1988 Mazda RX7

24 complaints on file, page 1 of 2.

1. Filed Jun 1, 2011Failure May 25, 2011135,000 milesEdwardsville, ILFuel system, Gasoline

   THE FUEL PULSATION DAMPER FAILED AND GASOLINE WAS LEAKING ONTO THE TOP OF THE ENGINE.

   NHTSA complaint 10404864
2. Filed Mar 9, 2011Failure Mar 9, 2011200,000 milesApopka, FLFuel system, Gasoline

   1988 MAZDA RX7 GXL PULSATION DAMPENER ON THE INJECTOR RAIL HAS STARTED SPRAYING FUEL ONTO MY ENGINE DUE TO ITS AGE.. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE AND A MISTAKE BY MAZDA THAT THEY NEED TO FIX! I ALMOST LOST MY CAR TODAY HAD THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IT LET OUT ONTO THE ENGINE WERE TO OF GOTTEN DOWN TO THE EXHAUST AND IGNITED . ( CHANGED BAD FUEL FILTER ) THE NEW AMOUNT OF PRESSURE GETTING INTO THE LINE MAY OF CAUSED THIS.. BUT THE PART IS MADE OF RUBBER AND AGAIN IS KNOWN TO BREAK. THERE WAS NO FIRE BUT ADVISED TO NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR TILL THE ISSUE IS FIXED. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10386941
3. Filed Nov 1, 2009Failure Jul 23, 2004134,000 milesSAN Dimas, CAFuel system, GasolineFire

   MAZDA RX7 DEFECT 86-91. MAZDA IS WELL AWARE OF THIS ONGOING ISSUE BUT WILL NOT ISSUE A RECALL. THE PULSATION DAMPER ON ALL MAZDA RX7'S FROM 1986-1991 IS PRONE TO FAILURE. THE DEVICE LITERALLY COMES APART ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK OUT. EVENTUALLY ENOUGH FUEL LEAKS OUT AND ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD CAUSING A VEHICLE FIRE. I HAVE NOW BEEN INVOLVED WITH TWO OF THESE INCIDENCES. THE FIRST ONE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY FIVE YEARS AGO WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE ON MY 1986 RX7, LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE TOTAL DEVASTATION. THE RESULT OF THE FIRE WAS ABOUT $1500.00 WORTH OF REPAIRS. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THE FIRE WAS THE RESULT OF A FUEL LEAK FROM THE PULSATION DAMPER. I NOW OWN A 1988 RX7 CONVERTIBLE AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN I BEGAN TO SMELL FUEL INSIDE THE CAR REALLY STRONG, SO STRONG IN FACT THAT I THOUGHT THAT THE FUEL TANK MUST BE LEAKING. I IMMEDIATELY PARKED THE CAR AND STARTED TO GIVE IT THE ONCE OVER NEVER THINKING THAT WITH THE SMELL BEING SOO STRONG THAT IT COULD BE COMING FROM THE PULSATION DAMPER. I CHECKED THE GAS TANK AND EVERY HOSE ON IT, NOT A DROP OF FUEL, AS A LAST RESORT I FIGURED I BETTER CHECK THE PULSATION DAMPER AND SURE ENOUGH FUEL WAS POURING OUT OF IT. I THINK THAT IF MY CAR HAD NOT BEEN A CONVERTIBLE I WOULD HAVE NOT NOTICED IT UNTIL IT WAS TOO LATE AND HAD ANOTHER FIRE. NOW EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO FIRE IT IS STILL GOING TO COST AROUND $500.00 TO REPAIR BECAUSE THE PART IS LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE FUEL INJECTION ASSEMBLY WHICH HAS TO BE COMPLETELY REMOVED IN ORDER TO ACCESS THE PULSATION DAMPER. I BELIEVE MAZDA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR, THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS/DEADLY SITUATION AND WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10290517
4. Filed Jun 26, 2009Failure Sep 24, 200889,749 milesAbbotsford, ALFuel system, OtherFire

   THE FUEL PULSATION DAMPENER ON MY 1988 RX-7 FAILED, LEAKED FUEL AND MY ENGINE ALMOST BURNED DOWN IF I HAD NOT BEEN CARRYING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN MY CAR. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10275078
5. Filed Feb 25, 2009Failure Feb 22, 2009Greensboro, NCFuel system, Gasoline

