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.
1979-1989 · 11 model years
Mazda RX7 Problems by year
Owners have filed 129 complaints about the Mazda RX7 across 11 model years, and it has 3 recalls. The 1987 has the most complaints once its age is allowed for (50). The most reported problem area is the fuel system, followed by the seats & seat belts.
- Complaints
- 129
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes
- 4
- Fires
- 44
- Injuries
- 9
- Deaths
- 3
RX7 complaints by model year
Highlighted: the year with the most complaints for its age. Older vehicles have had more time to collect complaints - the Safety Index grade allows for that.
Most common RX7 problems
Mazda RX7 recalls 3
In areas of heavy usage, road salt may accumulate at surfaces of components of front brake calipers.
In certain high salt areas, the idler arm is exposed to road salt which causes the dust seal to deteriorate resulting in idler arm pin corrosion. This causes the pin to freeze and break...
Latest RX7 complaints
Pulsation damper failure leaking fuel all over the hot exhaust that the heat caught my engine on fire! Overheated and damaged injector connecters due to fire burning them. Injectors them self : burnt. Total damage : near $1058. *Tr
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
The fuel pulsation damper failed and gasoline was leaking onto the top of the engine.
1988 Mazda rx7 gxl pulsation dampener on the injector rail has started spraying fuel onto my engine due to its age.. This is a well known issue with these and a mistake by mazda that they need to fix! I almost lost my car today had the amount of fuel it let out onto the engine were to of gotten down to the exhaust and ignited . ( Changed bad fuel filter ) the new amount of pressure getting into the line may of caused this.. But the part is made of rubber and again is known to break. There was no fire but advised to no longer drive the car till the issue is fixed. *Tr
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 # , [[redacted]] , 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...
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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
Mazda rx7 defect 86-91. Mazda is well aware of this ongoing issue but will not issue a recall. The pulsation damper on all mazda rx7's from 1986-1991 is prone to failure. The device literally comes apart allowing fuel to leak out. Eventually enough fuel leaks out and onto the hot exhaust manifold causing a vehicle fire. I have now been involved with two of these incidences. The first one occurred approximately five years ago when the engine caught fire on my 1986 rx7, luckily I was able to put the fire out before...
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total devastation. The result of the fire was about $1500.00 Worth of repairs. The repair shop said that the fire was the result of a fuel leak from the pulsation damper. I now own a 1988 rx7 convertible and all of the sudden I began to smell fuel inside the car really strong, so strong in fact that I thought that the fuel tank must be leaking. I immediately parked the car and started to give it the once over never thinking that with the smell being soo strong that it could be coming from the pulsation damper. I checked the gas tank and every hose on it, not a drop of fuel, as a last resort I figured I better check the pulsation damper and sure enough fuel was pouring out of it. I think that if my car had not been a convertible I would have not noticed it until it was too late and had another fire. Now even though there was no fire it is still going to cost around $500.00 To repair because the part is located underneath the fuel injection assembly which has to be completely removed in order to access the pulsation damper. I believe mazda should be responsible for the repair, they know that they have a potentially dangerous/deadly situation and will do nothing about it. *Tr
Questions about the Mazda RX7
Which Mazda RX7 years have the most problems?
Which Mazda RX7 years have the fewest complaints?
What are the most common Mazda RX7 problems?
Across every model year, owners report problems with the fuel system (56), seats & seat belts (24), engine & cooling (20) most often.
How many recalls does the Mazda RX7 have?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls across all Mazda RX7 model years. Each year's page lists the recalls for that year; check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether the repair has been done.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data