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2007 Mazda CX-7

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most CX-7 years

Owner complaints for the 2007 Mazda CX-7 are substantially higher than the model-year median of 153.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

424 reports with mileage · 104 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 206 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 112 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 102 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports30 fire reports10 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

206 reports
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61,000 miles · Jun 16, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY 65 MILES PER HOUR, ENGINE SHUT OFF... PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC. DIAGNOSTIC WITH TWO QUOTES TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED BENT VALVE, NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I HAVE BEEN REVIEWING FORUMS AND HAVE FOUND THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH HUNDREDS OF MAZDA CX7 2007 MODELS. MY CAR IS AT THE 61,000 MIL…

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DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY 65 MILES PER HOUR, ENGINE SHUT OFF... PULLED TO SIDE OF ROAD. CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC. DIAGNOSTIC WITH TWO QUOTES TIMING CHAIN SNAPPED BENT VALVE, NEED TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. I HAVE BEEN REVIEWING FORUMS AND HAVE FOUND THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH HUNDREDS OF MAZDA CX7 2007 MODELS. MY CAR IS AT THE 61,000 MILES MARK. IF SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE ITS NO COINCIDENCE, THANKFULLY ON THE DAY MY ENGINE SHUT DOWN WAS IN THE FAR LANE THAT I COULD PULL OVER. SOMEONE ELSE WITH THIS CAR MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. MAZDA NEEDS TO RECALL AND START DOING SOMETHING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10407095

39,000 miles · Jun 8, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

2007 MAZDA CX-7 AWD GRAND TOURING WITH 39K MILES. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN HAD SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE TRAVELING DOWN ROAD. IN TRAFFIC CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED TO CRAWL AT 20MPH ONCE CAR WAS NAVIGATED TO SHOULDER AND STOPPED IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY HAVE STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN OR VV…

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2007 MAZDA CX-7 AWD GRAND TOURING WITH 39K MILES. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN HAD SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER WHILE TRAVELING DOWN ROAD. IN TRAFFIC CAR SUDDENLY SLOWED TO CRAWL AT 20MPH ONCE CAR WAS NAVIGATED TO SHOULDER AND STOPPED IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY HAVE STATED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN OR VVT HAS FAILED RESULTING IN TIMING CHAIN FAILURE THUS TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. KNOWN PROBLEM REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES AND YET MAZDA DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THAT WITH THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS PROVIDED THEY ARE REFUSING REPAIR. THESE TIMING CHAINS ARE FAILING ON CARS WITH 19K-60K MILES, NOT WITHIN NORMAL MAINTENANCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10405682

69,000 miles · Jun 8, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

(MARCH/2011) LIGHT CAME ON AROUND 65K MILES. TOOK IT INTO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID OIL WAS LOW AND YVT NEEDED REPLACING. COST WAS AROUND 2500. NO REASON WHY OIL WAS LOW AND LAST CHANGED BY MAZDA LESS THAN 7500 MILES BEFORE. ALSO FULL SERVICE WAS DONE AT THAT TIME. (JUNE/2011)WHILE ON HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS THE CAR LOST ACCELER…

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(MARCH/2011) LIGHT CAME ON AROUND 65K MILES. TOOK IT INTO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID OIL WAS LOW AND YVT NEEDED REPLACING. COST WAS AROUND 2500. NO REASON WHY OIL WAS LOW AND LAST CHANGED BY MAZDA LESS THAN 7500 MILES BEFORE. ALSO FULL SERVICE WAS DONE AT THAT TIME. (JUNE/2011)WHILE ON HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS THE CAR LOST ACCELERATION, EMITTED HIGH PITCH WHIRRING. AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. TOWED TO DEALERSHIP AND IT IS BEING BLAMED ON BAD TURBO. NO REASONING BEHIND FAILURE OTHER THAN SAYING OIL CHANGE ISSUES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT MAZDA IS THE ONLY ENTITY THAT HAS EVER WORKED ON THIS CAR AT LEAST TWICE PER YEAR FOR CHECK UPS. THERE ALSO APPEARS TO BE OTHERS WITH SAME REPORTED PROBLEMS TO BOTH TURBO AND YVT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10405582

