RoadVitals

1989 Mazda RX-7

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
30
Latest Jun 8, 2010
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Sep 16, 1996
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 30 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Mazda RX-7, most frequently naming the seat belts, engine and visibility categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 8 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Seat belts1959.4%
  • Engine515.6%
  • Visibility412.5%
  • Interior & seats26.3%
  • Brakes13.1%
  • Fuel system13.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

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.gov
96V173000

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

Sep 16, 1996
17,800 units potentially affected
The defect: THE RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT CAN WEAR SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WILL BECOME JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE COLLISION, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE INOPERATIVE SHOULDER BELTS. MAZDA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RAIL AND MOTOR FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.
MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INCView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE96027ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

MAZDA RX7 AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILURE

Opened Apr 16, 1996
Closed Sep 30, 1996

MALFUNCTION OF THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT SYSTEM

SEAT BELTSLed to recall 96V173000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 30
Seat belts
Filed Jun 8, 2010

I OWN A 1989 MAZDA RX 7. I RECENTLY SAW A RECALL ON THE FORD RECALL WEB SITE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 96V173000, FRONT WEBBING FOR RX'S MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 12/24/88 TO 05/31/91. I HAVE THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM ON MY SEATS. I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY RX WAS NOT IN THE GROUP FOR THE RECALL. THE DEALER DID THIS BY VIN # , [XXX] , AND STATED MY CAR DID NOT FALL IN THE RECALL. THE DEALER PROVIDED A PRINT OUT SHOWING MY RX WAS MANUFACTURED, 01/10/89. I FEEL THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITHIN THE RANGE OF THE RECALL, MY VEHICLE IS AN RX7, AND MANUFACTURED IN THE RANGE OF THE RECALL. I AM REQUESTING HELP IN RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 07/08/11.*JB

NHTSA ID
10335347
Incident
Jun 2, 2010
Engine
Filed Jan 9, 2008
Fire reported1 injury reported

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY DOING 63 MPH WHEN I SMELLED A FUNNY SMELL I PULLED OVER AND THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE PULSATION DAMPER FAILED CAUSING SERIOUS ENGINE DAMAGE AND ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE IF IT WASN'T FOR OTHER MOTORIST I WOULD NOT BE HERE MY ARM WAS SLIGHTLY BURNED BUT IT QUICKLY HEALED I HAVE NOT CURRENTLY HAD THE CAR REPAIRED IM SEEKING A BEST ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10214354
Incident
Jan 9, 2008
Seat belts
Filed Dec 22, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED PREVIOUSLY HAD RECALL 96V173000 REPAIR WORK PERFORMED ON THE SEAT BELTS: FRONT: WEBBING. HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED AND NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, AND THEY CLAIMED SINCE THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. *AK UPDATED 1/23/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID
10145939
Incident
Dec 1, 2005
Mileage
95,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 26, 2002

"HEADLIGHT HARNESS" MELTED AND KNOCKED OUT "HEADLIGHT SWITCH"...KNOWN PROBLEM AND COMMON, NOT RECOGNIZED BY MAZDA AS WORTHY OF BEING FIXED. TAKES OUT DRIVING LIGHTS, AND INTERIOR LIGHTS, WHICH IS VERY UNSAFE AT NIGHT IN DARK REGIONS. CONTACTED LOCAL MAZDA DEALER, WAS TOLD IT WAS NEVER RECALLED OR ANYTHING. NLM

NHTSA ID
759846
Incident
Aug 12, 2001
Visibility
Filed Jun 5, 2001

THIS IS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THE 1987-1991 RX-7 OWNERS. SPEED ADJUSTER FOR THE WINDSHIELD ONLY OPERATE AT THE TOP SPEED. RENDERING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE IN THE LIGHT SPRINKLE; HAVE TO KEEP TURNING IT ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. *AK

NHTSA ID
746449
Visibility
Filed Feb 10, 1999

WHILE IN USE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTION WHICH MAY CAUSE VISUAL DIFFICULTY, AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH. ALSO KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THIS WIPER SWITCH WHICH COST ABOUT $500 TO REPAIR. *AK

NHTSA ID
832700
Incident
Dec 12, 1998
Engine
Filed Dec 28, 1998
Fire reported1 injury reported

ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).

NHTSA ID
543149
Incident
Nov 28, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Dec 7, 1998

THE CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS. SINCE RECEIVING THE LETTER, NO PARTS HAS BEEN AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. RECALL NUMBER 96V173000. *AK

NHTSA ID
831857
Incident
Apr 8, 1998

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

00398

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

EXPERIENCING OIL LEAK AT REAR STATIONARY GEAR O-RING / ON - CAR REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *YC

01198

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

SUBJECT ON PASSIVE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SWITCH. *YC

97102302097

STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

PRE-PAINTING PREPARATIONS FOR FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS. *YC

008/97

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

USE OF A/C TRACER DYE. *TW

007/97T

AIR BAGS

PARTS REPLACEMENT AFTER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TW

001/97G

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY - DIAGNOSTIC AND CHARGING PROCEDURE. *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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Mazda RX-7 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1998000—
1997000—
1996000—
1995220—
1994184052.6
1993824167.3
1992011—
1991221147.1
1990282152.9
1989Viewing301146.6
1988240050.8
1987511058.2
1986111057.7
1985400—
1984500—
1983010—
1982210—
1981010—
1980010—
1979010—
1978000—
1973000—

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.