I am heavily concerned with the major safety issues of my beloved mazda and need your help. My seat belt retractors are broken (emergency), the horns do not work (emergency), my rear windshield wiper and fluids do not work (visibility), my brake light is on(emergency), and my pulsation damper is leaking fuel (fire hazard). I have read many stories about rx7's that would catch on fire due to the fuel pulsation dampers leaking fuel onto the engine, eventually igniting their whole car to ashes.
Mazda RX-7 fire or smoke problems
17 of the 152 owner complaints about the Mazda RX-7 describe fire, smoke or burning smell, most of them for the 1993 model year.
- owner complaints
- 17
- worst model year
- 1993
Is there a fix? No recall or service bulletin covers this area of the car yet.
By model year
- 19941
- 199314
- 19912
Often reported together
What owners say
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.
Tl* the contact owns a 1991 mazda rx7. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, all of the warning lamps illuminated on the instrument panel and the engine compartment ignited into flames. The fire department was notified and no injuries were reported. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and offered no assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 144,000. . Updated 03/26/12 *bf the consumer stated prior to the fire, the engine started misfiring while driving up a hill at 30 MPH. A smell of fuel was also present. Within one mile of the misfiring, the gas pedal became unresponsive and all the warning lights illuminated and the engine compartment exploded in flames. There was no smoke, just burning fuel. He opened the hood and flames shot up 20 feet in the air. Updated 05/07/12
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.
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.
I noticed white smoke coming into the car while driving to work. I stopped the car right away and opened the hood to see the back of the engine on fire. I put the fire out with a fire extinguisher and had the car towed to a mazda rotary engine specialist. I was informed by the mechanic that the fire was a result of the faulty factory fuel line and the fuel injection system, which are a well known problem by mazda mechanics. The mechanic told me that these fires happen quite frequently in 1993-1996 rx-7's as well as in the prior body style. I could have been seriously injured from this incident, and my car now needs over $3,000 worth of repairs, all due to a known problem that has never been recalled. Please help me. Dt
Vehicle caught fire due to leaking engine coolant and gas line.
I was on my way to work, driving under very normal conditions. I had the following accessories on at the time of the fire. Heater, radio, rear defroster, and maybe the headlights. I was stopped at a traffic light when smoke started to come out from under the hood. I pulled over turned off the car and slowly opened the hood to find the main fuse box (connected to the battery) on fire. There were flames about 4-5 inches high. I was able to blow the fire out. I then let the car rest for about 15 minutes. After that I started the car and drove it home. After the fire, any time any electrical accessory is turned on (blinker, lights, heater, A/C, brakes) the "charge" and "ABS" warning lights come on, and so do the warning lights built into the oil pressure, fuel level, and water temp gauges. The fire damaged the one end of the fuse box with the 120 amp fuse as well as some surrounding wires and connectors, and the underhood insulation which was burned by the flames.
At stop light noticed brownish/gray smoke coming through vents & from under the hood. Pulled to side & lifted hood. Noticed flames in area of the intake manifold (engine). Fire department called & put flames out. Vehicle was totaled. *ak reported to mechanic at the dealership that there was a strong odor of gas since jan. 19, 1995, however they were unable to indicate source or find any problem prior to fire.
Rear exhaust caught on fire, melting the plastic molding on the bumper and above.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Mazda RX-7 fire or smoke
Which Mazda RX-7 years have fire, smoke or burning smell problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1993 (14 complaints), 1991 (2 complaints) and 1994 (1 complaints).
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