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1987 Mazda RX7

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: 11 of 50 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.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports22 fire reports2 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

6 reports
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178,983 miles · Nov 8, 2012
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion SystemFire

ON 11/07/2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:15 A.M. WHILE LEAVING WORK I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM BEHIND THE RADIO. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND REALIZED THERE WAS FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT OUT QUICKLY BEFORE IT SPREAD. THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS SOMEWHAT SUBSTANTIAL UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I TOOK IT …

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ON 11/07/2012 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:15 A.M. WHILE LEAVING WORK I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM BEHIND THE RADIO. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND REALIZED THERE WAS FIRE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS ABLE TO PUT IT OUT QUICKLY BEFORE IT SPREAD. THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR WAS SOMEWHAT SUBSTANTIAL UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED, AND EXPLAINED THAT IT'S A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. I DID A LITTLE MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THE ISSUE IS THE PULSATION DAMPENER THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL RAIL MOUNTED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CAUSING IT TO FAIL AND COM-BUST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10483752

Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 2005
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineFuel System, Other

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT HE OWNS A 1987 MAZDA RX7. HE STATES A RECALL CAME OUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN 05V317000. CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS WITH HIS GAS GAUGE WORKING INTERMEDIATELY AND A FUEL LEAKAGE. JUST RECENTLY HE REPLACED THE RADIATOR WITH A NEW ONE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD HIM …

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DT: THE CONTACT STATES THAT HE OWNS A 1987 MAZDA RX7. HE STATES A RECALL CAME OUT NHTSA CAMPAIGN 05V317000. CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEMS WITH HIS GAS GAUGE WORKING INTERMEDIATELY AND A FUEL LEAKAGE. JUST RECENTLY HE REPLACED THE RADIATOR WITH A NEW ONE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM WOULD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE NO FUEL WAS GETTING TO THE LINES. ALSO, THE MODULATOR NEEDS=ED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS NOT GETTING A SPARK. HE REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND STARTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10129334

146,100 miles · Feb 14, 2004
Electrical SystemFire

I HAVE A 1987 RX7 NA, THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE THE OTHER DAY AND I LUCKILY HAD AN EXTINGUISHER TO PUT IT OUT WITH OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN TOAST. MOST LIKELY A FAULTY PULSATION DAMPER OR A SHORT IN SOME OF THE WIRES, I AM NOT SURE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10058167

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2002
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineFire

BURNED ALOT OF THINGS LIKE THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS, INJECTORS, MISC HOSES, INTAKE MANIFOLD, HOOD LINER, ETC. GOOD THING I HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN THE CAR OR THE WHOLE CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST. *AK

NHTSA ODI #759104

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2002
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineFire

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. …

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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

NHTSA ODI #759063

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2000
Electrical SystemFireInjury

VEHICLE ENGINE FIRE AT IDLE SPEED WHILE STOPPED, VEHICLE OCCUPIED, RAW FUEL CAUGHT FIRE UNDERHOOD,DAMAGED MANY FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS,CAUSED MINOR BURNS TO OCCUPANT/OPERATOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #725298

Official recalls

1

87V160000 · Service Brakes, Air:disc:caliper

Oct 14, 1987

IN AREAS OF HEAVY USAGE, ROAD SALT MAY ACCUMULATE AT SURFACES OF COMPONENTS OF FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS WOULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE DISC PAD LINER CORROSIONTHAT WOULD PREVENT FREE MOVEMENT OF DISC PADS RESULTING IN INEFFECTIVE BRAKINGOF THE FRONT BRAKES.

Remedy: REPAIR FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS TO PREVENT ROAD SALT ACCUMULATION.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.