RoadVitals

1990 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.
28
Latest Jul 21, 2015
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.
2
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

Overview

Our database contains 28 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Mazda RX-7, most frequently naming the seat belts, engine and fuel system categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 9 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 belts1860.0%
  • Engine413.3%
  • Fuel system26.7%
  • Brakes26.7%
  • Visibility13.3%
  • Electrical13.3%
  • Other / unspecified13.3%
  • Tires & wheels13.3%

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

2 campaigns 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
90E043002

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Oct 29, 1990
88 units potentially affected
The defect: THREADED INFLATOR COMPONENTS MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY WHICH MAY ALLOW COMPONENTS TO SEPARATE WHEN INFLATOR RECEIVES A SIGNAL TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG.
The risk: INFLATOR COMPONENT SEPARATION ALLOWS HOT COMBUSTION GASES TO ESCAPE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
The remedy: REPLACE AIR BAG MODULES CONTAINING POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE INFLATORS.
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 28
Seat belts
Filed Jul 21, 2015

THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR MY CAR FOR THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON 02-17-1997, CAMPAIGN # 68702. MINE WAS ORIGINALLY REPAIRED ON 05-23-2006. IT HAS SINCE FAILED AGAIN AND MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER, # 23963, RAN A REPORT SHOWING THAT THE STATUS WAS CLOSED BECAUSE IT WAS FIXED ONCE. AS A SAFETY ISSUE, I THOUGHT THAT THIS RECALL COVERED THE PROBLEM FOR THE CAR'S LIFETIME, AT LEAST FOR THE ORIGINAL OWNER WHICH I AM. I WOULD LIKE YOUR HELP RESOLVING THIS ISSUE AS THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THE ONE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED, IS NOT WORKING AGAIN. THANKS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB

NHTSA ID
10735427
Incident
Jul 21, 2015
Mileage
151,426 mi
Seat belts
Filed Feb 12, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 MAZDA RX7. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RETRACTORS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE MALFUNCTIONS OCCURRED FROM EXCESSIVE WEAR AND PREVENTS THE WEBBING FROM BEING EXTRACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V173000 (SEAT BELTS,FRONT;WEBBING), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000.

NHTSA ID
10258464
Incident
Jun 30, 2008
Mileage
81,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Feb 5, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 MAZDA RX7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE SHOULDER BELT WAS INOPERATIVE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V173000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT,WEBBING), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 3/16/09 *CN UPDATED 03/19/09. *JB

NHTSA ID
10257608
Incident
Jun 30, 2008
Mileage
81,000 mi
Fuel systemOther / unspecified
Filed Oct 3, 2005
Fire reported

UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE PULSATION DAMENER ON THE PRIMARY FUEL RAIL FAILED, SPRAYING FUEL OVER THE ENTIRE ENGINE BAY, WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE OF THE COMPARTMENT, WHICH WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED VIA HANDHELD FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE PART WAS REPLACED, AT A HIGH COST, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE FUEL RAIL MUST BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *NM

NHTSA ID
10138372
Incident
Jul 17, 2005
Mileage
153,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jan 12, 2004

DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RECALL 96V173000. THE DEFECT ALREADY OCCURRED, BUT THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT IT WAS NOT THE SAME FAILURE AS STATED IN THE RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10053782
Mileage
30,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 11, 2002

PUSATION DAMPNER ON PRIMARY FUEL DELIVERY RAIL DIAPHRAM FAILURE. GASOLINE LEAKAGE IN LARGE QUANTITIES RIGHT ABOVE HOT ENGINE. VERY SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD.. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON RX-7'S IN GENERAL. PERHAPS MAZDA SHOULD HAVE PLAED THE PD AWAY FROM THE ENGINE. EXCESSIVE HEAT MAY HAVE HARDENED DIAPHRAM TO POINT OF BREAKAGE. FUALTY DESIGN. *AK

NHTSA ID
764067
Incident
Jul 10, 2002
Seat belts
Filed Aug 15, 2001

THE PASSENGER SIDE BELT RETRACTOR IS JAMMED IN THE RAIL AND THE CABLE IS EXPOSED, THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO THEN STATED THAT THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE $100, CONSUMER THEN INFORMED THE DEALER THAT THIS IS A RECALL ITEM (96V173000) WITH A LIFETIME WARRANTY, CONSUMER STATES THE DEALERS ATTITUDE THEN CHANGE, THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO REMAIN AT THE DEALER THE ENTIRE DAY.*YH

NHTSA ID
562504
Brakes
Filed Nov 4, 2000

THE ABS HAS NOT FAILED, BUT IT LEAKS PROFUSLY. I NEED TO REPLACE ABOUT 1 OZ OF BRAKE FLUID PER WEEK. THE DEALER'S PRICE FOR A REPLACEMENT ABS UNIT (THEY WON'T REBUILD IT) IS A CRIME AT $2745!! IF THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM (AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS), THEY SHOULD BE MORE REASONABLE $!*AK

NHTSA ID
735719

Manufacturer communications

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

0900716

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

Speedometer replacement procedure

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

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
1990Viewing282152.9
1989301146.6
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.