Mazda RX7 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
97 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
135,201 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1979 to 1989 model years. Data snapshot: . 28 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 17 of 97 complaints (17.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 12.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 3.1% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 1.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 17 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 12 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 7 |
| Seat Belts | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 4 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 17; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 12; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 7; Seat Belts: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 4; Electrical System: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 10
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 69 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 17 |
| 1996 | 8 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 20 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
1995: 17; 1996: 8; 2000: 5; 2001: 8; 2002: 20; 2003: 5; 2004: 6; 2005: 6; 2006: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2009: 9; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10249119 · 2008-11-18 (November 18, 2008)
1984 MAZDA RX7 WITH ROTARY 13B ENGINE: FUEL SYSTEM PULSATION DAMPER FAILED CAUSING SIGNIFICANT FUEL LEAK ONTO ENGINE. PULSATION DAMPER REQUIRED REPLACEMENT TO CORRECT PROBLEM. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE IF DESIRED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10249119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10512468 · 2013-05-16 (May 16, 2013)
PULSATION DAMPER FAILURE LEAKING FUEL ALL OVER THE HOT EXHAUST THAT THE HEAT CAUGHT MY ENGINE ON FIRE! OVERHEATED AND DAMAGED INJECTOR CONNECTERS DUE TO FIRE BURNING THEM. INJECTORS THEM SELF : BURNT. TOTAL DAMAGE : NEAR $1058. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 155,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512468 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054499 · 2004-01-20 (January 20, 2004)
FAULTY OOULSATION DAMPNER.. CAUSED ENGINE FIRE.. APROXIMATE REPAIRE OVER 1000 AND THAT WITH USING USED WIRING HARNESS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 113,071 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054499 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 759063 · 2002-03-07 (March 7, 2002)
I AM AN EXPERT ON THE 2ND GENERATION 1986-1991 RX-7 VEHICLES (SEE HTTP://FC3S-PRO.COM). I FIND THESE PULSATION DAMPER FIRES TOO COMMON WITH SERIOUS/EXPENSIVE DAMAGE - TYPICALLY WILL BURN WIRING HARNESS ($1,200) AND ALL FUEL INJECTORS (4X$300) UNDER THE MANIFOLD. MAZDA AND ALL MAZDA DEALERS REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM. I WISH THERE WAS A MANDATORY RECALL ON THIS PART, AS THE POTENTIAL OF ENGINE FIRES IS WAY TOO DANGEROUS. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME. I AM ALSO VERY CLOSE WITH THE INTERNET COMMUNITY OF THESE OWNERS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 759063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10283678 · 2009-09-11 (September 11, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1982 MAZDA RX7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH SHE LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE. THE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL COULD CAUSE A CRASH. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS EXCLUDED FROM RECALL# 85V108000, STEERING; THEREFORE, SHE WAS INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75,742.
Owner-reported narrative. 75,742 miles reported. Look up ODI 10283678 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 960606 · 1995-02-27 (February 27, 1995)
SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY. CAUSE OF FAILURE IS STILL UNKNOWN. OWNER HAS (2) VEHICLE WITH SAME FAILURE. 2) ALSO HAVING STEERING FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960606 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 507655 · 1996-08-19 (August 19, 1996)
IGNITOR/COIL FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 507655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 718021 · 2000-01-29 (January 29, 2000)
THE ABS UNIT LEAKS. FROM WHAT I READ ON THE RX7 EMAIL LIST THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE RX7. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 718021 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1979 | 1 |
| 1980 | 1 |
| 1981 | 1 |
| 1982 | 1 |
| 1983 | 1 |
| 1984 | 0 |
| 1985 | 0 |
| 1986 | 1 |
| 1987 | 1 |
| 1988 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 |
1979: 1; 1980: 1; 1981: 1; 1982: 1; 1983: 1; 1984: 0; 1985: 0; 1986: 1; 1987: 1; 1988: 0; 1989: 1