62,000 miles · Jun 6, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

2007 GRAND TOURING MAZDA CX-7 HAS WELL KNOWN VVT ISSUE CAUSING OIL TO BURN, IN SPITE OF REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE. WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND KNOW HOW CAR WAS MAINTAINED . TIMING CHAIN WENT AT 62K MILES, JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. AFTER THAT SERVICE, DROVE 1K MORE MILES AND NOTICED LOSS OF ACCELERATION. …

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2007 GRAND TOURING MAZDA CX-7 HAS WELL KNOWN VVT ISSUE CAUSING OIL TO BURN, IN SPITE OF REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE. WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND KNOW HOW CAR WAS MAINTAINED . TIMING CHAIN WENT AT 62K MILES, JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. AFTER THAT SERVICE, DROVE 1K MORE MILES AND NOTICED LOSS OF ACCELERATION. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER, AND THEY ADVISED WE NEEDED A WHOLE NEW ENGINE, WHICH THEY WOULD NOT COVER, ASIDE FROM A 20% GOODWILL OFFSET. SPOUSE WON'T LET ME OPERATE CAR ANY LONGER IN FEAR IT WILL BREAK DOWN CAUSING ACCIDENT. UNSAFE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10406293

78,700 miles · May 5, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

MY WIFE WAS ON HER WAY HOME WHEN THERE WAS A FUNNY BUZZING OR SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF HER 07 MAZDA CX7. SHE PULLED OVER AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM HER RIGHT FRONT TIRE AREA. SHE THEN HAD TO CALL OUR INSURANCE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO OUR LOCAL SERVICE REPAIR SHOP. LATER WE FOUND THAT THE…

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MY WIFE WAS ON HER WAY HOME WHEN THERE WAS A FUNNY BUZZING OR SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF HER 07 MAZDA CX7. SHE PULLED OVER AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM HER RIGHT FRONT TIRE AREA. SHE THEN HAD TO CALL OUR INSURANCE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO HAVE IT TOWED TO OUR LOCAL SERVICE REPAIR SHOP. LATER WE FOUND THAT THE AC COMPRESSOR WAS SEIZED AND THE BELT WAS MELTED. AFTER FURTHER RESEARCH UPON THIS MATTER I AM FINDING THAT THERE IS AN ASTONISHING NUMBER OF OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. COME TO FIND OUT MAZDA IS TELLING PEOPLE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND TO COME IN AND PAY $1500- $2500 TO HAVE THE DEFECTIVE PART REPLACED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!!! MY WIFE IS ON THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AT RUSH HOUR WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK AND MAZDA COULD HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE RESOLVED... HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TO BE PUT INTO DANGEROUS SITUATIONS BEFORE MAZDA STEPS UP AND TAKES CARE OF A KNOWN PROBLEM.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10399280

47,200 miles · Apr 18, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

A/C COMPRESSOR DIED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10396655

65,986 miles · Apr 6, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

MAZDA SENT A LETTER TO REPORT A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2007 AND 2008 CX-7 IN AUGUST 2010. THE A/C COMPRESSOR WAS CREATING ISSUES AND MAZDA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 60,000 MILES. THE LETTER INDICATED THAT NO ACTION WAS NEEDED UNLESS YOU HEARD A STRANGE "NOISE". BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AND THOSE OF OTHERS, THE PROBLEM OCCURS WITH …

