1993 Mazda RX-7: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 82 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (40% of complaints); the 1991 and 1994 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Nov 2000
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 82 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Tl* the contact owns a 1993 mazda rx-7. The contact heard a loud noise coming from the vehicle while it was parked. The contact discovered that the air bags deployed independently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, the mechanic refused to diagnosis it and advised the contact to go to a dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 51,976.”Owner report · Air Bags · May 2016
“Drove on highway and vehicle started to smoke. Pulled off an exit, opened hood and flames were coming out from engine compartment. Car is sitting at a garage waiting to be repaired. This is the the 3rd engine in the car, all resulting from overheating or fire. 6/2001- antifreeze fire- issued a used engine 5/2005- antifreeze fire- bought a used engine 3/2006-antifreeze and oil leak- replace all associated hoses/o-rings 2/2012- engine fire- waiting for repairs. *tt”Owner report · Engine · Feb 2012
“Tl*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”Owner report · Electrical System · Mar 2007
Show 7 more owner reports
“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.”Owner report · Electrical System · Feb 2006
“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.”Owner report · Electrical System · Nov 2005
“The consumer received a recall NHTSA#94-v-094-000 on may 1997 on the radiator cap pressure relief valve. The release pressure was set too high which could cause the coolant to reach temperatures that exceed thermal design limits of some components of the coolant system. Should this occur the engine coolant could leak directly on top of the engine. The consumer stated this recall failed. *nlm the recall was partially completed. Both required replacement of the cooling system including the water pump which was not done because the vehicle lost the water pump on the road. *scc *jb”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Sep 2003
“Fuel pustation dampner spontaneously failed and began spraying a 6" stream of fuel under the upper intake manifold. Thank god I noticed the smell or this would have been a very nasty engine fire. The fuel leaks down from the fpd and runs off onto the turbo assembly. Scc ***dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis***770788”Owner report · Fuel System, Other · Dec 2002
“94 v 094 000/engine cooling system : this recall notice was received. Contacted manufacturer concerning other recalls founded on the web, they informed that vehicle had two recalls that were already completed, and recall concerning cooling system did not show up on this vehicle. Dealer was not notified at this time. Feel free to provide any further information.*ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Apr 2002
“3.8l engine would continually overheat while driving. Dealer contacted. Feel free to provide any further infromatio information.*ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Apr 2002
“Oil line to turbo's collapsed causing the inner coolers to be flooded with oil. This was caused by the apex seal coming off in the rotary tube which caused the compression levels to drop. This damage costs me in excess $10000 and happened at 30000 miles. An investigation is currently under way. *jb”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Apr 2002
When filing, owners marked a crash in 4 of these complaints and injuries in 3 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: MAZDA SPEED RESINOUS HOODS, DESIGNED AND SOLD AS ACCESSORY PARTS FOR MODEL YEAR 1992-1995 RX7 VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 1, 1997, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 19, 2000.
Remedy: MAZDA WILL NOTIFY THE RX7 VEHICLE CUSTOMERS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLE TO A MAZDA DEALER TO HAVE THE HOOD STRIKER REPLACED WITH A MODIFIED ONE.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE TWO VACUUM HOSES, INCLUDING THE CHECK VALVE, WITH MODIFIED HOSES.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1993 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact RX-7 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1993 Mazda RX-7 reliable?
NHTSA has 82 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 1993 Mazda RX-7. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (40% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1993 Mazda RX-7 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 51,976 miles or less.
Does the 1993 Mazda RX-7 have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.