RoadVitals

1993 Mazda RX-7 Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
17
Latest Apr 20, 2007
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
21%
of 82 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
8
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1993 Mazda RX-7 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
Electrical
Filed Sep 21, 1999
Fire reported

AT STOP LIGHT NOTICED BROWNISH/GRAY SMOKE COMING THROUGH VENTS & FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED TO SIDE & LIFTED HOOD. NOTICED FLAMES IN AREA OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD (ENGINE). FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK REPORTED TO MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GAS SINCE JAN. 19, 1995, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO INDICATE SOURCE OR FIND ANY PROBLEM PRIOR TO FIRE. *MJS

NHTSA ID
844477
Incident
Jan 31, 1999
Electrical
Filed Jun 15, 1999
Crash reported

I HOPE I HAVE CONTACTED THE CORRECT WEBSITE ADDRESS. IF NOT PLEASE FORGIVE ME. I HAVE THE OCCASION TO DRIVE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF VEHICLES MADE BY MANY MANUFACTURERS, AND FEEL I HAVE FOUND A MAJOR SAFETY SHORTCOMING. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, I HAVE HAD THE NEED TO SOUND THE HORN. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE HORN BUTTON IS IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION ON EACH CAR. IT IS OFTEN HARD TO FIND AS WELL WHICH CAN BE A PROBLEM WHEN YOU HAVE TO REACT SWIFTLY. I BELIEVE THE NTSA SHOULD STANDARDIZE THE HORN LOCATION AND DESIGN, AND REQUIRE MANUFACTURER'S OF AUTOMOBILES TO COMPLY. THE HORN BUTTON SHOULD BE LARGE ( LIKE A FORD TAURUS NOT LIKE A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE), EASY TO FIND AND IN THE SAME LOCATION ON ALL VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THIS SAFETY FEATURE WOULD REDUCE ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLY SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. .......BRIAN SLOCUM, RT2 BOX163, MILLBROOK, NY 12545. *AK

NHTSA ID
707570
Incident
Jan 1, 1993
Heating & air conditioningElectricalSteering
Filed Jul 6, 1998

WHEN AIR CONDITONING IS USED VEHICLE STALLS. ALSO THERE IS A LOSS STEERING POWER. COMPUTER MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS. *AK

NHTSA ID
825031
Electrical
Filed Aug 11, 1997
Fire reported

DROVE VEHICLE ABOUT 3 MILES, ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. WENT BACK HOME AND CUT VEHICLE OFF, SAW SMOKE AND RAISED THE HOOD AND FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
815261
Incident
Jul 17, 1997
Electrical
Filed Feb 17, 1997

LEAKING BATTERY ACID CAUSES A SHORT IN A COOLING FAN MOTOR LOCATED DIRECTLY BELOW THE BATTERY CAUSES FIRES IN 1993 AND OLDER MODEL MAZDA RX-7S. THIS WILL NOT SHOW IN A FIRE INVESTIGATION, AS THE INSULATION WILL BE BURNED AWAY. THIS CAN EXPLAIN THE MULTIPLE FIRES IN PARKED, COOL VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID
546744
Electrical
Filed Dec 12, 1996

ALTERNATOR SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED THE CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE.

NHTSA ID
512430
Incident
Nov 4, 1993
Electrical
Filed Dec 11, 1996
Fire reported

ALTERNATOR SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.

NHTSA ID
512502
Incident
Nov 24, 1996
ElectricalInterior & seats
Filed Dec 5, 1996

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BROKE NEAR THE TRACKS AND ANCHORS.

NHTSA ID
512420
Electrical
Filed Dec 4, 1996

ALTERNATOR SHORTENED OUT, CAUSING FIRE.

NHTSA ID
512346
Incident
Nov 24, 1996
Electrical
Filed Dec 2, 1996

INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK

NHTSA ID
511710
Electrical
Filed Oct 24, 1996

THE VEHICLE STARTS BUCKING WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEEED/ANY RPM AND IN ANY GEAR, MOST NOTICEABLE AT 35-40 MPH, ABOUT 2500 RPMS. IN THE SHOP (9) TIMES FOR THIS CONDITION IN THE PAST (3) MONTHS.*AK

NHTSA ID
803990
Incident
Jul 28, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jun 23, 1996
Crash reported

FAILED ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT CAUSED SUDDEN ACCELERATION/ACCIDENT. *DH

NHTSA ID
505890
Incident
Jun 1, 1996
ElectricalEngineTires & wheels
Filed Feb 1, 1996

BATTERY REPLACED DUE TO BATTERY ACID LEAKING ONTO ENGINE. *SD

NHTSA ID
501286
Incident
Feb 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 22, 1995

BATTERY EXPLODED, CAUSING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, INCLUDING POWER DOOR LOCKS WHICH CAUSED DRIVER TO BE LOCKED INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *SKD

NHTSA ID
489640
Incident
Apr 21, 1995

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .