Mazda Rx7 1988
Model Rx7 made in 1988 by Mazda got 34 consumer complains as well as 6 service bulletins. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to electrical system and engine and engine cooling. Technical service bulletines regarding air bags and electrical system.
Model 1988
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | |||||
| 007/97T | 04/25/1997 | 52520 | Parts replacement after airbag deployment. *tw | 08/14/1997 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||||
| 001/97G | 04/08/1997 | 52503 | Maintenance free battery - diagnostic and charging procedure. *tw | 08/14/1997 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | |||||
| 003/97G | 01/19/1997 | 15-070/88 | 52492 | Wiper motor inoperative - circuit breaker activation. *tw | 08/14/1997 |
| EQUIPMENT - ELECTRICAL - AIR CONDITIONER | |||||
| 008/97 | 05/19/1997 | 52497 | Use of a/c tracer dye. *tw | 08/14/1997 | |
| POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | |||||
| 00398 | 07/16/1998 | 603907 | Experiencing oil leak at rear stationary gear o-ring / on - car replacement procedure. *yc | 03/11/1999 | |
| 001/93 | 02/01/1993 | 39688 | Hard shift, r-type transmission. *tw | 11/01/1995 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 09/13/2004 | 1 | ||
| 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 | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | |||
| 06/01/1997 | 3 | 08/01/2088 | |
| I have now had two fires from failed pulsation dampners. very poor design.*ak | |||
| 11/23/2001 | |||
| 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 | |||
| 06/01/1998 | 1 | 03/30/1989 | |
| Engine wiring harness caused fire which damaged the engine. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||
| 07/01/1995 | 02/04/1994 | ||
| When warm the vehicle shuts off. it floods itself when trying to restart. problem still exists, dealer cannot repair it. *ak *ml | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE | |||
| 1 | 08/14/1996 | ||
| Engine fire. | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM | |||
| 1 | |||
| Consumer was driving when he saw a flare, pulled vehicle over and noticed smoke coming from under the passengers side, it looked as if the muffler was on fire, fire department chief said from looking at it the catalytic converter may have gotten clogged up. (ohio traffic crash report #1091565) *jg | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | |||
| 08/10/1999 | 1 | 06/01/1999 | |
| The problem i had, with the fuel pulsation damper, is an extremely serious and hazardous situation. located on top of the upper intake, there is a screw that will back itself out that seals the pulsation damper closed. when this screw backs out, a strong gasoline smell is noticed in the engine bay and inside the vehicle. on turbocharged cars, the pulsation damper is located directly over the exhaust manifold...this is not good! especially for a design that seems to back itself out over time. the part is quite expensive, i feel that this is not the cause of user abuse, but rather poor design and the consumer should not be made to suffer, especially for such a faulty design with such hazardous consequences. this is an extremely serious problem, and i'm sure if you contacted more rx-7 owners (2nd gen, 86-88), you would fine numerous people have this problem (although might not know where the 'fuel leak' is coming from!). thank you for your time. | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | |||
| 05/25/2011 | 135000 | ||
| The fuel pulsation damper failed and gasoline was leaking onto the top of the engine. | |||
| 03/09/2011 | 200000 | ||
| 1988 mazda rx7 gxl pulsation dampener on the injector rail has started spraying fuel onto my engine due to its age.. this is a well known issue with these and a mistake by mazda that they need to fix! i almost lost my car today had the amount of fuel it let out onto the engine were to of gotten down to the exhaust and ignited . ( changed bad fuel filter ) the new amount of of pressure getting into the line may of caused this.. but the part is made of rubber and again is known known to break. there was no fire but advised to no longer drive the car till the issue is fixed | |||
| 07/23/2004 | 134000 | 1 | |
| Mazda rx7 defect 86-91. mazda is well aware of this ongoing issue but will not issue a recall. the pulsation damper on all mazda rx7's from 1986-1991 is prone to failure. the device literally comes apart allowing fuel to leak out. eventually enough fuel leaks out and onto the hot exhaust manifold causing a vehicle fire. i have now been involved with two of these incidences. the first one occurred approximately five years ago when the engine caught fire on my 1986 rx7, luckily i was able to put the fire out before total devastation. the result of the fire was about $1500.00 worth of repairs. the repair shop said that the fire was the result of a fuel leak from the pulsation damper. i now own a 1988 rx7 convertible and all of the sudden i began to smell fuel inside the car really strong, so strong in fact that i thought that the fuel tank must be leaking. i immediately parked the car and started to give it the once over never thinking that with the smell being soo strong that it could be coming from the pulsation damper. i checked the gas tank and every hose on it, not a drop of fuel, as a last resort i figured i better check the pulsation damper and sure enough fuel was pouring out of it. i think that if my car had not been a convertible i would have not noticed it until it was too late and had another fire. now even though there was no fire it is still going to cost around $500.00 to repair because the part is located underneath the fuel injection assembly which has to be completely removed in order to access the pulsation damper. i believe mazda should be responsible for the repair, they know that they have a potentially dangerous/deadly situation and will do nothing about it. *tr | |||
| 02/22/2009 | 1 | ||
