1986 Mazda RX-7 Problems
- Complaints
- 11filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 117,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 18 mpgcombined, 1.3L 2-cyl RWD · 15 city / 22 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1986 Mazda RX-7 (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1986 Mazda RX-7. The part named most often is fuel system, with 8 complaints (73% of the total), followed by electrical system (1) and equipment (1). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 117,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 5 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Fuel system8 73%
- Electrical system1 9.1%
- Equipment1 9.1%
- Body and structure1 9.1%
- Vehicle speed control1 9.1%
Example complaints
Fuel system: “The car is a daily driver and has never been driven beyond the avg daily abuse. One day I return home and in the driveway the car stals and I start it again and it staled again, upon opening the hood I m greeted with a bbq size fire on the intake manifold. I put it out with water and let it cool, being a mechanic I replaced the pulsation dampner with a banjo bolt to fix the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10111998, filed 2005-02, 117,000 milesElectrical system: “Pulsation damper failure leaking fuel all over the hot exhaust that the heat caught my engine on fire! Overheated and damaged injector connecters due to fire burning them. Injectors them self : burnt. Total damage : near $1058.”
NHTSA complaint #10512468, filed 2013-05, 155,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
20% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 113,071 and 155,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1986 Mazda RX-7 version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RX-7 RWD | 1.3L 2-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 15 | 22 | 18 | $3,700 |
| RX-7 RWD | 1.3L | 5-speed manual | 15 | 22 | 18 | $3,700 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 87V160000Oct 14, 1987Service brakes, air › Disc › CaliperCovers: Mazda RX-7 1986–1987
In areas of heavy usage, road salt may accumulate at surfaces of components of front brake calipers.
Recall details for the 1986 Mazda RX-7 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1986 Mazda RX-7.
Other model years of the Mazda RX-7
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 18 | 98,000 | 3 | — | 18 | — | Stable |
| 1993 | 82 | 51,976 | 3 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 22 | 127,940 | 1 | — | 17 | — | Falling |
| 1990 | 28 | 81,000 | 1 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 30 | 95,000 | 1 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 24 | 134,000 | 0 | — | 17 | — | Stable |
| 1987 | 51 | 145,550 | 1 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1986 | 11 | 117,000 | 1 | — | 18 | — | Not enough data |
| 1984 | 5 | 100,000 | 0 | — | 17 | — | Not enough data |
All Mazda RX-7 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1986 Mazda RX-7 have?
NHTSA recorded 11 consumer complaints for the 1986 Mazda RX-7 as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1986 Mazda RX-7 is reported most often?
Fuel system is named most often, in 8 complaints (73% of the total), followed by electrical system with 1.
Has the 1986 Mazda RX-7 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1986 Mazda RX-7 get?
The EPA rates the 1986 Mazda RX-7 (RX-7, 1.3L 2-cyl) at 18 mpg combined, 15 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,700 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1986 Mazda RX-7 reported?
Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 117,000 miles and the middle half falls between 113,071 and 155,000 miles; 20% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.