1993 Mazda RX-7: complaints, problems and recalls

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

Owner-reported narrative. 135,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10006667 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018854 at NHTSA ↗

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 VEHIC…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040629 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149916 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 36,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149918 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10188435 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 88,813 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459235 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 51,976 miles reported. Look up ODI 10870652 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 1994-05-11 (May 11, 1994)

THE RADIATOR CAP PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE RELEASE PRESSURE IS SET TOO HIGH. THIS CAN CAUSE THE COOLANT TO REACH TEMPERATURES THAT EXCEED THE THERMAL DESIGN LIMITS OF SOME COMPONENTS OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, ENGINE COOLANT CAN LEAK COLLECT ON TOP OF THE ENGINE.

Consequence: IF ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS ONTO THE HOT ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAN RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND IF ANY VEHICLE EXHIBITS COOLANT LEAKAGE OR IF THE COOLANT LEVEL HAS DROPPED TO THE POINT WHERE THE COOLANT LOSS WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO TRIGGER THE COOLANT LEVEL WARNING SYSTEM, COMPONENTS POTENTIALLY SUBJECT TO DETERIORATION FROM OVERHEATING WOULD BE REPLACED. THESE PARTS INCLUDE THE WATER PUMP BEARING HOUSING, THE WATER LEVEL SENSOR AND RADIATOR UPPER HOSE, THE THERMOSTAT GASKET, AND ALL WATER HOSES LOCATED ABOVE THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, ALL VEHICLES IN WHICH THOSE COMPONENTS ARE REPLACED WOULD ALSO HAVE THE COOLING SYSTEM AND OTHER SYSTEMS THAT CARRY FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS CHECKED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT ENGINE OVERHEATING HAD NOT CAUSED ANY PROBLEMS IN THOSE SYSTEMS. ANY IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS WILL BE REPAIRED. THE RADIATOR CAP, FILLER CAP, AND FILLER CAP BODY OF ALL RECALLED VEHICLES WILL BE REPLACED BY NEWLY DESIGNED PARTS.

Reported: 1995-03-30 (March 30, 1995)

RESIDUAL ENGINE HEAT CAN CAUSE PREMATURE DETERIORATION OF THE FUEL HOSE CAUSING THE HOSE TO LEAK. ALSO, REMOVING AND REINSTALLING THE DETERIORATED FUEL HOSES INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF A LEAK.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL CONTROL UNIT FOR THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN. THE FAN WILL THEN ACTIVATE AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF WHEN THE COOLANT EXCEEDS A SPECIFIED TEMPERATURE. THE FUEL HOSES WILL ALSO BE REPLACED WITH REVISED HOSES.

Reported: 1996-08-02 (August 2, 1996)

OIL MIST CONTAINED IN THE ENGINE INTAKE AIR CAN COLLECT OVER TIME IN THE BRAKE VACUUM CHECK VALVE PREVENTING THE CHECK VALVE FROM OPENING AT THE SPECIFIED PRESSURE REDUCING POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKES.

Consequence: BRAKE PERFORMANCE CAN BE DIMINISHED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE TWO VACUUM HOSES, INCLUDING THE CHECK VALVE, WITH MODIFIED HOSES.