| I purchased a 1988 mazda rx-7 gxl a few weeks. two days ago i begin to smell gas in the cabin. upon inspection of the engine bay i have found the pulsation damper on the fuel rail is leaking. i've been researching on the internet for the replacement part and have had concern about how i've found more articles on the consistent failure of this part and its potential to lead to fire. the cost of this part is $137 and because of the way mazda has made the part i've been told that this part will need to be replaced again within the lifetime of the vehicle. i don't think this is fair to the consumer as this has never been a maintenance required part and surely mazda has never advertised this part as such. *tr | |||
| 11/25/2002 | 1 | ||
| I was proceeding to the pep boys to get the fuel leak in the pulsation dampener fixed when the engine caught fire. it was put out without the car burning to the ground. dt | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - CARBURETOR SYSTEM | |||
| 01/07/2003 | |||
| The pulsation damper has been leaking for a while, but was not detected until vehicle caught on fire. dealership has been notified. ph | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY | |||
| 09/06/2003 | 188000 | 1 | 06/10/2002 |
| The pulsation damper on my mazda rx7 1988 gxl screw worked its way out and i was getting fuel spill all over my engine compartment. had i not noticed the fuel smell and found out what the problem was then my car may have burned it self up in an under the hood fire. *la | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY - HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | |||
| 03/14/2006 | 92000 | 1 | |
| I recently noticed a fuel smell in the engine compartment of my 88 rx7. found it to be the fuel pulsation dampener, a commonly failing component in the fuel system, being a little plastic cap that holds back the fuel from leaking directly on the exhaust manifold. i know of numerous fires caused by this often resulting in a full engine vehicle burn out. i have replaced the system with straight fuel lines which, bad for the engine is the price i will pay to keep from having a engine fire. i also now feel forced to keep a fire extinguisher in the car in easy reach at all times. *jb | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | |||
| 09/30/2007 | 1 | 09/19/2007 | |
| (1) no leading events (2)pulsation damper failed/broken: low compression in the front rotor; low power over all; constant smell of raw/unburnt fuel; increased power loss at 3650 r.p.m. lasting until well after 4500 r.p.m.(secondary fuel injectors firing); 133 mile to 16.9 gallons of fuel (7.86 miles to a gallon); problem identified before fire broke out; zero damage (except leaking pulsation damper) (3) replaced pulsation damper with banjo bolt; pulsation damper removed from system. *jb | |||
| 08/03/2002 | 1 | 01/01/2001 | |
| The pulsation damper rubber seal ruptured due to bad placement and design. the vehicle began leaking fuel right over the extremely hot manifold and sparked a small engin fire. in the process of extinquishing the fire, my right had was burned. i was able to extinguish the fire quickly enough so the damage was minimal.*ak | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM - FUEL RAIL | |||
| 03/14/2006 | 92000 | 1 | |
| I recently noticed a fuel smell in the engine compartment of my 88 rx7. found it to be the fuel pulsation dampener, a commonly failing component in the fuel system, being a little plastic cap that holds back the fuel from leaking directly on the exhaust manifold. i know of numerous fires caused by this often resulting in a full engine vehicle burn out. i have replaced the system with straight fuel lines which, bad for the engine is the price i will pay to keep from having a engine fire. i also now feel forced to keep a fire extinguisher in the car in easy reach at all times. *jb | |||
| 12/16/1995 | 1 | ||
| While driving then stopped at light, engine caught on fire due to a fuel leak in the fuel injection return hose. *ak | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | |||
| 09/24/2008 | 89749 | 1 | |
| The fuel pulsation dampener on my 1988 rx-7 failed, leaked fuel and my engine almost burned down if i had not been carrying a fire extinguisher in my car. *tr | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - DELIVERY - HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | |||
| 06/21/2004 | 30 | 2 | 03/15/2004 |
| I have just had a fuel pulsation dampener on my 1988 mazda rx-7. i have also had the same failure on my 1994 mazda rx-7. the engine bay smells of fuel and i can see fuel spilling out. from what i understand this is very common and has caused many engine fires. i am currently very concerned for my saftey and my 1988 rx-7 is my daily transportation. now i must fear engine fire possibility. *ak | |||
| SEAT BELTS - FRONT - RETRACTOR | |||
| 11/15/1998 | 2 | ||
| Seat belt on the passenger's side will not come out of the retractor. sometimes the seat belt on the driver's side will lock and sometimes it will not. dealer is aware of situation. the seat belts have not been corrected at this time. *ak | |||
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | |||
| 11/12/2000 | 1 | 08/01/1989 | |
| Engine accelerates to approximately 3000 rpm's when initially started whetehr hot or cold. after driving, engine drops to approx. 1500 rpms, but surges between 1300 and 1700 rpm.*ak | |||
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM | |||
| 11/30/1997 | |||
| The consumer has been experiencing problems with the defroster, as well as windshield wiper motor. windshield wipers work intermittently. also, defroster has problems blowing hot air. the manufacturer has been contacted. *ak | |||
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | |||
| 11/30/1997 | |||
| The consumer has been experiencing problems with the defroster, as well as windshield wiper motor. windshield wipers work intermittently. also, defroster has problems blowing hot air. the manufacturer has been contacted. *ak | |||