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
What owners actually said
82 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 1999
Electrical SystemCrash
I HOPE I HAVE CONTACTED THE CORRECT WEBSITE ADDRESS. IF NOT PLEASE FORGIVE ME. I HAVE THE OCCASION TO DRIVE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF VEHICLES MADE BY MANY MANUFACTURERS, AND FEEL I HAVE FOUND A MAJOR SAFETY SHORTCOMING. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, I HAVE HAD THE NEED TO SOUND THE HORN. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE HORN BUTTON IS IN…
Read full complaint
I HOPE I HAVE CONTACTED THE CORRECT WEBSITE ADDRESS. IF NOT PLEASE FORGIVE ME. I HAVE THE OCCASION TO DRIVE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF VEHICLES MADE BY MANY MANUFACTURERS, AND FEEL I HAVE FOUND A MAJOR SAFETY SHORTCOMING. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, I HAVE HAD THE NEED TO SOUND THE HORN. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE HORN BUTTON IS IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION ON EACH CAR. IT IS OFTEN HARD TO FIND AS WELL WHICH CAN BE A PROBLEM WHEN YOU HAVE TO REACT SWIFTLY. I BELIEVE THE NTSA SHOULD STANDARDIZE THE HORN LOCATION AND DESIGN, AND REQUIRE MANUFACTURER'S OF AUTOMOBILES TO COMPLY. THE HORN BUTTON SHOULD BE LARGE ( LIKE A FORD TAURUS NOT LIKE A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE), EASY TO FIND AND IN THE SAME LOCATION ON ALL VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THIS SAFETY FEATURE WOULD REDUCE ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLY SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. .......BRIAN SLOCUM, RT2 BOX163, MILLBROOK, NY 12545. *AK
NHTSA ODI #707570
Mileage unknown · May 27, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
REAR EXHAUST CAUGHT ON FIRE, MELTING THE PLASTIC MOLDING ON THE BUMPER AND ABOVE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #838550
Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE EVERY THOUSAND MILES THE VEHCLE BURNED UP ONE QUART OF OIL, AND THE OIL IN THE VEHICLE IS BURNING OUT DUE TO THE ROTOR ENGINE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #831444
Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 1998
Power Train
TRANSMISSION FIFTH GEAR SYNCHRONIZER FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #541562
Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 1998
Power Train
5 SPEED TRANSMISSION FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #541462
Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE REAR OIL COOLING JET ON THE ENGINE ECCENTRIC SHAFT CAME LOOSE AND FELL INTO THE OIL PAN. THIS CAUSED OIL PRESSURE TO DROP.
NHTSA ODI #539061
Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 1998
Electrical SystemEquipmentSteering
WHEN AIR CONDITONING IS USED VEHICLE STALLS. ALSO THERE IS A LOSS STEERING POWER. COMPUTER MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #825031
Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainStructure
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES INTERMITTENT STALLING/CLUTCH SLIPPING/JERKING/BUCKING EVEN AFTER TURBO WAS REPLACED/DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S DOOR HANDLES LOOSENED/CLUNKING NOISE WHEN WINDOW COMES DOWN/GLOVE BOX OPENS UNEXPECTEDLY/MIDDLE CONSOLE MATERIAL PEELS OFF AND SQUEAKING NOISE FROM UNDER HOOD.
NHTSA ODI #534890
Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 1998
Steering
ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIIMES, REPLACE POWER STEERING PUMP.
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.
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.
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
1993 Mazda RX-7 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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