Carlexica

2012 Mazda CX-7: problems, recalls and reliability

4 recalls and 39 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is suspension (32% of complaints).

Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2019

4
recalls
39
owner complaints
0
fire reports
87,000
typical failure mileage, mi

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

NHTSA crash testRollover ★★★★
Among the quietest CX-7 years (#6 of 6 by complaints, age-adjusted)No fire reportsProblems tend to appear late (median 87,000 mi)Weak spot: suspension (32%)

Common problems

Computed from 39 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

Suspension (shocks, springs, ride quality)32% · 12 complaints
Air Bags (airbags and crash sensors)18% · 7 complaints
Exterior Lighting (headlights, taillights)13% · 5 complaints
Electrical System (battery, wiring, electronics)11% · 4 complaints
Steering (steering wheel, rack, power assist)8% · 3 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control (unintended acceleration, cruise control)5% · 2 complaints
The headlights are too dim for safe night driving. Bulbs also fail yearly. This is a common problem reported with 2012 MAZDA CX7Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Nov 2021
The vehicle would not start, would stall out and turn off while driving. The driver's side window will not move up or down. The car would start with jumper cables, idle for a few minutes, then go completely dead, no lights, no buzz, no nothing as soon as it was put into reverse. The car has a new battery, new coils, new spark plugs and continues to misfire. Mazda has been unresponsive to messages due to open recalls.Owner report · Engine · Mar 2021
No accidents has happened, but the low beam headlights keep blowing out. I have to have them replaced every 3-6 months. Obviously there is a problem. Upon doing search on internet, I notice several complaints on this problem. Lights are not cheap and very frustrating when you are driving at night and this happens.Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Oct 2020
Show 7 more owner reports
Opened the driver side door to get into vehicle this morning all was fine. When I got to work and tried to open the driver door, it would not open. I got out of the car by climbing over the center console and opening the side door. I checked the other doors (and trunk) and they all opened. I checked the driver side door from outside the vehicle then and it still would not open. It's a safety hazard if you need to get out of the car quickly. Also I am a senior citizen so it's no longer easy to climb over the seats to open the passenger door instead.Owner report · Electrical System · Sep 2020
The dim lights are so dangerous and do not provide any visibility at night at all. It is very dangerous to drive and I have had so many near misses while passing other vehicles or trying to not run off the road due to not being able to see. Plus the bulbs burn out several times throughout the year and I'm constantly having to replace them. But to drive at night is so scary because I cannot see the roadway due to poor lighting from the cars headlights. And also the motors that roll down the windows are constantly going out and I have to replace those as well otherwise my window gets stuck and I can't get it to roll back up.Owner report · Electrical System · Jan 2019
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 mazda cx-7. While driving various speeds, the vehicle made a loud clunking noise. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously serviced at (moffitt mazda in bossier city, louisiana) per NHTSA campaign number: 16v593000 (suspension) and the failure recurred directly after the repair. The dealer was notified of the failure and stated that the vehicle had already been repaired; therefore, the contact would have to pay a diagnostic fee. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.Owner report · Suspension · May 2018
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 mazda cx-7. While operating the vehicle with the headlights turned on, the lights would not illuminate bright enough for the driver to see the road ahead. The failure was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified. The VIN and failure mileage were unknown.Owner report · Exterior Lighting · May 2018
My car was parked and turned off with the key in my hand. I inserted the key and started the car with my foot on the brake. My foot was still on the brake pedal when I put the car in drive. It surged ahead and without any warning I crashed into a cement base to a pole. I had been parked in the driveway of a donation center.Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Apr 2018
My car was parked and turned off. I entered the car, put my foot on the brake to start the car and then put the car in drive. Immediately it surged forward about 50 feet hitting a cement base to a pole. My foot was still on the brake. The air bag deployed and the seatbelt worked keeping me from any injury. The insurance company determined it was totaled. This happened in a parking lot. There was no police report as it was deamed private property as it was a goodwill store.Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Apr 2018
Headlights blow numerous times in a year. When 'operational''the headlights are very dim at night. I researched and this seems to be a reoccurring issue on many mazda vehicles. I have tried to reach out to mazda, with no response. This is very dangerous and my turn signals are brighter than my lights. Everyone on the forum suggests the projector lenses that come equipped are faulty. I spent $400 on aftermarket headlights (full housing) to try and rectify this problem or make it better to be able to see at night, since I have heard nothing from mazda and they seem not willing to look inside the issue with many of their vehicles.this has been a repccuing issue since purchase in 2012.Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Jan 2018

When filing, owners marked a crash in 4 of these complaints and injuries in 2 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.

Recalls - 4 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 MODULE18V717000 · Oct 2018

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda CX-9 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 covered in "Zone A," Mazda is recalling certain 2011-2013 Mazda6, 2011-2012 CX-7, and 2011-2015 CX-9 sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless covered in Zone A or Zone B, Mazda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Mazda6, 2010-2012 CX-7, and 2010-2015 CX-9 vehicles 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 or "Zone C." 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 explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Remedy: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.

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.

Trouble codes owners mention

OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.

Specifications

Factory options offered for the 2012 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.

Engines2.3L · 2.5L
FuelGasoline
Drive type4WD/4-Wheel Drive/4x4 · 4x2
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 2012 Mazda CX-7 reliable?

NHTSA has 39 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2012 Mazda CX-7. The most complained-about area is suspension (32% of complaints).

At what mileage do 2012 Mazda CX-7 problems usually appear?

Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 87,000 miles or less.

Does the 2012 Mazda CX-7 have open recalls?

4 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.