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1988 Mazda RX7

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
24Owner complaints

Model-year median: 4

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
4
198511
198650
198724
198830
1989
Compare all RX7 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Fuel System, Gasoline
11Electrical System
4Engine And Engine Cooling
4Fuel System, Other
2Seat Belts
1
All reported categories
Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
1

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: 7 of 24 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.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports12 fire reports1 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Sep 13, 2004
Electrical 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 …

Read full complaint

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 ODI #10091987

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 2002
Electrical SystemFire

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

NHTSA ODI #764212

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2001
Electrical SystemCrashFire

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 ODI #755323

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 1998
Electrical SystemFire

ENGINE WIRING HARNESS CAUSED FIRE WHICH DAMAGED THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #537850

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.