   I PURCHASED A 1988 MAZDA RX-7 GXL A FEW WEEKS. TWO DAYS AGO I BEGIN TO SMELL GAS IN THE CABIN. UPON INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE BAY I HAVE FOUND THE PULSATION DAMPER ON THE FUEL RAIL IS LEAKING. I'VE BEEN RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART AND HAVE HAD CONCERN ABOUT HOW I'VE FOUND MORE ARTICLES ON THE CONSISTENT FAILURE OF THIS PART AND ITS POTENTIAL TO LEAD TO FIRE. THE COST OF THIS PART IS $137 AND BECAUSE OF THE WAY MAZDA HAS MADE THE PART I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS PART WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN WITHIN THE LIFETIME OF THE VEHICLE. I DON'T THINK THIS IS FAIR TO THE CONSUMER AS THIS HAS NEVER BEEN A MAINTENANCE REQUIRED PART AND SURELY MAZDA HAS NEVER ADVERTISED THIS PART AS SUCH. *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10259868
6. Filed Oct 17, 2007Failure Sep 30, 2007Franklin, TNFuel system, Fuel injection system

   (1) NO LEADING EVENTS (2)PULSATION DAMPER FAILED/BROKEN: LOW COMPRESSION IN THE FRONT ROTOR; LOW POWER OVER ALL; CONSTANT SMELL OF RAW/UNBURNT FUEL; INCREASED POWER LOSS AT 3650 R.P.M. LASTING UNTIL WELL AFTER 4500 R.P.M.(SECONDARY FUEL INJECTORS FIRING); 133 MILE TO 16.9 GALLONS OF FUEL (7.86 MILES TO A GALLON); PROBLEM IDENTIFIED BEFORE FIRE BROKE OUT; ZERO DAMAGE (EXCEPT LEAKING PULSATION DAMPER) (3) REPLACED PULSATION DAMPER WITH "BANJO BOLT"; PULSATION DAMPER REMOVED FROM SYSTEM. *JB

   NHTSA complaint 10206159
7. Filed Apr 12, 2006Failure Mar 14, 200692,000 milesCary, NCFuel system, Hoses, Lines/piping, And fittings

   I RECENTLY NOTICED A FUEL SMELL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF MY 88 RX7. FOUND IT TO BE THE FUEL PULSATION DAMPENER, A COMMONLY FAILING COMPONENT IN THE FUEL SYSTEM, BEING A LITTLE PLASTIC CAP THAT HOLDS BACK THE FUEL FROM LEAKING DIRECTLY ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I KNOW OF NUMEROUS FIRES CAUSED BY THIS OFTEN RESULTING IN A FULL ENGINE VEHICLE BURN OUT. I HAVE REPLACED THE SYSTEM WITH STRAIGHT FUEL LINES WHICH, BAD FOR THE ENGINE IS THE PRICE I WILL PAY TO KEEP FROM HAVING A ENGINE FIRE. I ALSO NOW FEEL FORCED TO KEEP A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN THE CAR IN EASY REACH AT ALL TIMES. *JB

   NHTSA complaint 10155114
8. Filed Sep 13, 2004Failure Sep 13, 2004Valencia, CAElectrical systemFire

   WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED. THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT VEHICLE WAS BURNING UNTIL ANOTHER PERSON CAUGHT UP WITH CONSUMER AND TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS FIRE UNDER VEHICLE. HE STOPPED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THEN, FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED. CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, WHO TOLD HIM THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MAZDAS RX7. *AK

   NHTSA complaint 10091987
9. Filed Jun 23, 2004Failure Jun 21, 200430 milesELK River, MNFuel system, Hoses, Lines/piping, And fittings

   I HAVE JUST HAD A FUEL PULSATION DAMPENER ON MY 1988 MAZDA RX-7. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE SAME FAILURE ON MY 1994 MAZDA RX-7. THE ENGINE BAY SMELLS OF FUEL AND I CAN SEE FUEL SPILLING OUT. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THIS IS VERY COMMON AND HAS CAUSED MANY ENGINE FIRES. I AM CURRENTLY VERY CONCERNED FOR MY SAFTEY AND MY 1988 RX-7 IS MY DAILY TRANSPORTATION. NOW I MUST FEAR ENGINE FIRE POSSIBILITY. *AK

   NHTSA complaint 10078660
10. Filed Nov 22, 2003Failure Sep 6, 2003188,000 milesDickinson, TXFuel system, Delivery

    THE PULSATION DAMPER ON MY MAZDA RX7 1988 GXL SCREW WORKED ITS WAY OUT AND I WAS GETTING FUEL SPILL ALL OVER MY ENGINE COMPARTMENT. HAD I NOT NOTICED THE FUEL SMELL AND FOUND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS THEN MY CAR MAY HAVE BURNED IT SELF UP IN AN UNDER THE HOOD FIRE. *LA

    NHTSA complaint 10047366
11. Filed Feb 3, 2003Failure Jan 7, 2003Sebring, FLFuel system, Carburetor systemFire

