The Mazda RX-7 is a two-seater built from 1981 to 1996. Most were assembled in Japan — 100% of those on record. Engines offered: 2-cyl, Other. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the RX-7 is
The Mazda RX-7 is a two-seater that Mazda built from 1981 to 1996 — 16 model years. It has been offered with 2-cyl, Other power. Its closest sibling in the Mazda range: MX-5.
Where the RX-7 is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 113 RX-7s on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan | JM1 | 1987-1994 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Mazda VIN decide which of these 1 lines your RX-7 belongs to. What every character in a RX-7 VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Mazda RX-7 adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Mazda RX-7 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment RX-7 owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Mazda RX-7 have? Power & range
The Mazda RX-7 is offered with 1 powertrain — 1.3L 2-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Mazda RX-7, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-cyl | 1.3L · 2-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | RWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The RX-7 by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Mazda RX-7. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | RX-7 | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 23 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 257 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Mazda RX-7?
The RX-7 is a two-seater, built from 1981 to 1996. Engines offered: 2-cyl, Other.
Where is the Mazda RX-7 made?
Across 113 cars in our records the split is: Japan (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
What is the Mazda RX-7 warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the RX-7 reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific RX-7?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Mazda
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mazda CX-5 | 2013–2026 | 33 | 38 mpg | 4.5/5 |
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