1987 Mazda RX-7 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
86,831 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
Electrical System: 1; Engine: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
2017: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1987 | 1990 | 1991 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 310.7% | 14.5% | 1214.6%ODI 524345ENGINE FAILED DUE TO OVERHEATING CAUSED BY ANTIFREEZE LEAKING OUT ONTO ENGINE. | 211.1%ODI 713854CURRENTLY HAVING THE 4TH ENGINE INSTALLED DUE TO SEAL FAILURES. MANUFACTURER IS UNCOOPERATIVE. PREVIOUS RX7 HAD ENGINE FIRE. | 150.0%ODI 556889MOTOR WAS REPLACED AT IN 1995 AT 15,000. FIVE YEARS LATER AND 15,000 MILES THE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN, THE VEHICLE STALLS, OWNER HAS BEEN TOLD BY MECHANICS, THAT THE APEX SEAL IS PARTIALLY COLLAPSED, WHICH IS THE SAME REASON THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED IN 1995. *CJ |
| Seat Belts | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 828.6%ODI 10258464 · 81,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 MAZDA RX7. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RETRACTORS WERE INOPERATIVE. THE MALFUNCTIONS OCCURRED FROM EXCESSIVE WEAR AND PREVENTS THE WEBBING FROM BEING EXTRACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V173000 (SEAT BELTS,FRONT;WEBBING), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000 AND CURRENT MILEAG… | 836.4%ODI 10654098I AM HEAVILY CONCERNED WITH THE MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES OF MY BELOVED MAZDA AND NEED YOUR HELP. MY SEAT BELT RETRACTORS ARE BROKEN (EMERGENCY), THE HORNS DO NOT WORK (EMERGENCY), MY REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER AND FLUIDS DO NOT WORK (VISIBILITY), MY BRAKE LIGHT IS ON(EMERGENCY), AND MY PULSATION DAMPER IS LEAKING FUEL (FIRE HAZARD). I HAVE READ MANY STORIES ABOUT RX7'S THAT WOULD CATCH ON FIRE DUE TO THE FUEL PULSATION DAMPERS LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE, EVENTUALLY IGNITING THEIR WHOLE CAR TO ASHES. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 911.0%ODI 10040629 · 10,800 miTHE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NHTSA#94-V-094-000 ON MAY 1997 ON THE RADIATOR CAP PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE. THE RELEASE PRESSURE WAS SET TOO HIGH WHICH COULD CAUSE THE COOLANT TO REACH TEMPERATURES THAT EXCEED THERMAL DESIGN LIMITS OF SOME COMPONENTS OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM. SHOULD THIS OCCUR THE ENGINE COOLANT COULD LEAK DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS RECALL FAILED. *NLM THE RECALL WAS PARTIALLY COMPLETED. BOTH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE COOLING SYSTEM INCLUDING THE WATER PUMP WHICH WAS NOT DONE BECAUSE THE VEHIC… | 15.6%ODI 880971THERE WAS COOLANT LEAK FROM VEHICLE ONTO ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 94V094000. DEALER HAS REPLACED WATER PUMP, RADIATOR HOSES AND GASKETS. *AK *SLC | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 313.6%ODI 10386960 · 211,000 miMAZDA'S RX-7 MODEL FC3S FROM MODEL YEAR 1986-1992'S FUEL PULSATION DAMPER HAS AN ISSUE THAT IT WILL LEAK, SINCE THE DEVICE SITS ON TOP OF THE ENGINE SO IF THE TIMING IS RIGHT, AN ENGINE FIRE WILL START. IT IS A VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE IN THE RX-7 COMMUNITY. IM SURPRISED NO ONE EVER FILED A COMPLAIN OVER THIS. 1986-1988'S FUEL PULSATION DAMPER IS VERY PRONE TO THIS DEFECT, THEY CHANGED THE DESIGN AND USE THEM ON LATER MODEL YEAR OF RX-7 FROM 1989-1992, BUT IT WILL STILL LEAK. *TR | 44.9%ODI 488451POOR FUEL SYSTEM RECALL REPAIR, CAUSING VACUUM LINE TO COME OFF. *SD | 15.6%ODI 10212593 · 147,900 miMAZDA 1994 RX7 FD3S PULSATION DAMPENER FAILURE. CAUSED LOSS OF FUEL AND DAMAGE TO WIRE HARNESS. THE FUEL LEAKED ONTO AND INTO THE WIRE HARNESS AND CAUSED THE HARNESS TO BECOME SATURATED, DAMP AND BRITTLE. I ALSO HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE AND INSTALL NEW PULSATION DAMPENER, WIRE HARNESS, INTAKE GASKET AND A FEW OTHER PARTS DO TO THE PULSATION DAMPENER FAILURE. I ALSO HAD TO PAY FOR LABOR. TOTAL WAS AROUND $1600.00 USD. I AM NOT HAPPY AND I HEAR THIS DAMPER FAILS ALL THE TIME FOR MY LOCAL DEALER. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 13.6%ODI 764067PUSATION DAMPNER ON PRIMARY FUEL DELIVERY RAIL DIAPHRAM FAILURE. GASOLINE LEAKAGE IN LARGE QUANTITIES RIGHT ABOVE HOT ENGINE. VERY SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD.. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON RX-7'S IN GENERAL. PERHAPS MAZDA SHOULD HAVE PLAED THE PD AWAY FROM THE ENGINE. EXCESSIVE HEAT MAY HAVE HARDENED DIAPHRAM TO POINT OF BREAKAGE. FUALTY DESIGN. