VehicleVerdict

1993 Mazda RX-7 engine problems

The 1993 Mazda RX-7 has 42 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 38% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

42

Engine complaints

38%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

RX-7 engine complaints by model year42 complaints1987: 11 complaints1988: 5 complaints1989: 5 complaints1990: 4 complaints1991: 3 complaints1993: 42 complaints1994: 8 complaints1995: 2 complaints
RX-7 engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

94V094000EngineMay 11, 1994 · 12,316 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

IF ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS ONTO THE HOT ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD FROM THE TOP OF THE ENGINE, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE CAN RESULT.

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.

What owners report

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · February 2, 2012 · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1993 Mazda RX-7 have?

NHTSA has 42 complaints about the 1993 Mazda RX-7 engine — 38% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1993 Mazda RX-7 engine?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the engine: 94V094000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.