Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
25,000 – 49,999 miles
116.7%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
233.3%
150,000+ miles
350.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Dec 1995peak 4Jul 2015
NHTSA investigations into the 1990 Mazda RX-7
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE PULSATION DAMENER ON THE PRIMARY FUEL RAIL FAILED, SPRAYING FUEL OVER THE ENTIRE ENGINE BAY, WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE OF THE COMPARTMENT, WHICH WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED VIA HANDHELD FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE PART WAS REPLACED, AT A HIGH COST, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE FUEL RAIL MUST BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10138372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 153,000 milesMchenry, ILFire
EQUIPMENT
UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE PULSATION DAMENER ON THE PRIMARY FUEL RAIL FAILED, SPRAYING FUEL OVER THE ENTIRE ENGINE BAY, WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE OF THE COMPARTMENT, WHICH WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED VIA HANDHELD FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE PART WAS REPLACED, AT A HIGH COST, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE FUEL RAIL MUST BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10138372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Palm Beach, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHT LIGHT SWITCH CIRCUIT BOARD MODULE OVERHEATS AND STARTS FIRE.THE LIGHTS TURN AND OFF INTERMITENTLY WITH NO WARNING.THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #814969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 151,426 milesAnderson, SC
SEAT BELTS
THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR MY CAR FOR THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON 02-17-1997, CAMPAIGN # 68702. MINE WAS ORIGINALLY REPAIRED ON 05-23-2006. IT HAS SINCE FAILED AGAIN AND MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER, # 23963, RAN A REPORT SHOWING THAT THE STATUS WAS CLOSED BECAUSE IT WAS FIXED ONCE. AS A SAFETY ISSUE, I THOUGHT THAT THIS RECALL COVERED THE PROBLEM FOR THE CAR'S LIFETIME, AT LEAST FOR THE ORIGINAL OWNER WHICH I AM. I WOULD LIKE YOUR HELP RESOLVING THIS ISSUE AS THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THE ONE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED, IS NOT WORKING AGAIN. THANKS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
NHTSA complaint #10735427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 81,000 milesCanton, OH
SEAT BELTS
TL*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 MILEAGE WAS 82,000.
NHTSA complaint #10258464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 81,000 milesCanton, OH
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 MAZDA RX7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT FAILED TO RETRACT. THE SHOULDER BELT WAS INOPERATIVE. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V173000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT,WEBBING), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 3/16/09 *CN UPDATED 03/19/09.
NHTSA complaint #10257608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE PULSATION DAMENER ON THE PRIMARY FUEL RAIL FAILED, SPRAYING FUEL OVER THE ENTIRE ENGINE BAY, WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE OF THE COMPARTMENT, WHICH WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED VIA HANDHELD FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE PART WAS REPLACED, AT A HIGH COST, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE FUEL RAIL MUST BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10138372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 153,000 milesMchenry, ILFire
EQUIPMENT
UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE PULSATION DAMENER ON THE PRIMARY FUEL RAIL FAILED, SPRAYING FUEL OVER THE ENTIRE ENGINE BAY, WHICH RESULTED IN A FIRE OF THE COMPARTMENT, WHICH WAS QUICKLY EXTINGUISHED VIA HANDHELD FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE PART WAS REPLACED, AT A HIGH COST, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE WHOLE FUEL RAIL MUST BE REPLACED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10138372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesHouston, TX
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT RECALL 96V173000. THE DEFECT ALREADY OCCURRED, BUT THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT IT WAS NOT THE SAME FAILURE AS STATED IN THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10053782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bloomington, MN
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
PUSATION 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.
NHTSA complaint #764067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Vegas, NV
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE 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.
NHTSA complaint #562504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Vegas, NV
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE 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.
NHTSA complaint #562504 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Portland, OR
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE ABS HAS NOT FAILED, BUT IT LEAKS PROFUSLY. I NEED TO REPLACE ABOUT 1 OZ OF BRAKE FLUID PER WEEK. THE DEALER'S PRICE FOR A REPLACEMENT ABS UNIT (THEY WON'T REBUILD IT) IS A CRIME AT $2745!! IF THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM (AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS), THEY SHOULD BE MORE REASONABLE $!
NHTSA complaint #735719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oyster BAY, NY
TIRES
TIRES WERE WORN. NLM
NHTSA complaint #555737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oyster BAY, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER REPLACED ENGINE IN 1995, NOW FIVE YEARS LATER THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN BECAUSE THE APEX SEAL IS PARTIAL COLLAPSED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. NLM
NHTSA complaint #555737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Manassas, VA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V173000. I CONTACTED BOTH MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER AND MAZDA THEMSELVES. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE RECALL WAS OVER AND HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE ON THE VEHICLE IN 1996 AND WAS NOT APPLICABLE FOR RECALL NOW. THEY QUOTED ME A PRICE OVER $1000 TO FIX IT, WHICH AT THIS TIME IS NOT FEASABLE. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND FROM THIS RECALL IS IT IS A LIFETIME RECALL NOT A 1 TIME DEAL??