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MAZDA SENT A LETTER TO REPORT A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE 2007 AND 2008 CX-7 IN AUGUST 2010. THE A/C COMPRESSOR WAS CREATING ISSUES AND MAZDA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 60,000 MILES. THE LETTER INDICATED THAT NO ACTION WAS NEEDED UNLESS YOU HEARD A STRANGE "NOISE". BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AND THOSE OF OTHERS, THE PROBLEM OCCURS WITH NO WARNING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE A/C STOPS WORKING AND SMOKE BEGINS TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE ISSUE CAN ALSO CAUSE THE POWER STEERING TO GO OUT AND THE CAR TO STALL SO HOW CAN THIS NOT BE A SAFETY CONCERN AND NOT BE CONSIDERED A RECALL? THE WARRANTY IS ONLY EXTENDED TO 60,000 MILES AND THERE ARE MANY CASES WHERE THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR UNTIL AFTER 60,000 MILES. IS MAZDA JUST HOPING THAT MOST WILL HAPPEN AFTER 60K SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR? I HAD THE DEALER CHECK IT DURING A ROUTINE SERVICE BUT THEY WOULDN'T REPAIR IT UNLESS THERE WAS A "NOISE". WHILE ON VACATION, MY CAR A/C STOPPED WORKING AND STARTED TO MAKE THE "NOISE". THEN SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD, FRIGHTENING MY KIDS IN THE CAR. WE WERE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT THE TIME AND HAD TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO PULL ASIDE. WE BARELY MADE IT TO THE NEAREST MECHANIC BEFORE THE BELT BROKE. MY CAR HAD 65,000 MILES AND MAZDA WILL NOT PAY FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR, NOR THE COST TO RENT A CAR IN ITS PLACE. NOW I AM OUT ALMOST $1,700 FOR REPAIRS AND RENTAL FEES. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT FOR MAZDA TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10394457

70,000 miles · Apr 4, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA CX7. THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE OIL SHIELD COVER SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WITH THE DEALER ONE DAY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND LOCATED THE FAI…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA CX7. THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE OIL SHIELD COVER SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WITH THE DEALER ONE DAY PRIOR TO THE FAILURE FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE ENGINE OIL PLASTIC SHIELD COVER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SCREWS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PLACED BACK CORRECTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE OIL COVER SHIELD WITH THE SAME DEFECTED PLASTIC AND THERE WERE NO FURTHER REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

NHTSA ODI #10394218

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

I OWN A 2007 MAZDA CX7. SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, AT 29K MILES I HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL TANK REPLACED. AT AROUND 34K HAD TO HAVE THE TURBO LOOKED AT BECAUSE OF BLACK SMOKE BLOWING ON MY BUMPER, MAZDA REPLACED THE PIPES. MY PIPES WERE STILL SMOKING, HAD TO TAKE OFF WORK, TAKE CAR IN AGAIN BECAUSE OF BLACK SMOKE, MAZDA TRIED REPLACING…

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I OWN A 2007 MAZDA CX7. SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR, AT 29K MILES I HAD TO HAVE THE FUEL TANK REPLACED. AT AROUND 34K HAD TO HAVE THE TURBO LOOKED AT BECAUSE OF BLACK SMOKE BLOWING ON MY BUMPER, MAZDA REPLACED THE PIPES. MY PIPES WERE STILL SMOKING, HAD TO TAKE OFF WORK, TAKE CAR IN AGAIN BECAUSE OF BLACK SMOKE, MAZDA TRIED REPLACING RINGS IN TURBO, STILL BLOWIN BLUISH WHITE SMOKE, NOW GETTING TURBO REPLACED. I HAD THE AIR COMPRESSOR REPLACED A ABOUT A MONTH AGO. NOW I HAVE A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE AND I'M SCARED THE TIMING CHAIN WILL BREAK SOON. MAZDA NEEDS TO REPLACE THE TIMING CHAINS ON THESE MODELS. I THINK MAZDA SHOULD DO THE RIGHT THING AN RECALL THIS MODEL, YR BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR BREAKS DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE WITH KIDS IN THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10382987

42,000 miles · Feb 15, 2011
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

MY 2007 MAZDA CX-7 AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP CAUSING MINOR ACCIDENT FROM UNDRIVEABILITY.*TR

NHTSA ODI #10382689

Official recalls

4

19V782000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Oct 31, 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

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.

17V457000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jul 18, 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

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.

17V429000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Jun 29, 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

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.

16V593000 · Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint

Aug 11, 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.