    THE PULSATION DAMPER HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR A WHILE, BUT WAS NOT DETECTED UNTIL VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PH

    NHTSA complaint 10006197
12. Filed Dec 9, 2002Failure Nov 25, 2002Austin, TXFuel system, GasolineFire

    I WAS PROCEEDING TO THE PEP BOYS TO GET THE FUEL LEAK IN THE PULSATION DAMPENER FIXED WHEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE. IT WAS PUT OUT WITHOUT THE CAR BURNING TO THE GROUND. DT

    NHTSA complaint 770631
13. Filed Aug 30, 2002Failure Aug 3, 2002Northlake, ILFuel system, Fuel injection systemFire1 injured

    THE PULSATION DAMPER RUBBER SEAL RUPTURED DUE TO BAD PLACEMENT AND DESIGN. THE VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING FUEL RIGHT OVER THE EXTREMELY HOT MANIFOLD AND SPARKED A SMALL ENGIN FIRE. IN THE PROCESS OF EXTINQUISHING THE FIRE, MY RIGHT HAD WAS BURNED. I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE QUICKLY ENOUGH SO THE DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 766463
14. Filed Jul 14, 2002Failure Jun 1, 1997Turlock, CAFront underhoodFire

    I HAVE NOW HAD TWO FIRES FROM FAILED PULSATION DAMPNERS. VERY POOR DESIGN.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 764212
15. Filed Jan 10, 2002Greenburg, PAExhaust systemFire

    CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN HE SAW A FLARE, PULLED VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE PASSENGERS SIDE, IT LOOKED AS IF THE MUFFLER WAS ON FIRE, FIRE DEPARTMENT CHIEF SAID FROM LOOKING AT IT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER MAY HAVE GOTTEN CLOGGED UP. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #1091565) *JG

    NHTSA complaint 563961
16. Filed Dec 5, 2001Failure Nov 23, 2001Alice, TXFront underhoodCrashFire2 killed

    INTERSECTION COLLISION. THE MAZDA WAS HIT ON THE RIGHT FRONT QUARTER PANEL AND SPUN AROUND INTO A TREE. THE CAR THEN BURST INTO FLAMES. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 755323
17. Filed Nov 17, 2000Failure Nov 12, 2000Danville, CAVehicle speed control

    ENGINE ACCELERATES TO APPROXIMATELY 3000 RPM'S WHEN INITIALLY STARTED WHETEHR HOT OR COLD. AFTER DRIVING, ENGINE DROPS TO APPROX. 1500 RPMS, BUT SURGES BETWEEN 1300 AND 1700 RPM.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 736451
18. Filed May 20, 2000Failure Aug 10, 1999King George, VAManifold/header/muffler/tail pipe

    THE PROBLEM I HAD, WITH THE FUEL PULSATION DAMPER, IS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS AND HAZARDOUS SITUATION. LOCATED ON TOP OF THE UPPER INTAKE, THERE IS A SCREW THAT WILL BACK ITSELF OUT THAT SEALS THE PULSATION DAMPER CLOSED. WHEN THIS SCREW BACKS OUT, A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL IS NOTICED IN THE ENGINE BAY AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. ON TURBOCHARGED CARS, THE PULSATION DAMPER IS LOCATED DIRECTLY OVER THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD...THIS IS NOT GOOD! ESPECIALLY FOR A DESIGN THAT SEEMS TO BACK ITSELF OUT OVER TIME. THE PART IS QUITE EXPENSIVE, I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT THE CAUSE OF USER ABUSE, BUT RATHER POOR DESIGN AND THE CONSUMER SHOULD NOT BE MADE TO SUFFER, ESPECIALLY FOR SUCH A FAULTY DESIGN WITH SUCH HAZARDOUS CONSEQUENCES. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND I'M SURE IF YOU CONTACTED MORE RX-7 OWNERS (2ND GEN, 86-88), YOU WOULD FINE NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM (ALTHOUGH MIGHT NOT KNOW WHERE THE 'FUEL LEAK' IS COMING FROM!). THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

    NHTSA complaint 722953
19. Filed Dec 14, 1998Failure Nov 15, 1998Jupiter, FLRetractor

    SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WILL NOT COME OUT OF THE RETRACTOR. SOMETIMES THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WILL LOCK AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT. DEALER IS AWARE OF SITUATION. THE SEAT BELTS HAVE NOT BEEN CORRECTED AT THIS TIME. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 832238
20. Filed Nov 30, 1998Failure Nov 30, 1997Mission, KSDefroster/defogger/hvac system, Windshield wiper/washer

    THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE DEFROSTER, AS WELL AS WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, DEFROSTER HAS PROBLEMS BLOWING HOT AIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

    NHTSA complaint 831440