NHTSA complaint #724260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eagle River, AK
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
EXHAUST MANIFOLD IS LEAKING CARBON MONOXIDE INTO THE CABIN OF VEHICLE, CAUSING A HEALTH HAZARD. DEALER IS AWARE OF DEFECT. CONSUMER CLAIMS HE IS AWARE OF OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL THAT HAVE THIS DEFECT. *AK
NHTSA complaint #860740 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Cruces, NM
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE UNIT LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. STARTED ABOUT 5/5/97. LEAKS WITH CAR PARKED, MAY LEAK WHILE DRIVING. STARTED GRADUALLY, NOW LOSES ABOUT TWO OUNCES PER WEEK. IF BRAKE FLUID LEVEL GETS TOO LOW WHILE DRIVING, IT CAN PREVENT PROPER BRAKE OPERATION AND INCREASE THE RISK OF ACCIDENT. THE ABS UNIT IS LOCATED NEAR THE ENGINE EXHAUST AND JUST AFT OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. I SUSPECT THAT BRAKE FLUID MAY DRIP ON THE HEATED EXHAUST SYSTEM; PERHAPS THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE. IF DRIPPING BRAKE FLUID GOT ON THE TIRE, IT COULD REDUCE TRACTION AND CONTRIBUTE TO AN ACCIDENT. ALL OF THESE POSSIBILITIES COMPRISE SAFETY HAZARDS. IN ADDITION, I HAVE CHECKED MULTIPLE SOURCES FOR USED ABS UNITS AND ALL ORIGINAL UNITS LOCATED ALSO LEAK. THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM. SOME OWNERS HAVE REMOVED AND BYPASSED THE ABS UNIT TO STOP THE LEAK. THIS IS PROBABLY ALSO UNSAFE. I SUGGEST THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE ALL SUCH DEFECTIVE ABS UNITS AS A SAFETY MEASURE.
NHTSA complaint #717889 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newtown, CT
SEAT BELTS
RECEIVED NOTICE 96V173000 3 MONTHS AGO. BEEN CALLING DEALERSHIP OFF/ON EVER SINCE. BEEN INFORMED NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR SEAT BELTS. WOULD NOTIFY WHEN BELT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #843583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Newtown, CT
SEAT BELTS
HAD RECEIVED RECALL 996V173000 OVER 3MONTHS AGO & CONTACTED DEALER. BEEN CHECKING OFF & ON FOR 3MONTHS. CALLED LAST WEEK & WA S INFORMED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND DID NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRS TO AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT. MANUFACTURER ONLY DID A SMALL AMOUNT, AND WAS NOT SURE IF HE WILL DO ANY MORE.
NHTSA complaint #839598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Poacerville, CA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SHOULDER BELTS BROKE TO THE POINT WERE THEY DON'T RETRACT, AND ARE LAYING IN THE BACK SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #833573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Scottsdale, AZ
SEAT BELTS
PASS. SEAT BELT RETRACTOR INOPERATIVE, INTERNAL FAILURE, REPLACED PASS. SEAT BELT RETRACTOR.
NHTSA complaint #512433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Palm Beach, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHT LIGHT SWITCH CIRCUIT BOARD MODULE OVERHEATS AND STARTS FIRE.THE LIGHTS TURN AND OFF INTERMITENTLY WITH NO WARNING.THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #814969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pearland, TX
SEAT BELTS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SOMETIMES WORKS, TOOK BACK TO DEALER AFTER RECEIVG I RECALL # 96V173000 ; DONE SEAT RETRACTOR REPAIRS, DEALER SAID IT THE LATCH THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEMS, NOT THE RETRACTORS.
NHTSA complaint #808094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Forestville, MD
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
SHOULDER BELTS ARE NOT WORKING AFTER BEING TAKEN TO DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #809417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Huntsville, AL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT EXTEND FROM RETRACTORS. THE ACTIVE SEAT BELT STOPPED HALF WAY BETWEEN THE LOCKED AND UNLOCKED POSITION.
NHTSA complaint #804598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, OH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE HAS FAILED AT 40,200 MILES BECAUSE THE APEX SEALS HAVE ERODED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND GARAGE STORED.
NHTSA complaint #546646 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dekalb, IL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
SYCAMORE FORD MAZDA SAID THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE RECALL AND MAZDA MANUFACTURER SAID THE CONSUMER IS NOT INCLUDED, BUT HE RECEIVED NOTICE AND HIS SHOULDER BELT IS BROKEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #808673 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.