- The problem
- In areas of heavy usage, road salt may accumulate at surfaces of components of front brake calipers.
- The risk
- This would eventually cause disc pad liner corrosionthat would prevent free movement of disc pads resulting in ineffective brakingof the front brakes.
- The fix
- Repair front brake calipers to prevent road salt accumulation.
Vehicle safety record
1986 Mazda RX7 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 1986 Mazda RX7 with NHTSA, most often about the fuel system (8) and the acceleration & cruise control (1). Those complaints describe 1 crash, 5 fires and 1 injury. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in October 1987 for the caliper. For comparison, the 1985 has 4 and the 1987 has 50.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical RX7 year, for its age
#46 most complained-about 1986 vehicle
- Complaints
- 12
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 1
- Fires
- 5
- Injuries
- 1
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1986 Mazda RX7 problems
Share of all 12 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1986 Mazda RX7 recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
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12 complaints about the 1986 Mazda RX7
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
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
Fuel injection pulsation dampener began leaking. Due to it being located over the lower intake manifold which is right over the exhaust manifold when it leaks fuel runs down the lower intake manifold and onto the exhaust manifold. When the car is running the exhaust manifold is extremely hot and this problem leads to many fires on the mazda rx7 which can and do cause damage that runs into the thousands of dollars to repair. I smelled fuel when getting out of my car and was able to replace the fuel rail before any...
Read the full complaint
additional damage occurred. Because this problem is common with these cars mazda should do something such as replace the existing dampener with one that will not leak or at least redesign the dampener so that it drains any leaking fuel through a tube of some sort to the ground instead of allowing it to leak on a hot exhaust manifold. Many an rx7 has died a fiery death due to this known problem. *Jb
Recently purchased the car with a rebuilt motor, but several old parts were not replaced. Occasionally gas fumes enter the passenger compartment. Looking at the placement of the fuel pulsation dampner, once it leaks it will drip unburned fuel directly onto the motor, resulting in an engine fire. I will order a new fuel pulsation dampner and will be ready to replace that one once it fails. *Jb
The car is a daily driver and has never been driven beyond the avg daily abuse. One day I return home and in the driveway the car stals and I start it again and it staled again, upon opening the hood i"m greeted with a bbq size fire on the intake manifold. I put it out with water and let it cool, being a mechanic I replaced the pulsation dampner with a banjo bolt to fix the problem.*Ak
Faulty ooulsation dampner.. Caused engine fire.. Aproximate repaire over 1000 and that with using used wiring harness.*Ak
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Both door handles have broken and been replaced several times regardless of weather. Please describe details. Tt
While driving engine caught on fire due to a defective fuel line.(Phone ext 516). Tt
Bearings in jack came out while jacking up car, causing a loud snapping noise/car to fall down. *Sd
The vehicle caught fire due to a faulty pulsating damper, that sprayed gasoline on the engine. Tt
Vehicle experienced unwanted acceleration; first time in drive and was repaired, second time reverse. Both resulted accident. Tt
ROTARY ENGINE LOCKED UP. *TW
Mazda RX7: every year compared
All RX7 years1986 Mazda RX7 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 Mazda RX7 | 12 | 1 | F | |
| 1986 Mazda 626 | 16 | 2 | A | Compare |
| 1986 Mazda B2000 | 8 | 1 | F | Compare |
| 1986 Mazda 323 | 4 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1986 Mazda MX6 | 2 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1986 Mazda B Series | 2 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 1986 Mazda Mazda | 1 | 0 | F | Compare |
| 1986 Mazda RX2 | 1 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 1986 Mazda Mazda Truck | 1 | 0 | F | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1986 Mazda RX7
Does the 1986 Mazda RX7 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 1986 Mazda RX7: caliper (October 1987). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 Mazda RX7?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the fuel system (8), acceleration & cruise control (1), body, doors & structure (1).
How many complaints has the 1986 Mazda RX7 had?
12 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on September 23, 1994 and the latest on May 16, 2013. Of these, 1 describe a crash and 5 a fire, and together they report 1 injury and 0 deaths.
Is the 1986 Mazda RX7 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 13 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Mazda RX7 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Mazda RX7 years have the most complaints?
1987 (50), 1989 (31), 1988 (24). See every Mazda RX7 year compared.
What should I do if my 1986 Mazda RX7 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data