IllustrationENGINE REPLACED DUE TO DEFECT. *SD
1989 Mazda RX7
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RX7 years →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: 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 reportsTHE MOTOR HAS BLOWN IN CAR WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
THE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT FOR THE DRIVER DOES NOT GO UP AND DOWN THE TRACK. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
LAP/SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER SIDE FAILED DUE FAULTY CABLE THAT BROKE. TT
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR THE CABLE CAME OUT. TT
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE, LATCHING MECHANISM IS BROKEN. TT
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILS TO ENGAGE DUE TO MOTOR BURNING OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
PASSIVE RESTRAINT SHOULDER BELTS ARE FAILING W/PASSENGER BELT BEING INOPERATIVE AND DRIVER PERFORMING ERRATIC. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
THE DRIVE SIDE RETRACTOR JAM IN UP POSITION. TT
FUEL PUMP SHUT OFF VALVE; PUTS TOO MUCH PRESSURE NOT ALLOWING PRESSURE TO BACK OFF FLOODING ENGINE PREVENTING STARTING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
Official recalls
196V173000 · Seat Belts:front:webbing
Sep 16, 1996
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
1PE96027 · 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