Total Complaints
31 filings
MAZDA RX-7 · model year
31 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990MAZDARX-7 carries 31 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 3 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1990 RX-7 is seat belts with 8 filings, followed by seat belts:front:retractor (5) and seat belts:front:webbing (4). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 21 investigation files overlapping the 1990 RX-7, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
31 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS | 8 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 5 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT | 1 |
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
Mileage: 151,426
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.
Mileage: 81,000
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
Mileage: 81,000
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
Mileage: 153,000
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
Mileage: 153,000
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
Mileage: 30,000
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
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
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
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
TIRES WERE WORN. NLM
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 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
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
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.
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
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
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
PASS. SEAT BELT RETRACTOR INOPERATIVE, INTERNAL FAILURE, REPLACED PASS. SEAT BELT RETRACTOR.
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
Momentary increase in steering effort after recall remedy
Inadvertent Curtain Air Bag Deployment
Front Subframe Corrosion
Lower ball joint separation
Brake Booster Failure
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.