1987 MAZDA RX7 Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
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 T...
Mileage: 178,983
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 T...
Mileage: 178,983
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 T...
Mileage: 178,983
FIRST OFF I THOUGHT YOU GUYS CARED ABOUT THE CARS WE DROVE, THEN HOW COME YOU ALLOW THIS TO GO ON WITHOUT A RECALL IT AMAZES ME HOW STUPID YOU GUYS HAVE TO BE TO LET THIS ONE JUST SLID ON BY. MY DAMPER IS LEAKING FUEL RIGHT AS I TYPE THIS TO YOU. IF I DRIVE MY CAR IT MAY CATCH FIRE AND KILL INNOCENT...
WHY SHOULD I DIE FOR MAZDA MESSED UP PULSATION DAMPERS THAT LEAK AND CAUSES FIRES AND KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE. RECALL THIS '!@#$% SO I CAN DRIVE THIS SOME GOD '!@#$% PIECE OF MIND. *TR
I ROUTINELY STARTED THE CAR FOR A NICE SUNDAY DRIVE AND WHILE I WAS WAITING FOR THE CAR TO WARM UP I NOTICED FUEL LEAKING ON THE GROUND. I IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE CAR OFF AND DISCOVERED THAT FUEL HAD LEAKED ALL OVER THE TOP OF THE ENGINE AND WAS RUNNING DOWN THE SIDE AND ONTO THE EXHAUST. THE FUEL LEAK...
Mileage: 127,504
I OWN A 1987 MAZDA RX-7 TURBO II WITH 44,500MILES ON IT, THE PULSATION DAMPER ON THE FUEL RAIL STARTED LEAKING AND LEFT A SMALL PUDDLE OF FUEL ON TOP OF THE ENGINE, AND ON THE FLOOR. I HAVE READ THAT THE PULSATION DAMPER OFTEN FAILS IN THESE CARS CAUSING FIRES. I WOULD LIKE MAZDA TO RECALL THIS P...
Mileage: 44,500
I OWN AN 87 RX-7 N/A. THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE I FILLED UP AT THE GAS STATION AND DROVE OFF AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR AND A HALF I SMELLED FUEL. SO I PULLED OVER TO INSPECT I SHUT OFF THE MOTOR AND THE SMELL CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I QUICKLY OPENED THE HOOD AND TO MY SURPRISE THERE WA...
Mileage: 193,600
MY PULSATION DAMPNER ON MY 1987 MAZDA RX7 IS FAILING. IT IS A VERY WEAK PART AND EASILY SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE. THE PULSATION DAMPNER IN MY CAR HAS FAILED AND ALLOWED GAS TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE BAY AND ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST, THEREBY RESULTING IN A FIRE. IT WAS CAUGHT EARLY AND NOT SERIOUS, BUT I S...
Mileage: 135,402
DRIVING HOME FROM MY PARENTS HOUSE I NOTICED MY GAS LIGHT COME ON ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE I HAD JUST PUT GAS IN THE TANK. I PULLED OFF ONCE I HAD GOTTEN DOWN ON A SIDE STREET NEAR A GAS STATION TO HAVE A LOOK TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. IMMEDIATELY AS I GOT OUT I NOTICED BLA...
Mileage: 121,338
WAS DRIVING DOWN FREEWAY, SPARKS BEGAN TO FLY FROM BEHIND MY CAR. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND POPPED THE HOOD. THERE WAS A FIRE FROM MY PULSATION DAMPENER. LUCKILY I HAD WATER IN MY CAR, AND WAS ABLE TO PUT OUT THE FIRE QUICKLY. *JB
Mileage: 220,201
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
PULSATION DAMPER FAILS ON MY 1987 RX-7, CAUSES ENGINE FIRE AND TURNS A 300 DOLLAR REPAIR INTO OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS. *AK
MY PULSATION DAMPER WENT OUT AND I SMELLED FUMES WITHIN MY CAR. LUCKILY I GOT OFF TO CHECK AND FOUND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND HAVE IT FIXED WHERE IT WON'T BE A PROBLEM TO RISK ANYONES LIFE. *AK
Mileage: 154,000
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
Mileage: 146,100
THE PULSATION DAMPENER ON THE 1986-1988 MAZDA RX-7'S CAN FAIL. THE PIECE IS MADE FROM PLASTIC WHICH BECOMES BRITTLE AND FAILS. THIS WILL CAUSE A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE BAY AND CAUSE A POSSIBLE FIRE. *NLM
Mileage: 152,000
THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH FAILS OVER TIME. SYMPTOMS START WITH INTERMEDIATE SETTINGS FAILING FOLLOWED BY THE CONSTANT 1 AND 2 SETTINGS FAILING. THE WIPER WILL ALSO NOT RETURN TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION AFTER BEING TURNED OFF. THIS MIGHT BE DUE TO THE RELAY IN THE SWITCH FAILING. *NLM
Mileage: 145,000
*OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT* A FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *JG *JB
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ERRATIC. DRIVER PULLED VEHICLE OVER TO CHECK UNDER THE HOOD. THE PULSATION DAMPNER THAT CONTROLS THE FUEL GOING INTO THE ENGINE HAD CAME UNDONE AND FUEL WAS LEAKING ALL OVER THE ENGINE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
EVERY 2ND GEN RX-7 ASIDE FROM THE 1990 & 1991S THAT I HAVE SEEN HAVE FAILED. NOT ALL HAVE BURNED. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
EVERY 2ND GEN RX-7 ASIDE FROM THE 1990 & 1991S THAT I HAVE SEEN HAVE FAILED. NOT ALL HAVE BURNED. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
THE STARTER HAD GIVEN OUT. I AND A FRIEND WERE IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING IT. THE FRIEND SMELLED GAS. I GOT UNDER THE CAR, AND SMELLED GAS ALSO. WE DECIDED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL WAS DETERMINED. AFTER REMOVING THE INTAKE PLENUM, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE GAS LE...
