Model year

1990 Mazda RX-7

Coupe, gasoline, built in Japan. Owner complaints on file from Aug 18, 1995 to Jul 21, 2015.

Recall campaigns covering this model year218k vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints282.0 times the median 1990 coupe
Severity index7.11990 coupes average 16.7
First 24 months0Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 1990 Mazda RX-7 peaked in 1996, with 6 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

0246199561998200120042007201020132016201920222026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

64% of complaints about the 1990 Mazda RX-7 name seat belts

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Seat belts
18
Engine and cooling
4
Fuel system
2
Brakes
2
Electrical system
1
Equipment
1
Tires
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

2 recall campaigns cover the 1990 Mazda RX-7

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Recall campaigns for the 1990 Mazda RX-7
CampaignFiledSubjectComponentVehiclesRemedy
96V-173Sep 16, 1996Rail of the automatic shoulder belt can wear sufficiently such that the cable which retracts the buckle assembly will become jammed in the rail…Seat belts17,800Part replacement
90E-043-002Oct 29, 1990Threaded inflator components may have been damaged during assembly which may allow components to separate when inflator receives a signal to…Airbags88Part replacement
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 1990 Mazda RX-7

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

28 complaints on file, page 1 of 2.

  1. Filed Jul 21, 2015Failure Jul 21, 2015151,426 milesAnderson, SCSeat 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).' *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10735427
  2. Filed Feb 12, 2009Failure Jun 30, 200881,000 milesCanton, OHSeat 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
  3. Filed Feb 5, 2009Failure Jun 30, 200881,000 milesCanton, OHWebbing

    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. *JB

    NHTSA complaint 10257608
  4. Filed Oct 3, 2005Failure Jul 17, 2005153,000 milesMchenry, ILEquipment, Fuel system, Fuel railFire

    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. *NM

    NHTSA complaint 10138372
  5. Filed Jan 12, 200430,000 milesHouston, TXWebbing

    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.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 10053782
  6. Filed Jul 11, 2002Failure Jul 10, 2002Bloomington, MNFuel system, 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. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 764067
  7. Filed Aug 15, 2001LAS Vegas, NVRetractor

    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.*YH

    NHTSA complaint 562504
  8. Filed Nov 4, 2000Portland, ORService brakes, 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 $!*AK

    NHTSA complaint 735719
  9. Filed Oct 2, 2000Failure Jan 1, 2000Oyster BAY, NYGasoline, Tires

    TIRES WERE WORN. NLM

    NHTSA complaint 555737
  10. Filed Jun 20, 2000Failure Nov 11, 1999Manassas, VABuckle 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??*AK

    NHTSA complaint 724260
  11. Filed Apr 21, 2000Eagle River, AKManifold/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 *ML

    NHTSA complaint 860740
  12. Filed Jan 26, 2000Failure May 5, 1997LAS Cruces, NMService brakes, 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
  13. Filed Jul 27, 1999Failure Jun 14, 1999Newtown, CTSeat 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. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 843583
  14. Filed Jun 14, 1999Newtown, CTSeat 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. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 839598
  15. Filed Jan 14, 1999Poacerville, CARetractor

    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. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 833573
  16. Filed Aug 4, 1997West Palm Beach, FLFuses and circuit breakersFire

    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. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 814969
  17. Filed Mar 25, 1997Pearland, TXSeat 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. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 808094
  18. Filed Feb 26, 1997Forestville, MDWebbing

    SHOULDER BELTS ARE NOT WORKING AFTER BEING TAKEN TO DEALER. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 809417
  19. Filed Feb 11, 1997Failure Jan 1, 1995Huntsville, ALRetractor

    THE SEAT BELTS WILL NOT EXTEND FROM RETRACTORS. THE ACTIVE SEAT BELT STOPPED HALF WAY BETWEEN THE LOCKED AND UNLOCKED POSITION. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 804598
  20. Filed Feb 7, 1997Failure Jan 13, 1997Columbus, OHGasoline

    ENGINE HAS FAILED AT 40,200 MILES BECAUSE THE APEX SEALS HAVE ERODED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND GARAGE STORED.

    NHTSA complaint 546646
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

1 NHTSA investigation on file

  • PE96027 Preliminary evaluation, Seat belts
    MAZDA RX7 AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILURE
    Opened Apr 16, 1996, closed Sep 30, 1996 · led to a recall
Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins

9 manufacturer communications cover this model year

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

  • 0900716 Feb 17, 2016 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    Speedometer replacement procedure
  • 00398 Jul 16, 1998 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    EXPERIENCING OIL LEAK AT REAR STATIONARY GEAR O-RING / ON - CAR REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *YC
  • 01198 May 28, 1998 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    SUBJECT ON PASSIVE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SWITCH. *YC
  • 97102302097 Oct 23, 1997 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    PRE-PAINTING PREPARATIONS FOR FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS. *YC
  • 007/97T Apr 25, 1997 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    PARTS REPLACEMENT AFTER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TW
  • 001/97G Apr 8, 1997 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY - DIAGNOSTIC AND CHARGING PROCEDURE. *TW
  • 008/97 May 19, 1997 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    USE OF A/C TRACER DYE. *TW
  • 003/97G Jan 19, 1997 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    WIPER MOTOR INOPERATIVE - CIRCUIT BREAKER ACTIVATION. *TW
  • 001/93 Feb 1, 1993 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    HARD SHIFT, R-TYPE TRANSMISSION. *TW
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.