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: 1 of 30 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.
Seat Belts. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
30 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2010
Seat Belts
I OWN A 1989 MAZDA RX 7. I RECENTLY SAW A RECALL ON THE FORD RECALL WEB SITE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 96V173000, FRONT WEBBING FOR RX'S MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 12/24/88 TO 05/31/91. I HAVE THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM ON MY SEATS. I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY RX WAS NOT IN THE GROUP FOR THE RECALL. THE DEALER DID THIS B…
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I OWN A 1989 MAZDA RX 7. I RECENTLY SAW A RECALL ON THE FORD RECALL WEB SITE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 96V173000, FRONT WEBBING FOR RX'S MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 12/24/88 TO 05/31/91. I HAVE THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM ON MY SEATS. I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY RX WAS NOT IN THE GROUP FOR THE RECALL. THE DEALER DID THIS BY VIN # , [XXX] , AND STATED MY CAR DID NOT FALL IN THE RECALL. THE DEALER PROVIDED A PRINT OUT SHOWING MY RX WAS MANUFACTURED, 01/10/89. I FEEL THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITHIN THE RANGE OF THE RECALL, MY VEHICLE IS AN RX7, AND MANUFACTURED IN THE RANGE OF THE RECALL. I AM REQUESTING HELP IN RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 07/08/11.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10335347
Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFireInjury
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY DOING 63 MPH WHEN I SMELLED A FUNNY SMELL I PULLED OVER AND THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE PULSATION DAMPER FAILED CAUSING SERIOUS ENGINE DAMAGE AND ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE IF IT WASN'T FOR OTHER MOTORIST I WOULD NOT BE HERE MY ARM WAS SLIGHTLY BURNED BUT IT QUICKLY HEALED I HAVE NOT CURRENT…
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY DOING 63 MPH WHEN I SMELLED A FUNNY SMELL I PULLED OVER AND THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE PULSATION DAMPER FAILED CAUSING SERIOUS ENGINE DAMAGE AND ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE IF IT WASN'T FOR OTHER MOTORIST I WOULD NOT BE HERE MY ARM WAS SLIGHTLY BURNED BUT IT QUICKLY HEALED I HAVE NOT CURRENTLY HAD THE CAR REPAIRED IM SEEKING A BEST ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10214354
95,000 miles · Dec 22, 2005
Seat Belts
DT: THE CONTACT STATED PREVIOUSLY HAD RECALL 96V173000 REPAIR WORK PERFORMED ON THE SEAT BELTS: FRONT: WEBBING. HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED AND NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, AND THEY CLAIMED SINCE THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. *AK …
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED PREVIOUSLY HAD RECALL 96V173000 REPAIR WORK PERFORMED ON THE SEAT BELTS: FRONT: WEBBING. HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED AND NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, AND THEY CLAIMED SINCE THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. *AK UPDATED 1/23/2006 - *NM
NHTSA ODI #10145939
Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 2002
Electrical System
"HEADLIGHT HARNESS" MELTED AND KNOCKED OUT "HEADLIGHT SWITCH"...KNOWN PROBLEM AND COMMON, NOT RECOGNIZED BY MAZDA AS WORTHY OF BEING FIXED. TAKES OUT DRIVING LIGHTS, AND INTERIOR LIGHTS, WHICH IS VERY UNSAFE AT NIGHT IN DARK REGIONS. CONTACTED LOCAL MAZDA DEALER, WAS TOLD IT WAS NEVER RECALLED OR ANYTHING. NLM
NHTSA ODI #759846
Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2001
Visibility
THIS IS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THE 1987-1991 RX-7 OWNERS. SPEED ADJUSTER FOR THE WINDSHIELD ONLY OPERATE AT THE TOP SPEED. RENDERING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE IN THE LIGHT SPRINKLE; HAVE TO KEEP TURNING IT ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #746449
Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 1999
Visibility
WHILE IN USE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTION WHICH MAY CAUSE VISUAL DIFFICULTY, AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH. ALSO KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THIS WIPER SWITCH WHICH COST ABOUT $500 TO REPAIR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #832700
Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingFireInjury
ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).
NHTSA ODI #543149
Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 1998
Seat Belts
THE CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS. SINCE RECEIVING THE LETTER, NO PARTS HAS BEEN AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. RECALL NUMBER 96V173000. *AK
NHTSA ODI #831857
Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1998
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH ONLY WORKS ON 1 SPEED. WIPERS DO NOT STOP IN THE DOWN POSITION.
NHTSA ODI #540666
Mileage unknown · May 1, 1997
Seat Belts
OWNER STATES THAT RECEVIED A RECALL NOTICE FOR SHOULDER BELTS, BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET WORK DONE BECAUSE OF NO PARTS. ALSO DEALER PULLED HIS SEAT BELT APART AND DID NOT COMPLETE WORK BECAUSE OF NO PARTS. 96V173000. *AK
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 & remedy
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.
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
PE96027 · Mazda RX7 Automatic Seat Belt Failure
Opened Apr 16, 1996 · Closed Sep 30, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
MALFUNCTION OF THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT SYSTEM
1989 Mazda RX7 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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