Menu

Mazda RX-7Years to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 279 NHTSA owner complaints across 16 model years, no Mazda RX-7 year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1989 and 1990. The RX-7 has 6 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1987, 1993Best years'89 '90Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints279Top: Fuel system, gasolineSafety recalls61979–1995 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Mazda RX-7 years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the RX-7 median. Tap a year for its full report.

'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'93'94'95
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1995Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1994Not rated–/10018 complaints · 3 recalls1993Caution33/10082 complaints · 3 recalls1991Not rated–/10022 complaints · 1 recall1990Best69/10028 complaints · 1 recall1989Solid65/10030 complaints · 1 recall1988Not rated–/10024 complaints · 0 recalls1987Caution41/10051 complaints · 1 recall1986Not rated–/10011 complaints · 1 recall1985Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls1984Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls1983Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1982Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1981Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1980Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1979Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Mazda RX-7 problems

All model years combined: 279 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Fuel system, gasoline7733
Engine and engine cooling6720
Seat belts540
Electrical system3824
Visibility90
Fuel system, other84
Service brakes, hydraulic71
Tires61
Structure51
13 other systems3711
6 recalls

Mazda RX-7 recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Front: webbing96V-173 · 1989–1991 · Sep 16, 1996 · 17,800 vehicles–Vacuum: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings96V-149 · 1993–1995 · Aug 2, 1996 · 13,900 vehicles–Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings95V-069 · 1993–1994 · Mar 30, 1995 · 13,400 vehicles–Engine and engine cooling: cooling system94V-094 · 1993–1994 · May 11, 1994 · 12,316 vehicles–Disc: caliper87V-160 · 1986–1987 · Oct 14, 1987 · 17,850 vehicles–Steering85V-108 · 1979–1983 · Sep 4, 1985 · 136,526 vehicles
2 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the RX-7

  1. MAZDA RX7 AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILUREPE96027 · 1989–1992 · closed Sep 30, 1996
    Led to recall 96V-173
  2. TURBOCHARGER MALFUNCTIONPE94009 · 1993 · closed May 24, 1994
    Led to recall 94V-094