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Mazda RX-7 VIN Check

NHTSA holds 116 owner complaints on the Mazda RX-7 from 47 production runs; the worst run has 9, the typical one 2.5.

NHTSA complaint records · 116 complaints · 47 runs · 1987–1994 · Updated Nov 3, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported RX-7 run is JM1FD3310P0 (1993 builds) with 9 complaints, 3.6× the typical run. Engine and engine cooling problems make up 26% of reports; 1993 is the worst model year at 5.1 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for RX-7 model years 1981–1995.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Mazda RX-7 has 47 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 30% of every RX-7 complaint on file.

FIG.01·Mazda RX-7 — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
JM1FD3310P0••••••19939—2
JM1FD3318P0••••••19937—2
JM1FD3314P0••••••19937—1
JM1FD3317P0••••••19936—3
JM1FD3316P0••••••19936—3
JM1FD3313P0••••••19935—3
JM1FD3311P0••••••19935—1
JM1FD331XP0••••••19935—1
JM1FC3311M0••••••19914——
JM1FD3312P0••••••1993411
JM1FD3315P0••••••199331—
JM1FC3311L0••••••19903——
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 35 RX-7 runs has 3 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 11 RX-7 VINs so far, most often 1988, 1989, 1994 builds.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Mazda RX-7 the gap between build years is 3.6×: a 1993 car draws 5.1 complaints per run, a 1990 one 1.4.

FIG.02·Mazda RX-7 — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
19941.517111
19935.161123
19911.8169—
19901.42115—
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 1993 at 5.1 complaints per run; lightest is 1990 at 1.4.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 26% of everything Mazda RX-7 owners report: Engine And Engine Cooling, 33 of 116 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Mazda RX-7 — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Engine And Engine Cooling33—8
Fuel System25—10
Gasoline24—10
Seat Belts23——
Electrical System1217
Service Brakes4——
Hydraulic4——
Unknown Or Other4—1
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 8 recall campaigns on the Mazda RX-7; the 6 below cover build years 1981 to 1995. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Mazda RX-7 — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
00E069000Latches/locks/linkages:hood:latch1993–1995
96V149000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings1993–1995
96V173000Seat Belts:front:webbing1989–1991
85V108000Steering1981–1983
94V094000Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System1993–1994
95V069000Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings1993–1994
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

How serious were they

Of the 116 reports on the Mazda RX-7, 3.4% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.

FIG.06·Mazda RX-7 — complaint severity
OutcomeMazda RX-7All vehicles
Complaints filed1161,115,966
Involved a crash4 (3.4%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire24 (20.7%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported458,013
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 41% below the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Mazda RX-7 share of that is 116 complaints over 47 runs, 0.01% of everything on record.

Everything on the Mazda RX-7
Recalls23 campaignsFuel economy18 mpg bestReliability3.5/5Common problems257 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsCargo space10 cu ftWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car1981–1996

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Mazda RX-7 VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 116 NHTSA complaints from 47 RX-7 runs and 8 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which RX-7 production run has the most complaints?

JM1FD3310P0, a 1993 build, with 9 complaints. The typical RX-7 run has 2.5.

Which RX-7 years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 1993 is heaviest at 5.1 complaints per run and 1990 lightest at 1.4.

How many RX-7 complaints involve a crash?

3.4% of 116 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 24 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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