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 44.9%ODI 713333THE LOWER INTAKE MANIFOLDS SUPPLIED OEM ON THESE CARS CONSISTENTLY FAIL. THE MATERIAL USED BY THE MANUFACTURE HAS SINCE CHANGED TO COMPENSATE FOR THEIR MISTAKE HOWEVER, ALL OF THE OWNERS OF THESE CARS ARE FORCED TO PAY THE COST OF REPAIR FOR THEIR POOR DESIGN. AT LEAST 90% OF THESE CARS HAVE HAD TO HAVE THIS PART REPLACED AND I AM POSITIVE THAT THAT NUMBER WILL INCREASE TO 100% OF THE VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. SOME COMPENSATION SHOULD BE MADE. | 316.7%ODI 10212593 · 147,900 miMAZDA 1994 RX7 FD3S PULSATION DAMPENER FAILURE. CAUSED LOSS OF FUEL AND DAMAGE TO WIRE HARNESS. THE FUEL LEAKED ONTO AND INTO THE WIRE HARNESS AND CAUSED THE HARNESS TO BECOME SATURATED, DAMP AND BRITTLE. I ALSO HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE AND INSTALL NEW PULSATION DAMPENER, WIRE HARNESS, INTAKE GASKET AND A FEW OTHER PARTS DO TO THE PULSATION DAMPENER FAILURE. I ALSO HAD TO PAY FOR LABOR. TOTAL WAS AROUND $1600.00 USD. I AM NOT HAPPY AND I HEAR THIS DAMPER FAILS ALL THE TIME FOR MY LOCAL DEALER. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 78.5%ODI 524391WHILE FUEL SYSTEM IS PRESSURIZED FUEL LEAKED OUT OF THE TOP OF PULSATION DAMPER PRIOR TO/AFTER RECALL REPAIRS, COULD LEAD TO A FIRE (95V-069). *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 414.3%ODI 562504THE PASSENGER SIDE BELT RETRACTOR IS JAMMED IN THE RAIL AND THE CABLE IS EXPOSED, THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO THEN STATED THAT THE REPAIR COST WOULD BE $100, CONSUMER THEN INFORMED THE DEALER THAT THIS IS A RECALL ITEM (96V173000) WITH A LIFETIME WARRANTY, CONSUMER STATES THE DEALERS ATTITUDE THEN CHANGE, THE DEALER THEN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO REMAIN AT THE DEALER THE ENTIRE DAY.*YH | 313.6%ODI 10053563 · 88,000 miFRONT SEAT BELTS WERE NOT RETRACTING. THIS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR FRONT PASSENGERS TO WEAR SEAT BELTS. RECALL 96V17000 WAS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM; HOWEVER, DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELTS BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 67.3%ODI 10149916 · 106,000 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND LEFT IDLING, UPON RETURNING THERE WAS FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. UPON INSPECTION THE INSURANCE COMPANY DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA AROUND THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WIRING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A REPORT. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT'S HOME. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | Too few reports for a range | 86,831 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11030072 · 86,831 miVEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IT OUT BEEN SITTING EVER SINCE |
| Engine | Too few reports for a range | 86,831 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11030072 · 86,831 miVEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IT OUT BEEN SITTING EVER SINCE |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | Too few reports for a range | 86,831 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11030072 · 86,831 miVEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IT OUT BEEN SITTING EVER SINCE |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
1994: 2 complaints · 1995: 1 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 1995 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 16 | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Electrical System | Engine | Fuel/Propulsion System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | — | 1ODI 11030072 · 86,831 miVEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IT OUT BEEN SITTING EVER SINCE | 1ODI 11030072 · 86,831 miVEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IT OUT BEEN SITTING EVER SINCE |
| Engine | 1ODI 11030072 · 86,831 miVEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IT OUT BEEN SITTING EVER SINCE | — | 1ODI 11030072 · 86,831 miVEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IT OUT BEEN SITTING EVER SINCE |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1ODI 11030072 · 86,831 miVEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IT OUT BEEN SITTING EVER SINCE | 1ODI 11030072 · 86,831 miVEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT IT OUT BEEN SITTING EVER SINCE | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.