1991 Mazda RX-7 Owner Complaints

My seatbelt motor and rail has a recall that the dealer confirmed it when I took it to them. My seatbelts get stuck sometimes causing safety concerns. The recall sent in 1996 from Mazda states the cable can wear sufficiently that the cable which retracts the buckle assembly will jam in the rail making it inoperative, if a collision the occupants will not be properly restrained.Recall states the dealer will extend warranty and replace shoulder belt rail and motor for the life of the vehicle. I took my car around October of 2021 they had the car and confirmed recall said they will call me when they get the parts, it’s September of 2022 and I haven’t gotten a call from them, when I call they tell me they don’t have them yet or say they know nothing regarding this car. Can someone help me to get this recall taken care of since I still own the car and have safety concerns with the seatbelts. Sometimes they get struck and don’t want to release properly.

NHTSA ID

11484323

Incident

Sep 13, 2022

The contact owns a 1991 Mazda RX-7. The contact stated that the front driver's and passenger's side automatic seat belts failed to retract when the doors are opened. The dealer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they had the parts to repair the front passenger's side seat belt but not the parts for the front driver's side seat belt. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 96V173000 (Seat Belts). The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

NHTSA ID

11439995

Incident

Nov 10, 2021

Mileage

106,000 mi

I AM HEAVILY CONCERNED WITH THE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES OF MY BELOVED MAZDA AND NEED YOUR HELP. MY SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ARE BROKEN (EMERGENCY), THE HORNS DO NOT WORK (EMERGENCY), MY REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER AND FLUIDS DO NOT WORK (VISIBILITY), MY BRAKE LIGHT IS ON(EMERGENCY), AND MY PULSATION DAMPER IS LEAKING FUEL (FIRE HAZARD). I HAVE READ MANY STORIES ABOUT RX7'S THAT WOULD CATCH ON FIRE DUE TO THE FUEL PULSATION DAMPERS LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE, EVENTUALLY IGNITING THEIR WHOLE CAR TO ASHES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10654098

Incident

Nov 11, 2014

PULSATION DAMPER FAILURE. LEAKED FUEL. CAUSED ENGINE FIRE. *JS

NHTSA ID

10579077

Incident

Feb 5, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MAZDA RX7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, ALL OF THE WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 144,000. . UPDATED 03/26/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE ENGINE STARTED MISFIRING WHILE DRIVING UP A HILL AT 30 MPH. A SMELL OF FUEL WAS ALSO PRESENT. WITHIN ONE MILE OF THE MISFIRING, THE GAS PEDAL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT EXPLODED IN FLAMES. THERE WAS NO SMOKE, JUST BURNING FUEL. HE OPENED THE HOOD AND FLAMES SHOT UP 20 FEET IN THE AIR. UPDATED 05/07/12

NHTSA ID

10451712

Incident

Mar 14, 2012

Mileage

144,000 mi

MAZDA'S RX-7 MODEL FC3S FROM MODEL YEAR 1986-1992'S FUEL PULSATION DAMPER HAS AN ISSUE THAT IT WILL LEAK, SINCE THE DEVICE SITS ON TOP OF THE ENGINE SO IF THE TIMING IS RIGHT, AN ENGINE FIRE WILL START. IT IS A VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE IN THE RX-7 COMMUNITY. IM SURPRISED NO ONE EVER FILED A COMPLAIN OVER THIS. 1986-1988'S FUEL PULSATION DAMPER IS VERY PRONE TO THIS DEFECT, THEY CHANGED THE DESIGN AND USE THEM ON LATER MODEL YEAR OF RX-7 FROM 1989-1992, BUT IT WILL STILL LEAK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10386960

Incident

Feb 25, 2011

Mileage

211,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 MAZDA RX7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INSTALLED WITH AN AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT THAT DID NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V173000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING) IN 1997. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE MAZDA CUSTOMER SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT HE WOULD CONSULT WITH THE CONTACT AT A LATER DATE. THE PURCHASE DATE AND NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,980 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,940.

