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1987 Mazda RX-7

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1987 RX-7.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1987 Mazda RX-7 is a sports car equipped with an automatic 4-speed transmission and rated by the EPA at 15 mpg in the city, 21 mpg on the highway, and 17 mpg combined, reflecting the fuel demands of its rotary engine design; reliability data for this specific model year shows just one owner complaint spanning the electrical system, engine, and fuel/propulsion areas, with zero recalls issued, a stark contrast to the model's complaint trajectory in subsequent years where filings rose to a peak of 98 in 1993 before falling to just 4 by 1995, suggesting this early example sits at a relatively stable point in the RX-7's reliability history before the issues that would generate higher complaint volumes in the early 1990s emerged.

Model year1995 1994 1993 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

EPA fuel economy15/21/17 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	168.9 in
Overall width	66.5 in
Overall height	50 in
Wheelbase	95.7 in
Curb weight	2721 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)	51/49

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	15 / 21 / 17 mpg
Drivetrain	Rear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the RX-7 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.20 sec — 1987 Turbo Hatchback Coupe

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1987	Turbo Hatchback Coupe 1.3L Turbo R2	7.20 sec	15.30 sec	182 hp	RWD
1986	GXL Hatchback Coupe 1.3L R2	8.10 sec	16.34 sec	146 hp	RWD
1988	Convertible 1.3L R2	9.20 sec	16.90 sec	146 hp	RWD
1989	GTUs Hatchback Coupe 1.3L R2	7.70 sec	15.80 sec	160 hp	RWD
1990	Turbo II Hatchback Coupe 1.3L Turbo R2	6.00 sec	14.50 sec	200 hp	RWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine GL-5 in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear Oil	GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	3 Pints
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill)
Every 15,000 mi	Axle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Fasteners (torque) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Clutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Drive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant Level Sensor (inspect) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1987 Mazda RX-7 is not represented in the provided 1990–1995 federal record, so it predates the only documented year-by-year arc and cannot be directly compared to adjacent model years within this data set. Across the available generation record, complaints were modest from 1990 through 1992, jumped sharply to 98 in 1993, then declined to 19 in 1994 and just 4 in 1995, indicating a mid-generation spike rather than steady worsening. For 1987 itself, the federal files show only one complaint spanning electrical, engine, and fuel/propulsion systems, zero crash complaints, and one fire complaint; the data does not specify any root cause. With so few filings, 1987 looks quieter than the 1993 peak, yet that same thin record offers little predictive confidence. Bottom line: it is not a demonstrably bad year based on these numbers, but the scarcity of federal data makes it a speculative rather than clearly recommended purchase.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

0 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.

Electrical System,Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific RX-7. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

Does the 1987 RX-7 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the RX-7 get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 21 highway / 17 combined mpg.