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
MY DAMPER IS LEAKING FUEL RIGHT AS I TYPE THIS TO YOU. IF I DRIVE MY CAR IT MAY CATCH FIRE AND KILL INOCENT VICTIMS. PLEASE MAKE THIS PROBLEM A SAFETY RECALL FOR DEALERSHIPS TO FIX AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE. THIS FAILURE IS EXTREMELY COMMON ON 86-88 MAZDA RX7'S, AND MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT IT. WHY SHOULD I...
PULSATION DAMPNER FAILED, CAUSING A GAS LEAK AND SMALL ENGINE FIRE. I WAS LUCKY AND HAD A FIRE EXTINGUISHER HANDY.*AK
THE SMALL SCREW IN THE END OF THE PULSATION DAMPER HAD FALLEN OUT. OTHER PERSONS WITH THIS FAILURE HAVE HAD FIRES AS A RESULT OF THIS. IN MY CASE, I SIMPLY REPLACED THE PART. IT FAILED AGAIN ABOUT TWO YEARS LATER... AGAIN, NO FIRE, BUT IT WAS LEAKING GAS. *AK
MODERATE FUEL LEAK. REPLACED TO AVOID ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. CAR DOES NOT RUN LIKE IT DID BEFORE. NO POWER ABOVE 3500 RPM.*AK
IT WAS CAUGHT IN TIME BUT COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR FIRE. *AK
PULSATION DAMPER LEAKS FUEL OUT THE SCREW HOLE ADJUSTMENT ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. IT IS THE #1 CAUSE OF RX-7 FIRES.*AK
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
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
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
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 ...
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 ...
I TOOK THE CAR TO A LOCAL MAZDA DEALER FOR A COOLANT LEAK. THEY SAID THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM. WHILE THEY WERE TEST DRIVING THE CAR, THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. FORTUNATELY, IT WAS CLOSE TO THE SHOP, AND THEY PUT DOWN THE FIRE WITHOUT ANY INJURIES. THE CAR WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS...
PULSATION DAMPENER FAILED AND FILLED THE VACUM LINE ASSEMBLY WITH FUEL.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
DAMPENER FAILS AND LEAKS FUEL ONTO HOT ENGINE. I SMELLED MINE AND REPLACED BEFORE DAMAGE OCCURRED. NOW IT HAS FAILED AGAIN. SAME HEAVY SMELL OF FUEL AND CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. NEW DAMPENER ORDERED.
AT 130,000 MILES FUEL DAMPER EXPERIENCED FUEL LEAKAGE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
COOLANT LEAK (INTERNAL). *AK
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
THE ABS UNIT LEAKS. FROM WHAT I READ ON THE RX7 EMAIL LIST THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE RX7. *AK
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE AFTER SHORT TRIPS THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FLOODED, CAUSE UKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THE PULSATION DAMPER HAS A SCREW THAT IN TIME WORKS ITS WAY OUT. ONCE THIS SCREW FALLS OUT, FUEL LEAKS OUT ALL OVER THE ENGINE/INTAKE/EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I HAVE ALREADY HEARD OF SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE IN THE U.S. THROUGH THE INTERNET WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AMONG OWNERS, MANY KNOW ABOUT THIS H...
MY HUSBAND WAS KILLED DUE TO REAR IMPACT. HE WAS COMMING HOME FROM WORK, MET ONCOMMING TRAFFIC ON A BRIDGE, LARGE PIECE OF RETREAD (TIRE) IN HIS LANE, COULDN'T GO AROUND IT, VAN AND 18 WHEELER WERE FOLLOWING. HE PUT ON HIS BRAKES, CAME TO A STOP 18 WHEELER HIT VAN, VAN BUMPED MY HUSBANDS CAR (1987 ...
FUEL INJECTORS NOT PULSATING.
WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED.
ENGINE FIRE.
LEXICON (HEAT/A/C) PANEL REPLACED TWICE.
DRIVER'S SHOULDER/LAP BELT DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY, DOES NOT GRAB OCCUPANT AS DESIGNED/DOES NOT RETRACTNWHEB UNOCCUPIED EITHER. *AK
THE BRAKE PAD FAILED.
THE CALIPER FAILED.
ENGINE FIRE. *SKD
ENGINE FIRE. *DH
TURBO FAILS DUE TO ENGINE MANIFOLD CRACKING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
VEHICLE LAP/SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER WILL NOT RETRACT. TT
SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY. CAUSE OF FAILURE IS STILL UNKNOWN. OWNER HAS (2) VEHICLE WITH SAME FAILURE. 2) ALSO HAVING STEERING FAILURE.
SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY. CAUSE OF FAILURE IS STILL UNKNOWN. OWNER HAS (2) VEHICLE WITH SAME FAILURE. 2) ALSO HAVING STEERING FAILURE.