# 1987 MAZDA RX7 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
> NHTSA complaint `578920` · 2006-04-11 · Mazda North American Operations
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 0
- **Fire:** Yes
- **Crash:** No
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** MAZDA
- **Model:** RX7
- **Year:** 1987
- **Manufacturer:** Mazda North American Operations
- **Component:** ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
- **Miles at failure:** 121,338
- **Speed:** 65 mph
## Narrative
DRIVING HOME FROM MY PARENTS HOUSE I NOTICED MY GAS LIGHT COME ON ON THE FREEWAY.  I WAS A LITTLE CONFUSED BECAUSE I HAD JUST PUT GAS IN THE TANK.  I PULLED OFF ONCE I HAD GOTTEN DOWN ON A SIDE STREET NEAR A GAS STATION TO HAVE A LOOK TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON.  IMMEDIATELY AS I GOT OUT I NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT THE HOOD. I RAN INTO THE GAS STATION GRABBED A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND ANOTHER GUY RAN OUT WITH ME AND WHEN I POPPED THE HOOD THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAME.  AFTER PUTTING IT OUT I HAD TO GET MY FRIEND TO HELP ME TOW IT BACK TO MY PARENTS WHERE IT STILL SITS TOTALED.   AFTER A BIT OF INVESTIGATING I CAME TO THE DISCOVERY MY PULSATION DAMPERS ON MY 1987 RX7 HAD LEAKED GAS DIRECTLY ONTO THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLD CATCHING THE ENTIRE COMPARTMENT ON FIRE.  I ALSO INVESTIGATED OTHER INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THE RX7, ESPECIALLY YEARS 1986 TO 1988.  WITH THIS I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST A RECALL AND REIMBURSEMENT OF DAMAGES FOR THE VICTIMS OF PULSATION DAMPER FAILER RESULTING IN ENGINE FIRE.  *JB
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*