RoadVitals

1993 Mazda RX-7 Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
82
Latest May 24, 2016
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.
28
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Apr 22, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 82 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Mazda RX-7. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 82 · page 1 of 4

Airbags
Filed May 24, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA RX-7. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC; HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC REFUSED TO DIAGNOSIS IT AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO GO TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,976.

NHTSA ID
10870652
Incident
May 17, 2016
Mileage
51,976 mi
Engine
Filed May 22, 2012
Fire reported

DROVE ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE STARTED TO SMOKE. PULLED OFF AN EXIT, OPENED HOOD AND FLAMES WERE COMING OUT FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAR IS SITTING AT A GARAGE WAITING TO BE REPAIRED. THIS IS THE THE 3RD ENGINE IN THE CAR, ALL RESULTING FROM OVERHEATING OR FIRE. 6/2001- ANTIFREEZE FIRE- ISSUED A USED ENGINE 5/2005- ANTIFREEZE FIRE- BOUGHT A USED ENGINE 3/2006-ANTIFREEZE AND OIL LEAK- REPLACE ALL ASSOCIATED HOSES/O-RINGS 2/2012- ENGINE FIRE- WAITING FOR REPAIRS. *TT

NHTSA ID
10459235
Incident
Feb 2, 2012
Mileage
88,813 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 20, 2007
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA RX7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACTWAS UNSURE AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE, BUT STATED THAT HE SMELLED GAS FUMES BEFORE THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.*AK

NHTSA ID
10188435
Incident
Mar 31, 2007
Mileage
50,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 9, 2006
Fire reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE GOING UP HILL. LATER, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER LIFTING THE HOOD FLAMES CAME OUT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AFTERWARDS TO ENSURE IT WAS CONTAINED. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA AROUND THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WIRING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID
10149918
Incident
Feb 7, 2006
Mileage
36,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 9, 2006
Fire reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND LEFT IDLING, UPON RETURNING THERE WAS FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA AROUND THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WIRING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A REPORT. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT'S HOME.

NHTSA ID
10149916
Incident
Nov 21, 2005
Mileage
106,000 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 3, 2003

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NHTSA#94-V-094-000 ON MAY 1997 ON THE RADIATOR CAP PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE. THE RELEASE PRESSURE WAS SET TOO HIGH WHICH COULD CAUSE THE COOLANT TO REACH TEMPERATURES THAT EXCEED THERMAL DESIGN LIMITS OF SOME COMPONENTS OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM. SHOULD THIS OCCUR THE ENGINE COOLANT COULD LEAK DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS RECALL FAILED. *NLM THE RECALL WAS PARTIALLY COMPLETED. BOTH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE COOLING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE WATER PUMP WHICH WAS NOT DONE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE LOST THE WATER PUMP ON THE ROAD. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10040629
Incident
Sep 25, 2003
Mileage
10,800 mi
Engine
Filed May 17, 2003

OIL LINE TO TURBO'S COLLAPSED CAUSING THE INNER COOLERS TO BE FLOODED WITH OIL. THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE APEX SEAL COMING OFF IN THE ROTARY TUBE WHICH CAUSED THE COMPRESSION LEVELS TO DROP. THIS DAMAGE COSTS ME IN EXCESS $10000 AND HAPPENED AT 30000 MILES. AN INVESTIGATION IS CURRENTLY UNDER WAY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10018854
Incident
Apr 8, 2002
Mileage
31,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 26, 2002

FUEL PUSTATION DAMPNER SPONTANEOUSLY FAILED AND BEGAN SPRAYING A 6" STREAM OF FUEL UNDER THE UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD. THANK GOD I NOTICED THE SMELL OR THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A VERY NASTY ENGINE FIRE. THE FUEL LEAKS DOWN FROM THE FPD AND RUNS OFF ONTO THE TURBO ASSEMBLY. SCC ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS***770788

NHTSA ID
10006667
Incident
Dec 26, 2002
Mileage
135,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 5, 2002
Fire reported

I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING INTO THE CAR WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. I STOPPED THE CAR RIGHT AWAY AND OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE THE BACK OF THE ENGINE ON FIRE. I PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MAZDA ROTARY ENGINE SPECIALIST. I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE FIRE WAS A RESULT OF THE FAULTY FACTORY FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, WHICH ARE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM BY MAZDA MECHANICS. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THESE FIRES HAPPEN QUITE FREQUENTLY IN 1993-1996 RX-7'S AS WELL AS IN THE PRIOR BODY STYLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED FROM THIS INCIDENT, AND MY CAR NOW NEEDS OVER $3,000 WORTH OF REPAIRS, ALL DUE TO A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED. PLEASE HELP ME. DT

NHTSA ID
770498
Incident
Dec 5, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Aug 13, 2002

FUEL LEAKS HAVE DEVELOPED FROM THE PRIMARY INJECTORS AND FUEL LINES. *AK *NLM *DT

NHTSA ID
8016155
Mileage
89,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 8, 2002

3.8L ENGINE WOULD CONTINUALLY OVERHEAT WHILE DRIVING. DEALER CONTACTED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATIO INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8015805
Incident
Apr 29, 2002
Engine
Filed Apr 30, 2002

94 V 094 000/ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM : THIS RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED. CONTACTED MANUFACTURER CONCERNING OTHER RECALLS FOUNDED ON THE WEB, THEY INFORMED THAT VEHICLE HAD TWO RECALLS THAT WERE ALREADY COMPLETED, AND RECALL CONCERNING COOLING SYSTEM DID NOT SHOW UP ON THIS VEHICLE. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8008874
Incident
Apr 29, 2002
Fuel system
Filed Mar 18, 2002
Fire reported

