IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 MAZDA RX7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACTWAS UNSURE AS TO WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE, BUT STATED THAT HE SMELLED GAS FUMES BEFORE THE FIRE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 50,000.*AK
1993 Mazda RX-7
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all RX-7 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 9 of 82 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 36 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports23 fire reports3 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
17 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE GOING UP HILL. LATER, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER LIFTING THE HOOD FLAMES CAME OUT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AFTERWARDS TO ENSURE IT WAS CONTAINED. UPON INS…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE GOING UP HILL. LATER, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. AFTER LIFTING THE HOOD FLAMES CAME OUT. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED AFTERWARDS TO ENSURE IT WAS CONTAINED. UPON INSPECTION THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA AROUND THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WIRING. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING REPAIRS.
DT*: 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 REPOR…
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DT*: 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.
AT STOP LIGHT NOTICED BROWNISH/GRAY SMOKE COMING THROUGH VENTS & FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED TO SIDE & LIFTED HOOD. NOTICED FLAMES IN AREA OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD (ENGINE). FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK REPORTED TO MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GAS SINCE JAN. 19, 1…
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AT STOP LIGHT NOTICED BROWNISH/GRAY SMOKE COMING THROUGH VENTS & FROM UNDER THE HOOD. PULLED TO SIDE & LIFTED HOOD. NOTICED FLAMES IN AREA OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD (ENGINE). FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED & PUT FLAMES OUT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK REPORTED TO MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE WAS A STRONG ODOR OF GAS SINCE JAN. 19, 1995, HOWEVER THEY WERE UNABLE TO INDICATE SOURCE OR FIND ANY PROBLEM PRIOR TO FIRE. *MJS
I HOPE I HAVE CONTACTED THE CORRECT WEBSITE ADDRESS. IF NOT PLEASE FORGIVE ME. I HAVE THE OCCASION TO DRIVE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF VEHICLES MADE BY MANY MANUFACTURERS, AND FEEL I HAVE FOUND A MAJOR SAFETY SHORTCOMING. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, I HAVE HAD THE NEED TO SOUND THE HORN. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE HORN BUTTON IS IN…
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I HOPE I HAVE CONTACTED THE CORRECT WEBSITE ADDRESS. IF NOT PLEASE FORGIVE ME. I HAVE THE OCCASION TO DRIVE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF VEHICLES MADE BY MANY MANUFACTURERS, AND FEEL I HAVE FOUND A MAJOR SAFETY SHORTCOMING. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, I HAVE HAD THE NEED TO SOUND THE HORN. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE HORN BUTTON IS IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION ON EACH CAR. IT IS OFTEN HARD TO FIND AS WELL WHICH CAN BE A PROBLEM WHEN YOU HAVE TO REACT SWIFTLY. I BELIEVE THE NTSA SHOULD STANDARDIZE THE HORN LOCATION AND DESIGN, AND REQUIRE MANUFACTURER'S OF AUTOMOBILES TO COMPLY. THE HORN BUTTON SHOULD BE LARGE ( LIKE A FORD TAURUS NOT LIKE A JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE), EASY TO FIND AND IN THE SAME LOCATION ON ALL VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THIS SAFETY FEATURE WOULD REDUCE ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLY SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. .......BRIAN SLOCUM, RT2 BOX163, MILLBROOK, NY 12545. *AK
WHEN AIR CONDITONING IS USED VEHICLE STALLS. ALSO THERE IS A LOSS STEERING POWER. COMPUTER MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS. *AK
DROVE VEHICLE ABOUT 3 MILES, ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. WENT BACK HOME AND CUT VEHICLE OFF, SAW SMOKE AND RAISED THE HOOD AND FIRE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF VEHICLE. *AK
LEAKING BATTERY ACID CAUSES A SHORT IN A COOLING FAN MOTOR LOCATED DIRECTLY BELOW THE BATTERY CAUSES FIRES IN 1993 AND OLDER MODEL MAZDA RX-7S. THIS WILL NOT SHOW IN A FIRE INVESTIGATION, AS THE INSULATION WILL BE BURNED AWAY. THIS CAN EXPLAIN THE MULTIPLE FIRES IN PARKED, COOL VEHICLES.
ALTERNATOR SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED THE CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE.
ALTERNATOR SHORTED OUT AND CAUSED THE CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE.
Official recalls
396V149000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Aug 2, 1996
OIL MIST CONTAINED IN THE ENGINE INTAKE AIR CAN COLLECT OVER TIME IN THE BRAKE VACUUM CHECK VALVE PREVENTING THE CHECK VALVE FROM OPENING AT THE SPECIFIED PRESSURE REDUCING POWER ASSIST TO THE BRAKES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BRAKE PERFORMANCE CAN BE DIMINISHED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE TWO VACUUM HOSES, INCLUDING THE CHECK VALVE, WITH MODIFIED HOSES.
95V069000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Mar 30, 1995
RESIDUAL ENGINE HEAT CAN CAUSE PREMATURE DETERIORATION OF THE FUEL HOSE CAUSING THE HOSE TO LEAK. ALSO, REMOVING AND REINSTALLING THE DETERIORATED FUEL HOSES INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF A LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL CONTROL UNIT FOR THE ELECTRIC COOLING FAN. THE FAN WILL THEN ACTIVATE AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF WHEN THE COOLANT EXCEEDS A SPECIFIED TEMPERATURE. THE FUEL HOSES WILL ALSO BE REPLACED WITH REVISED HOSES.
94V094000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System
May 11, 1994
THE RADIATOR CAP PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE RELEASE PRESSURE IS SET TOO HIGH. THIS CAN CAUSE THE COOLANT TO REACH TEMPERATURES THAT EXCEED THE THERMAL DESIGN LIMITS OF SOME COMPONENTS OF THE COOLANT SYSTEM. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, ENGINE COOLANT CAN LEAK COLLECT ON TOP OF THE ENGINE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS ONTO THE HOT ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAN RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES AND IF ANY VEHICLE EXHIBITS COOLANT LEAKAGE OR IF THE COOLANT LEVEL HAS DROPPED TO THE POINT WHERE THE COOLANT LOSS WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO TRIGGER THE COOLANT LEVEL WARNING SYSTEM, COMPONENTS POTENTIALLY SUBJECT TO DETERIORATION FROM OVERHEATING WOULD BE REPLACED. THESE PARTS INCLUDE THE WATER PUMP BEARING HOUSING, THE WATER LEVEL SENSOR AND RADIATOR UPPER HOSE, THE THERMOSTAT GASKET, AND ALL WATER HOSES LOCATED ABOVE THE ENGINE. IN ADDITION, ALL VEHICLES IN WHICH THOSE COMPONENTS ARE REPLACED WOULD ALSO HAVE THE COOLING SYSTEM AND OTHER SYSTEMS THAT CARRY FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS CHECKED TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT ENGINE OVERHEATING HAD NOT CAUSED ANY PROBLEMS IN THOSE SYSTEMS. ANY IDENTIFIED PROBLEMS WILL BE REPAIRED. THE RADIATOR CAP, FILLER CAP, AND FILLER CAP BODY OF ALL RECALLED VEHICLES WILL BE REPLACED BY NEWLY DESIGNED PARTS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE94009 · Turbocharger Malfunction
Opened Jan 31, 1994 · Closed May 24, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System
There is no summary currently available