE I WILL PAY TO KEEP FROM HAVING A ENGINE FIRE. I ALSO NOW FEEL FORCED TO KEEP A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN THE CAR IN EASY REACH AT ALL TIMES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10155114

Incident

Mar 14, 2006

Mileage

92,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT VEHICLE WAS BURNING UNTIL ANOTHER PERSON CAUGHT UP WITH CONSUMER AND TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS FIRE UNDER VEHICLE. HE STOPPED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THEN, FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, WHO TOLD HIM THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MAZDAS RX7. *AK

NHTSA ID

10091987

Incident

Sep 13, 2004

I HAVE JUST HAD A FUEL PULSATION DAMPENER ON MY 1988 MAZDA RX-7. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE SAME FAILURE ON MY 1994 MAZDA RX-7. THE ENGINE BAY SMELLS OF FUEL AND I CAN SEE FUEL SPILLING OUT. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THIS IS VERY COMMON AND HAS CAUSED MANY ENGINE FIRES. I AM CURRENTLY VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFTEY AND MY 1988 RX-7 IS MY DAILY TRANSPORTATION. NOW I MUST FEAR ENGINE FIRE POSSIBILITY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10078660

Incident

Jun 21, 2004

Mileage

30 mi

THE PULSATION DAMPER ON MY MAZDA RX7 1988 GXL SCREW WORKED ITS WAY OUT AND I WAS GETTING FUEL SPILL ALL OVER MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HAD I NOT NOTICED THE FUEL SMELL AND FOUND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS THEN MY CAR MAY HAVE BURNED IT SELF UP IN AN UNDER THE HOOD FIRE. *LA

NHTSA ID

10047366

Incident

Sep 6, 2003

Mileage

188,000 mi

THE PULSATION DAMPER HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR A WHILE, BUT WAS NOT DETECTED UNTIL VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH

NHTSA ID

10006197

Incident

Jan 7, 2003

I WAS PROCEEDING TO THE PEP BOYS TO GET THE FUEL LEAK IN THE PULSATION DAMPENER FIXED WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. IT WAS PUT OUT WITHOUT THE CAR BURNING TO THE GROUND. DT

NHTSA ID

770631

Incident

Nov 25, 2002

THE PULSATION DAMPER RUBBER SEAL RUPTURED DUE TO BAD PLACEMENT AND DESIGN. THE VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING FUEL RIGHT OVER THE EXTREMELY HOT MANIFOLD AND SPARKED A SMALL ENGIN FIRE. IN THE PROCESS OF EXTINQUISHING THE FIRE, MY RIGHT HAD WAS BURNED. I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE QUICKLY ENOUGH SO THE DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL.*AK

NHTSA ID

766463

Incident

Aug 3, 2002

I HAVE NOW HAD TWO FIRES FROM FAILED PULSATION DAMPNERS. VERY POOR DESIGN.*AK

NHTSA ID

764212

Incident

Jun 1, 1997

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN HE SAW A FLARE, PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE PASSENGERS SIDE, IT LOOKED AS IF THE MUFFLER WAS ON FIRE, FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF SAID FROM LOOKING AT IT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MAY HAVE GOTTEN CLOGGED UP. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #1091565) *JG

NHTSA ID

563961

INTERSECTION COLLISION. THE MAZDA WAS HIT ON THE RIGHT FRONT QUARTER PANEL AND SPUN AROUND INTO A TREE. THE CAR THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. *AK

NHTSA ID

755323

Incident

Nov 23, 2001

ENGINE ACCELERATES TO APPROXIMATELY 3000 RPM'S WHEN INITIALLY STARTED WHETEHR HOT OR COLD. AFTER DRIVING, ENGINE DROPS TO APPROX. 1500 RPMS, BUT SURGES BETWEEN 1300 AND 1700 RPM.*AK

NHTSA ID

736451

Incident

Nov 12, 2000

THE PROBLEM I HAD, WITH THE FUEL PULSATION DAMPER, IS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS AND HAZARDOUS SITUATION. LOCATED ON TOP OF THE UPPER INTAKE, THERE IS A SCREW THAT WILL BACK ITSELF OUT THAT SEALS THE PULSATION DAMPER CLOSED. WHEN THIS SCREW BACKS OUT, A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL IS NOTICED IN THE ENGINE BAY AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. ON TURBOCHARGED CARS, THE PULSATION DAMPER IS LOCATED DIRECTLY OVER THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD...THIS IS NOT GOOD! ESPECIALLY FOR A DESIGN THAT SEEMS TO BACK ITSELF OUT OVER TIME. THE PART IS QUITE EXPENSIVE, I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT THE CAUSE OF USER ABUSE, BUT RATHER POOR DESIGN AND THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO SUFFER, ESPECIALLY FOR SUCH A FAULTY DESIGN WITH SUCH HAZARDOUS CONSEQUENCES. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND I'M SURE IF YOU CONTACTED MORE RX-7 OWNERS (2ND GEN, 86-88), YOU WOULD FINE NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM (ALTHOUGH MIGHT NOT KNOW WHERE THE 'FUEL LEAK' IS COMING FROM!). THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

NHTSA ID

722953

Incident

Aug 10, 1999

SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE RETRACTOR. SOMETIMES THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL LOCK AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT. DEALER IS AWARE OF SITUATION. THE SEAT BELTS HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID

832238

Incident

Nov 15, 1998

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE DEFROSTER, AS WELL AS WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, DEFROSTER HAS PROBLEMS BLOWING HOT AIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

831440

Incident

Nov 30, 1997

WHEN WARM THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF. IT FLOODS ITSELF WHEN TRYING TO RESTART. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, DEALER CANNOT REPAIR IT. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID

829862

Incident

Jul 1, 1995

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS CAUSED FIRE WHICH DAMAGED THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

537850

Incident

Jun 1, 1998

ENGINE FIRE.

NHTSA ID

513050

WHILE DRIVING THEN STOPPED AT LIGHT, ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A FUEL LEAK IN THE FUEL INJECTION RETURN HOSE. *AK

NHTSA ID

977446

Incident

Dec 16, 1995