MAZDA RX7 · model year

1989 MAZDA RX7

32 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1989MAZDARX7 carries 32 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 2 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 1989 RX7 is seat belts with 14 filings, followed by seat belts:front:retractor (2) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (2). 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 1989 RX7, 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.

32
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

32 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SEAT BELTS14
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER1
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1

Recent Complaints

20100608SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

I OWN A 1989 MAZDA RX 7. I RECENTLY SAW A RECALL ON THE FORD RECALL WEB SITE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 96V173000, FRONT WEBBING FOR RX'S MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 12/24/88 TO 05/31/91. I HAVE THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM ON MY SEATS. I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY RX WAS NOT IN THE GROUP FOR THE RECALL. THE DEALER DID THIS BY VIN # , [XXX] , AND STATED MY CAR DID NOT FALL IN THE RECALL. THE DEALER PROVIDED A PRINT OUT SHOWING MY RX WAS MANUFACTURED, 01/10/89. I FEEL THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITHIN THE RANGE OF THE RECALL, MY VEHICLE IS AN RX7, AND MANUFACTURED IN THE RANGE OF THE RECALL. I AM REQUESTING HELP IN RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR UPDATED 07/08/11.*JB

20080109FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY DOING 63 MPH WHEN I SMELLED A FUNNY SMELL I PULLED OVER AND THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. THE PULSATION DAMPER FAILED CAUSING SERIOUS ENGINE DAMAGE AND ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE IF IT WASN'T FOR OTHER MOTORIST I WOULD NOT BE HERE MY ARM WAS SLIGHTLY BURNED BUT IT QUICKLY HEALED I HAVE NOT CURRENTLY HAD THE CAR REPAIRED IM SEEKING A BEST ESTIMATE FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

20051222SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

DT: THE CONTACT STATED PREVIOUSLY HAD RECALL 96V173000 REPAIR WORK PERFORMED ON THE SEAT BELTS: FRONT: WEBBING. HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED AND NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED, AND THEY CLAIMED SINCE THE RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. *AK UPDATED 1/23/2006 - *NM

Mileage: 95,000

20020328ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

"HEADLIGHT HARNESS" MELTED AND KNOCKED OUT "HEADLIGHT SWITCH"...KNOWN PROBLEM AND COMMON, NOT RECOGNIZED BY MAZDA AS WORTHY OF BEING FIXED. TAKES OUT DRIVING LIGHTS, AND INTERIOR LIGHTS, WHICH IS VERY UNSAFE AT NIGHT IN DARK REGIONS. CONTACTED LOCAL MAZDA DEALER, WAS TOLD IT WAS NEVER RECALLED OR ANYTHING. NLM

20010618VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

THIS IS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THE 1987-1991 RX-7 OWNERS. SPEED ADJUSTER FOR THE WINDSHIELD ONLY OPERATE AT THE TOP SPEED. RENDERING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO USE IN THE LIGHT SPRINKLE; HAVE TO KEEP TURNING IT ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. *AK

19990210VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

WHILE IN USE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS MALFUNCTION WHICH MAY CAUSE VISUAL DIFFICULTY, AND MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. DEALER WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH. ALSO KNOWN PROBLEMS WITH THIS WIPER SWITCH WHICH COST ABOUT $500 TO REPAIR. *AK

19990121FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE FIRE. (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT).

19981207SEAT BELTS

THE CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS. SINCE RECEIVING THE LETTER, NO PARTS HAS BEEN AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. RECALL NUMBER 96V173000. *AK

19980908VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH ONLY WORKS ON 1 SPEED. WIPERS DO NOT STOP IN THE DOWN POSITION.

19970501SEAT BELTS

OWNER STATES THAT RECEVIED A RECALL NOTICE FOR SHOULDER BELTS, BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET WORK DONE BECAUSE OF NO PARTS. ALSO DEALER PULLED HIS SEAT BELT APART AND DID NOT COMPLETE WORK BECAUSE OF NO PARTS. 96V173000. *AK

19970424VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

WINDSHIELD WIPER SWITCH DEFECTIVE, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

19970401SEAT BELTS

OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #96V17300 FOR AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD REPAIRS DONE; PROBLEM W/SHOULDER BELT HAS REOCCURRED A SHORT TIME LATER; DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR AGAIN. *AK

19970110SEAT BELTS

NO PARTS FOR SHOULDER BEL, TMANUFACTURER TOLD CUSTOMER THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN MORE PARTS WOULD BE COMING IN. *AK

19961231SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR INOPERATIVE.

19961114SEAT BELTS

MOTORIZED SEAT BELT RETRACTOR INOPERATIVE.

19961114SEAT BELTS

DRIVER'S SIDE MOTORBELT FAILED TO MOVE IN FORWARD POSITION DUE TO STRIPPED TRACK.

19961031SEAT BELTS

FAILURE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT, THE SHOULDER BELT WAS IN THE MIDWAY POSITION PRIOR TO RECALL (96V-173). *AK

19961031SEAT BELTS

THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT IS INOPERATIVE. THE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT TOWARDS THE BODY WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED. *AK

19960930SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON , TOOK TO DEALER THE OIL WAS LEAKING . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

19960930ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON , TOOK TO DEALER THE OIL WAS LEAKING . PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK

Compare 1989MAZDARX7 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1989 MAZDA RX7 have?
The 1989 MAZDA RX7 has 32 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 MAZDA RX7?
The most-complained component for the 1989 MAZDA RX7 is SEAT BELTS with 14 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE.
Is the 1989 MAZDA RX7 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.