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2007 Mazda CX-7: problems, recalls and reliability

5 recalls and 528 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (35% of complaints); the 2008 and 2009 model years look more trouble-free.

Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2019

5
recalls
528
owner complaints
30
fire reports
65,000
typical failure mileage, mi

All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.

One of the most complained-about CX-7 years (#1 of 6, age-adjusted)Weak spot: engine and engine cooling (35%)30 fire reports

Common problems

Computed from 528 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

Engine And Engine Cooling (engine, radiator, overheating)35% · 181 complaints
Engine (engine mechanics)18% · 93 complaints
Air Bags (airbags and crash sensors)15% · 79 complaints
Suspension (shocks, springs, ride quality)7% · 37 complaints
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)6% · 33 complaints
Equipment4% · 19 complaints
The headlights are horrible for night time driving. The low beam lights are nearly invisible, which leaves you no choice but to drive with high beam lights and still poses a serious safety risk. Vehicle was taken to dealership and asked if there had been any recalls on the headlights because they're very dangerous, can't see anything at night.Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jul 2024
Engine vvt solenoid seized causing complete engine failure while traveling on the highway at 60mph. The dealer is asking $10,730 to replace the engine. The car has 76,000 miles.Owner report · Engine · Aug 2020
Happen 2 days ago while driving I noticed a burning smell of plastic inside the cabin and upon inspection I traced it at the rear brake lights. The bulbs gets to hot and melting the plastic inside the housing of the tail light assembly. This car has a clear tail light assembly and since it's burning the lens is becoming smoky. I think it is a safety concern that this bulb can cause a fire in the future.Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Oct 2019
Show 7 more owner reports
' takata recall' it seems after having my car for 4 months I ran into issues. I was driving on a residential street when my car started making a strange whining noise and small plumes or white smoke began to come from the hood, near the pulley systems. I drove home approximately 4 miles away . I went to start it the next day and it won't start it seems to be the alternator.Owner report · Structure · Jul 2019
Mazda will not complete the takata airbag recall on our vehicle no matter how many times they are contacted. We have made at least 6 attempts to contact them, I think more, for nearly a year. Mazda reps have promised to get back to me, but we never hear more. They keep sending notice by mail, but they do not follow up after I call.Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2019
Air bags have been replaced after recall in july of 2018 and air bag l8ghts hace come back on in october 2018. Both driver and passenger lights come on while driving and when stationary after starting the car.Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Oct 2018
The headlights on this vehicle are completely inadequate for night driving. They do not project any where near enough light to see in unlit areas where you cannot use high beams. The light is yellow no matter what bulb you use and does not project down road at all.Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jun 2018
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 mazda cx-7. While attempting to exit the vehicle, the front passenger door locking mechanism malfunctioned and the door could not be unlocked from inside or outside of the vehicle. The contact stated that the rear driver's door was also locked and could not be opened. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer (mazda of new bern, 1715b us-70, new bern, north carolina) who was able to pry the doors open and diagnosed that the locking mechanism cables failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.Owner report · Latches/Locks/Linkages · May 2018
I've already make the airbag replacement in 16-march-2018 but I'm still receiving the notifications. There's been 1 year and a half since then and got like a hundred of notifications. I'm beginning to think that the dealer didn't do the replacement. Or maybe you haven't updated the database? I'm worried because the mazda dealer is telling me to ignore those notifications. I'm trying to contact you but there's no way to contact anybody in NHTSA. This is the 2nd time I file a complaint and there's no response. I think you aren't doing enough with this emergency. Email: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *trOwner report · Air Bags · Mar 2018
Recalls my # [xxx] kevin [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).' *pmOwner report · Air Bags · Feb 2018

When filing, owners marked a crash in 7 of these complaints and injuries in 11 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.

Recalls - 5 campaigns

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE19V782000 · Oct 2019

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2007-2012 CX-7, CX-9, and 2009-2012 Maza6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2019. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 16V356 and 17V012.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE17V429000 · Jun 2017

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2011 Mazda6, and 2007-2011 CX-7 and CX-9 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on August 30, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F. Note: This recall supersedes recall 16V356 and all vehicles that were not remedied under that campaign are now covered by this one.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE17V457000 · Jul 2017

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2012 CX-7, CX-9 and Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Mazda is recalling certain 2009 CX-7, CX-9 and Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Mazda is recalling certain 2007-2008 CX-7 and CX-9 sold, or ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F. Note: This recall supersedes recall 17V-012.

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT16V593000 · Aug 2016

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2007-2012 Mazda CX-7 vehicles manufactured February 14, 2006, to May 9, 2012. In the affected vehicles, water may enter the front suspension ball joint fittings. If the water is contaminated with salt, such as from driving on snowy roads that have been treated, the ball joint may corrode and separate from the lower control arm, resulting in a loss of steering control.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower control arms, free of charge. As a priority, Mazda will first address all affected 2007-2008 vehicles as well as 2009-2011 vehicles currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia. West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The remaining vehicles will be addressed as parts are available. The recall began September 20, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9716H.

EQUIPMENT09E011000 · Apr 2009

THULE, INC. IS RECALLING 2,323 OWNER-INSTALLED ROOF-MOUNTED FIT KITS, MODELS 3068 AND 3069, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2008 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2009 THAT ARE USED WITH THULE PODIUM FOOT PACKS, MODELS 460 AND 460R. THESE FIT KITS WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE BOLT(S) USED TO SECURE THE FOOT TO THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED TO A HARDNESS THAT MAY CAUSE THE BOLT(S) TO BE BRITTLE AND POTENTIALLY BREAK UNDER STRESS.

Remedy: THULE WILL MAIL A RETRO FIT KIT ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS TO OWNERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 13, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THULE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-238-2388.

Specifications

Factory options offered for the 2007 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.

Engines2.3L
FuelGasoline
Body stylesSport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]

How other years compare

Check your exact CX-7 by VIN

Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.

Open VIN decoder

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2007 Mazda CX-7 reliable?

NHTSA has 528 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 2007 Mazda CX-7. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (35% of complaints).

At what mileage do 2007 Mazda CX-7 problems usually appear?

Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 65,000 miles or less.

Does the 2007 Mazda CX-7 have open recalls?

5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.