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1993 Mazda RX-7

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 9 of 82 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports23 fire reports3 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

18 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2002
Fuel System, GasolineFire

I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING INTO THE CAR WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. I STOPPED THE CAR RIGHT AWAY AND OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE THE BACK OF THE ENGINE ON FIRE. I PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MAZDA ROTARY ENGINE SPECIALIST. I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE FIRE WAS A RESULT OF THE FAULTY …

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I NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING INTO THE CAR WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. I STOPPED THE CAR RIGHT AWAY AND OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE THE BACK OF THE ENGINE ON FIRE. I PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A MAZDA ROTARY ENGINE SPECIALIST. I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THE FIRE WAS A RESULT OF THE FAULTY FACTORY FUEL LINE AND THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, WHICH ARE A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM BY MAZDA MECHANICS. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THESE FIRES HAPPEN QUITE FREQUENTLY IN 1993-1996 RX-7'S AS WELL AS IN THE PRIOR BODY STYLE. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED FROM THIS INCIDENT, AND MY CAR NOW NEEDS OVER $3,000 WORTH OF REPAIRS, ALL DUE TO A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED. PLEASE HELP ME. DT

NHTSA ODI #770498

89,000 miles · Aug 13, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL LEAKS HAVE DEVELOPED FROM THE PRIMARY INJECTORS AND FUEL LINES. *AK *NLM *DT

NHTSA ODI #8016155

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 2002
Fuel System, GasolineFire

PULSATION DAMPERS FAIL ON ALMOST ALL FI MAZDA RX-7S. *AK

NHTSA ODI #759490

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

THE ENGINE HAD AND OVERHEATING PROBLEM WHICH LEAD TO EXCESSIVE HEAT DETERIORATING THE ENGINE SEALS, A NEW ENGINE WAS INSTALLED, THE NEW ENGINE DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK, THE CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

NHTSA ODI #560419

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2000
Fuel System, GasolineFire

THERE WAS A FUEL LEAK THAT LED TO A FIRE, MECHANIC SAID A SCREW CAME LOOSE, ALLOWING GAS TO LEAK ONTO MANIFOLD, WHICH A CAUSED FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #867813

Mileage unknown · May 25, 2000
Fuel System, GasolineFire

FUEL LINE LEAKED DUE TO CRACKED LINE RESULTING IN FIRE. YH

NHTSA ODI #552410

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineFire

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT AND GAS LINE.

NHTSA ODI #549441

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLDS SUPPLIED OEM ON THESE CARS CONSISTENTLY FAIL. THE MATERIAL USED BY THE MANUFACTURE HAS SINCE CHANGED TO COMPENSATE FOR THEIR MISTAKE HOWEVER, ALL OF THE OWNERS OF THESE CARS ARE FORCED TO PAY THE COST OF REPAIR FOR THEIR POOR DESIGN. AT LEAST 90% OF THESE CARS HAVE HAD TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED AND …

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THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLDS SUPPLIED OEM ON THESE CARS CONSISTENTLY FAIL. THE MATERIAL USED BY THE MANUFACTURE HAS SINCE CHANGED TO COMPENSATE FOR THEIR MISTAKE HOWEVER, ALL OF THE OWNERS OF THESE CARS ARE FORCED TO PAY THE COST OF REPAIR FOR THEIR POOR DESIGN. AT LEAST 90% OF THESE CARS HAVE HAD TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED AND I AM POSITIVE THAT THAT NUMBER WILL INCREASE TO 100% OF THE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. SOME COMPENSATION SHOULD BE MADE.

NHTSA ODI #713333

Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A GAS ODOR WHICH CAUSES THE OCCUPANT TO BECOME SICK . ALSO, IT MAY CAUSE A FIRE IF THERE IS A FUEL LEAK. DEALER REPLACED FUEL INJECTORS/FUEL LINES, ETC., BUT PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

NHTSA ODI #842575

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1998
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE FUEL SYSTEM IS PRESSURIZED FUEL LEAKED OUT OF THE TOP OF PULSATION DAMPER PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS, COULD LEAD TO A FIRE (95V-069). *AK

NHTSA ODI #524391

Official recalls

3

96V149000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Aug 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 & remedy

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.

95V069000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Mar 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 & remedy

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.

94V094000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System

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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE94009 · Turbocharger Malfunction

Opened Jan 31, 1994 · Closed May 24, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System

There is no summary currently available