PULSATION DAMPERS FAIL ON ALMOST ALL FI MAZDA RX-7S. *AK

NHTSA ID
759490
Incident
Sep 1, 2000
Engine
Filed Jan 10, 2002
Fire reported

94 V 094 000/ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM: A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER. INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8001927
Incident
Jan 3, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 2, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHILCLE HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH. VEHICLE SPUN 3 TO 4 TIMES CAUSING FRONT AND SIDE DAMAGE. (TIRESIZE: P225/50R16)

NHTSA ID
752828
Incident
Sep 26, 2001
EngineFuel system
Filed Mar 19, 2001

THE ENGINE HAD AND OVERHEATING PROBLEM WHICH LEAD TO EXCESSIVE HEAT DETERIORATING THE ENGINE SEALS, A NEW ENGINE WAS INSTALLED, THE NEW ENGINE DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK, THE CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

NHTSA ID
560419
Fuel system
Filed Aug 15, 2000
Fire reported

THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK THAT LED TO A FIRE, MECHANIC SAID A SCREW CAME LOOSE, ALLOWING GAS TO LEAK ONTO MANIFOLD, WHICH A CAUSED FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
867813
Incident
Aug 7, 2000
Fuel system
Filed May 25, 2000
Fire reported

FUEL LINE LEAKED DUE TO CRACKED LINE RESULTING IN FIRE. YH

NHTSA ID
552410
Transmission
Filed Apr 21, 2000

WHEN CHANGING FROM 2ND TO 3RD, 3RD TO 4TH GEAR, ENGINE MAKING A LOUD NOISE (RPM GO UP), THE CAR IS JERKING. *AK

NHTSA ID
721748
Incident
Apr 5, 2000
Engine
Filed Feb 1, 2000

VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE FAILURE. ENGINE BEEN REPLACED EVERY 45,000 MILE OF WEARS. ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
855956
Incident
Apr 10, 1996
EngineVisibility
Filed Dec 16, 1999

DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED COMPUTER CHIP CAUSED ENGINE TO STALL WHEN A/C UNIT IS OPERATING. MAZDA REFUSES TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. NLM

NHTSA ID
550086
Incident
Oct 22, 1992
Engine
Filed Nov 29, 1999

ON 11/16/99 I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH AND MY ENGINE CUT OUT. I DROVE THE CAR TO CLASSIC MOTOR CARS. THEY CONTACTED ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT MY CAR HAD LOST COMPRESSION AND THAT THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. I CONTACTED MAZDA CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO DETERMINE WHAT RECALLS HAD BEEN APPLIED TO MY CAR. THEY CONFIRMED THAT MAZDA RECALL #60504 AND #65609 HAD BEEN APPLIED. I ASKED ABOUT MAZDA RECALL #54407 AND [XXX] STATED THAT I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THAT RECALL BECAUSE ACCORDING TO THE COMPUTER, MY CAR DID NOT NEED THE RECALL. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION HE IDENTIFIED THE VIN #JM1FD33**P0200001 THROUGH JM1FD33**R0302076 SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THAT RECALL. SINCE MY VIN #[XXX] FALLS WITHIN THAT RANGE, I ASKED WHY MY CAR SHOULDN'T BE CONSIDERED TO HAVE THE RECALL. HE SAID HE DIDN'T KNOW. IT SEEMS THAT THERE IS A COMPUTER PROBLEM. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE. IN SPECIFIC, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS RECALL WORK PREVENTS THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FROM CATCHING FIRE. SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL, IN ERROR, I WOULD SUSPECT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED, THAT WERE NOT. THIS NEGLIGENCE IS A POTENTIAL THREAT TO ME, MY FAMILY AND MY PROPERTY. ALSO, I BELIEVE THAT SINCE MY CAR WASN'T IDENTIFIED TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK DONE, THAT THIS CONTRIBUTED TO THE DETERIORATION OF THE APEX SEALS IN MY ENGINE. ANY ENGINE SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 49,800 MILES. UPON CONTACTING MAZDA, THE DM HAS AGREED TO OFFER $1,000 TOWARDS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE, BUT THEY DO NOT FEEL THAT THIS IS A DEFECT. I FEEL THAT SINCE WE ARE NOT IDENTIFIED IN THEIR COMPUTER AS RECALL CANDIDATES, AND SINCE WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK DONE, AND SINCE WE DID NOT HAVE THE RECALL WORK DONE, THE APEX SEALS HAVE DETERIORATED AS A RESULT OF THE HEAT GENERATED INSIDE THE ENGINE THAT CAUSES FIRES IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITHOUT WARNING. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOUR AGENCY TO ASSIST ME BY CONFIRMING THIS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

NHTSA ID
715380
Incident
Nov 16, 1999
Airbags
Filed Nov 3, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported

WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. APPROX. $14,000 IN FRONTAL DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND APPROX. $4,000 FRONTAL DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
714304
Incident
Jun 17, 1995
EngineFuel system
Filed Oct 29, 1999
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT AND GAS LINE.

NHTSA ID
549441
Incident
Jan 8, 1996
Other / unspecified
Filed Oct 20, 1999

WHEELS CRACKED (NOT JUST COATING) ON SPOKES, CLOSE TO CENTER OF THE WHEEL. I BELIEVE THIS HAPPENS ON 93 WHEELS BEARING PFD IDENTIFYING MARK. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 225/50/R16 )

NHTSA ID
713605
Incident
Jan 6, 1999

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.

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