1991 Mazda RX-7: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
127,940 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 13 complaints (38.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 7.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Back Up Lights | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 1 |
Seat Belts: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Electrical System: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Exterior Lighting:Back Up Lights: 1; Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 6 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 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
1995: 1; 1996: 1; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2004: 2; 2008: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10053563 · 2004-01-07 (January 7, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053563 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086368 · 2004-08-07 (August 7, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 112,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086368 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10216631 · 2008-01-31 (January 31, 2008)
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 CYL…
Owner-reported narrative. 127,940 miles reported. Look up ODI 10216631 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10386960 · 2011-03-09 (March 9, 2011)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 211,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10386960 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10451712 · 2012-03-14 (March 14, 2012)
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 D…
Owner-reported narrative. 144,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10451712 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10579077 · 2014-04-11 (April 11, 2014)
PULSATION DAMPER FAILURE. LEAKED FUEL. CAUSED ENGINE FIRE. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10579077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10654098 · 2014-11-11 (November 11, 2014)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10654098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11439995 · 2021-11-10 (November 10, 2021)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11439995 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V173000 · Seat Belts:Front:Webbing
Reported: 1996-09-16 (September 16, 1996)
THE RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT CAN WEAR SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WILL BECOME JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE COLLISION, THE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATELY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE INOPERATIVE SHOULDER BELTS. MAZDA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY COVERAGE ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RAIL AND MOTOR FOR THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