NHTSA ID

10216631

Incident

Jan 30, 2008

Mileage

127,940 mi

ON SUNDAY EVENING 5/23/04 AT 10:00 PM I EXPERIENCED A TIRE FAILURE/TREAD SEPARATION ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE OF MY CAR WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON I-95 NORTH IN HARFORD COUNTY, MD. CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE WAS SUSTAINED BY THE CAR, BUT IT DID NOT ROLL, AND THERE WAS NO OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE TIRE WAS A PACEMARK RADIAL SR60, SIZE P205/60R15 90S, MADE IN BRAZIL BUT PURCHASED AT A SERVICE STATION IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND. THERE IS SOME REFERENCE ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS TIRE COMPANY IS A SUBSUDUARY OF KELLY SPRINGFIELD.*AK

NHTSA ID

10086368

Incident

May 23, 2004

Mileage

112,000 mi

FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE NOT RETRACTING. THIS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR FRONT PASSENGERS TO WEAR SEAT BELTS. RECALL 96V17000 WAS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM; HOWEVER, DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELTS BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053563

Incident

Dec 24, 2003

Mileage

88,000 mi

DUE TO DEFECTIVE FUEL RAIL, CONNECTED TO FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, LEAKS FUEL ONTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT, WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSE A FIRE. COMMON PROBLEM. DEALER NEEDED TO REPLACE FUEL RAIL. *AK THERE WAS EXCESSIVE FUEL SMELL AROUND THE VEHICLE WITH THE HOOD CLOSED. THE FUEL RAIL AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD ARE ON THE SAME SIDE. *YH

NHTSA ID

877752

Incident

Jan 9, 2001

AS I WAS DRIVING HOME ONE EVENING AT APPROXIMATELY 11:30PM IN MY 1991 MAZDA RX7, MY INTERIOR GAUGE LIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. I PULLED OVER TO CHECK THE OTHER LIGHTS ON THE OUTSIDE OF MY CAR. THE PARKING LIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS AND ALL SIDE MARKER LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. I CHECKED FOR A BLOWN FUSE AND THE FUSE WAS OK. I HAVE TALKED WITH MY "MAZDA" MECHANIC AND HE SAID THAT HE HAS COME ACROSS MANY RX7'S THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

725840

Incident

Jul 18, 2000

PAINT ON HOOD AND ROOF OF VEHICLE IS PEELING. HAVE HEARD FROM OTHER PEOPLE WITH SIMILAR PROBLEM. MY MAZDA DEALER'S BODY SHOP HAS SAID THEY HAVE PAINTED OTHER CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM DO TO IMPROPER ADHESI VE PROCEDURES USED AT FACTORY, WHEN PAINTING VEHILCE ORIGINALLY.

NHTSA ID

713723

Incident

Oct 1, 1995

ENGINE FAILED.

NHTSA ID

520446

Incident

Jul 1, 1997

PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

514190

Incident

Jul 1, 1996

SHOULDER BELT MECHANISM FAILED.

NHTSA ID

515267

SHOULDER BELT BUCKLE OPENED WHEN STRUCK FROM BEHIND.

NHTSA ID

512607

Incident

Sep 1, 1995

THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT IS STUCK IN THE FORWARD POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ID

803734

Incident

Feb 15, 1996

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER STRAP ON DRIVER'S SIDE INOPERATIVE, CABLE COMES OFF TRACK AND OUT OF MOLDING.

NHTSA ID

509646

Incident

Jun 1, 1995

FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT, AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED PE96-027.*AK

NHTSA ID

801722

Incident

Jun 11, 1996

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT PROPERLY.

NHTSA ID

509242

Incident

Aug 1, 1992

EXPERIENCED AUTOMATIC SHOULDER HARNESS MALFUNCTIONING WHEN BELT STOPS MIDWAY ON TRACK.*AK

NHTSA ID

801252

FRONT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK; BOTH SEAT BELTS BROKE; SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT/LOCKUP AS INTENDED. TT

NHTSA ID

969855

Incident

Jun 5, 1995