1994 Mazda RX-7 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1994 Mazda RX-7, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine631.6%
- Fuel system421.1%
- Suspension315.8%
- Electrical210.5%
- Brakes15.3%
- Body & structure15.3%
- Interior & seats15.3%
- Airbags15.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES: THE COOLING FANS DO NOT COME ON AFTER THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE OVER HEATS UNLESS THE PARKING LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. IT GET TO HOT BEFORE THE FANS COME ON. *NM
THERE WAS COOLANT LEAK FROM VEHICLE ONTO ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 94V094000. DEALER HAS REPLACED WATER PUMP, RADIATOR HOSES AND GASKETS. *AK *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
MAZDA 1994 RX7 FD3S PULSATION DAMPENER FAILURE. CAUSED LOSS OF FUEL AND DAMAGE TO WIRE HARNESS. THE FUEL LEAKED ONTO AND INTO THE WIRE HARNESS AND CAUSED THE HARNESS TO BECOME SATURATED, DAMP AND BRITTLE. I ALSO HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE AND INSTALL NEW PULSATION DAMPENER, WIRE HARNESS, INTAKE GASKET AND A FEW OTHER PARTS DO TO THE PULSATION DAMPENER FAILURE. I ALSO HAD TO PAY FOR LABOR. TOTAL WAS AROUND $1600.00 USD. I AM NOT HAPPY AND I HEAR THIS DAMPER FAILS ALL THE TIME FOR MY LOCAL DEALER. *TR
I CAME EXTREMELY CLOSE TO AN ENGINE FIRE. MY ENGINE BAY WAS SOAKED WITH FUEL. NOW HALF THE ENGINE HAS TO BE TAKEN OUT IN ORDER TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I SHOULDNT HAVE TO FIX THIS. THE RX-7 HAS BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO COME UP WITH A SUITABLE FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. I DONT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. WHY IS THIS NOT ON THE FUEL SYSTEM RECALL FIX LIST. IT IS KNOW TO FAIL.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON FAILURE FOR THIS CAR. NOT ONLY IS IT AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR, BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THIS 'PULSATION DAMPER' FAILURE HAS LEAD TO MANY FIRES IN THIS CAR. I BELIEVE THE PROBLEM IS HAPPENING AGAIN AND I HOPE I DON'T HAVE TO PAY ANOTHER $500 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AGAIN. I THINK THAT BECAUSE IT IS SO DANGEROUS AND SO COMMON IN THIS CAR, MAZDA SHOULD ACCEPT SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITY. *AK
MANUFACTURER'S HEADQUARTERS HAD ADVISED CONSUMER THAT FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE COIL SPRING WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE FROM JAPAN UNTIL 2 WEEKS AFTER ORDERING IT. CONSUMER FELT THAT TOO MUCH TIME WAS SPENT ORDERING A PART.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER STATES: THE COOLING FANS DO NOT COME ON AFTER THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE OVER HEATS UNLESS THE PARKING LIGHTS ARE TURNED ON. IT GET TO HOT BEFORE THE FANS COME ON. *NM
I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, DRIVING UNDER VERY NORMAL CONDITIONS. I HAD THE FOLLOWING ACCESSORIES ON AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. HEATER, RADIO, REAR DEFROSTER, AND MAYBE THE HEADLIGHTS. I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WHEN SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED OVER TURNED OFF THE CAR AND SLOWLY OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THE MAIN FUSE BOX (CONNECTED TO THE BATTERY) ON FIRE. THERE WERE FLAMES ABOUT 4-5 INCHES HIGH. I WAS ABLE TO BLOW THE FIRE OUT. I THEN LET THE CAR REST FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES. AFTER THAT I STARTED THE CAR AND DROVE IT HOME. AFTER THE FIRE, ANY TIME ANY ELECTRICAL ACCESSORY IS TURNED ON (BLINKER, LIGHTS, HEATER, A/C, BRAKES) THE "CHARGE" AND "ABS" WARNING LIGHTS COME ON, AND SO DO THE WARNING LIGHTS BUILT INTO THE OIL PRESSURE, FUEL LEVEL, AND WATER TEMP GAUGES. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE ONE END OF THE FUSE BOX WITH THE 120 AMP FUSE AS WELL AS SOME SURROUNDING WIRES AND CONNECTORS, AND THE UNDERHOOD INSULATION WHICH WAS BURNED BY THE FLAMES.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
ABS BRAKES DONT WORK UNTIL CAR WARMS UP.IN ADDITION, IN ADDITION, VACUUM LINES AND CHECK VALVE WERE REPLACED A SPER RECALL (96V-149.000).
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
RECALL 00 E 069 000. STRICKER HAS SEPARATED CAUSING HOOD TO STAY OPEN. RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR AFTER MARKET PARTS ONLY.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
STRICKER THAT LATCHES TO HOOD LATCH BROKE OFF FROM HOOD ASSEMBLY. CONSUMER FELT THAT HOOD MAY FLY UP WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER HAS SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 00E069000; BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
WENT OVER A CLIFF, HIT SOME TREES AND THE DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .