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2008 Mazda CX-7

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Mazda CX-7 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 153.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

128 reports with mileage · 63 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports9 fire reports1 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

4 reports
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81,981 miles · May 7, 2014
EngineFuel System, GasolinePower Train

AS I WAS DRIVING MY MAZDA ( WITH A TURBO ENGINE) ALONG THE HIGHWAY IT BEGAN TO DECELERATE ON ITS OWN AND MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING/GRINDING NOISE. IT STOPPED ON THE ROAD GOING UP A HILL WITH NO TURNOUTS. SO IT APPEARS THAT THE TURBO BLEW UP. IT WILL START, BUT I CANNOT GO ANYWHERE. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE GASKETS ON MY OIL F…

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AS I WAS DRIVING MY MAZDA ( WITH A TURBO ENGINE) ALONG THE HIGHWAY IT BEGAN TO DECELERATE ON ITS OWN AND MAKING A LOUD KNOCKING/GRINDING NOISE. IT STOPPED ON THE ROAD GOING UP A HILL WITH NO TURNOUTS. SO IT APPEARS THAT THE TURBO BLEW UP. IT WILL START, BUT I CANNOT GO ANYWHERE. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE GASKETS ON MY OIL FILTER HOUSING UNIT, AS THE STOCK GASKETS WERE FAULTY AND CAUSING A SEVERE OIL LEAK. ALSO, MY EMISSIONS REGULATION ( EGR) VALVE IS BAD AND THEREFORE WILL NOT PASS SMOG. EACH OF THESE ISSUES I AM SEEING MORE AND MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. MAZDA HAS MADE A HORRIBLY DEFECTIVE CAR AND REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT EXCEPT TO CLAIM OWNER NEGLIGENCE. I BOUGHT MY CAR WITH 40K MILES ON IT AND IT HAS BEEN FALLING APART FROM THE START. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE AND THIS IS NOT OWNER NEGLIGENCE, IT IS MAZDA NEGLIGENCE AND REFUSAL TO MAKE ANYTHING RIGHT ON THEIR COMPLETELY DEFECTIVE VEHICLES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10587041

47,500 miles · Apr 7, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

EGR VALVE FAILURE ON A 2008 MAZDA CX-7 WITH 47,500 MILES. I HAD NEVER HEARD OF A EGR VALVE BEFORE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE TO HAVE THEM TELL ME THE ERROR CODE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WARRANTY FOR THE PART WAS 60MONTHS/60,000 MILES. WHILE I WAS WAY UND…

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EGR VALVE FAILURE ON A 2008 MAZDA CX-7 WITH 47,500 MILES. I HAD NEVER HEARD OF A EGR VALVE BEFORE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE TO HAVE THEM TELL ME THE ERROR CODE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WARRANTY FOR THE PART WAS 60MONTHS/60,000 MILES. WHILE I WAS WAY UNDER ON THE MILES, I WAS 5 MONTHS OVER ON THE TIME. SINCE THIS WAS MY 3RD TRIP INTO THE DEALERSHIP OVER THE PAST 5 MONTHS DEALING WITH PROBLEMS/MAINTENANCE WITH MY CX-7, I ASKED WHY THIS PARTICULAR PART FAILED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF ETHANOL. AFTER SOME QUICK RESEARCH, IT IS CLEAR THAT 2007-2008 MAZDA CX-7 HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE EGR VALVE. IT WILL COST ME $650 TO FIX. MAZDA SHOULD HAVE BEEN FORCED TO RECALL THIS PART SINCE IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS DEFECTIVE FROM THE START. WAS TOLD THAT A NEW REPLACEMENT PART FOR THE EGR VALVE WOULD BE PUT INTO THE VEHICLE WHICH WILL NOT BREAK DUE TO PRESENCE OF ETHANOL IN GAS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10578050

59,000 miles · Oct 17, 2013
EngineExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

MAZDA GOT STUCK AND HAD NO POWER THE FIRST TIME SECOND TIME HAPPENED OCTOBER 9,2013 CAR KEPT SHUTTING OFF AND FINALLY COULD NOT MOVE. TURBO ONCE AGAIN TWICE IN 5 MONTHS AND I ONLY HAD THIS PRE-OWNED VEHICLE FOR 7 MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10548244

55,200 miles · May 16, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH A SPIDER CRAWLED ON HIM AND HE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO NHTSA RECALL 11V134000, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STORAGE TANK ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH A SPIDER CRAWLED ON HIM AND HE ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS DIRECTLY RELATED TO NHTSA RECALL 11V134000, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, STORAGE TANK ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THE SPIDERS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THERE WERE SEVERAL SPIDERS AND SPIDER WEBS INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 55,200.

NHTSA ODI #10401051

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.