Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1990 Mazda RX-7, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Seat belts18
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Service brakes, hydraulic2
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Equipment1
- Electrical system1
- Visibility1
- Tires1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1990 Mazda RX-7 failed the safety check 1.27% of the time — 9% more often than the average 1990 passenger car (1.16%). Median odometer at inspection: 92,100 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
14 cars built in 1990 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 112 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In New Zealand
20 1990 cars are on the New Zealand register; 75% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls
THE RAIL OF THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT CAN WEAR SUFFICIENTLY SUCH THAT THE CABLE WHICH RETRACTS THE BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WILL BECOME JAMMED IN THE RAIL RENDERING THE SHOULDER BELT INOPERATIVE.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Mazda told its dealers about the 1990 Mazda RX-7: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 603907 | EXPERIENCING OIL LEAK AT REAR STATIONARY GEAR O-RING / ON - CAR REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *YC |
| 603882 | SUBJECT ON PASSIVE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR SWITCH. *YC |
| 54319 | PRE-PAINTING PREPARATIONS FOR FRONT AND REAR BUMPERS. *YC |
| 52520 | PARTS REPLACEMENT AFTER AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *TW |
| 52503 | MAINTENANCE FREE BATTERY - DIAGNOSTIC AND CHARGING PROCEDURE. *TW |
| 52497 | USE OF A/C TRACER DYE. *TW |
| 52492 | WIPER MOTOR INOPERATIVE - CIRCUIT BREAKER ACTIVATION. *TW |
| 39688 | HARD SHIFT, R-TYPE TRANSMISSION. *TW |
| 10213425 | Speedometer replacement procedure |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
MAZDA RX7 AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation