My daughter was driving a 4 hour trip in Florida on I-95 Halfway into the trip she pulled into a parking lot to stop for lunch and before she could even turn off the vehicle, a fire erupted from under the hood. The car completely burned. There is a police report at Jupiter FL Police department # 22-184325
2010 Mazda CX-7
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2010 Mazda CX-7 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 153.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all CX-7 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
71 reports with mileage · 84 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.
- Suspension. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine complaints
20 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER IN-LAWS WERE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUTOFF. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT OIL LEAKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND A HOLE WAS PRESENT ON THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. MURRAY MAZDA LOCATED AT 85 GRIFFITH R…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER IN-LAWS WERE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUTOFF. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT OIL LEAKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND A HOLE WAS PRESENT ON THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. MURRAY MAZDA LOCATED AT 85 GRIFFITH RD, MUNCY, PA 17756 WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.
I STARTED GETTING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE FOR LAST 6 MONTHS. BUT WHEN THE RPM IS GREATER THAN 2000. THE NOISE DECREASES, WHEN I TOOK TO THE DEALER SERVICE, THEY MENTIONED THAT TIMING CHAIN NEED TO BE REPLACED. MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE AND ADMITS IT BUT NEVER PERFORMS A RECALL.
TOOK CAR IN FOR AIR BAG RECALL (WHICH WAS FIXED). DEALER DID A FULL CIRCLE INSPECTION AND FOUND THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED REPLACEMENT. WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MAZDA JANUARY, 2012 STATING THEY WERE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO 7 YRS FROM THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY DATE OR 70,000 MILES WHICHEVER COMES FIRST FOR REPAIRS TO THE TIMING CHA…
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TOOK CAR IN FOR AIR BAG RECALL (WHICH WAS FIXED). DEALER DID A FULL CIRCLE INSPECTION AND FOUND THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED REPLACEMENT. WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MAZDA JANUARY, 2012 STATING THEY WERE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO 7 YRS FROM THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY DATE OR 70,000 MILES WHICHEVER COMES FIRST FOR REPAIRS TO THE TIMING CHAIN. THIS LETTER LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THEY KNEW THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. OUR CAR HAS 39,100 MILES (OBVIOUSLY LOW FOR THE AGE OF THE CAR). WE WERE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE IT WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD. IT SEEMS VERY UNFAIR THAT OUR CAR WAS NOT COVERED FOR AN ISSUE MAZDA WAS CLEARLY AWARE OF IN 2012. WHILE IT WAS NOT AN ACTUAL RECALL, SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TIMING CHAIN AND ALL OWNERS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR FAILURE OF THE CHAIN. I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO A CAR IF THE CHAIN BREAKS, BUT MY BEST GUESS IS IT WILL STOP RUNNING, WHICH IS A HUGE CONCERN REGARDING SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA CX-7. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN STALLED. A "WARNING STATE OF SHOCK" MESSAGE APPEARED. IN AN ATTEMPT TO COOL THE ENGINE, THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA CX-7. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN STALLED. A "WARNING STATE OF SHOCK" MESSAGE APPEARED. IN AN ATTEMPT TO COOL THE ENGINE, THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANTELOPE VALLEY MAZDA (1015 AUTO MALL DR, LANCASTER, CA 93534, (661) 945-7590) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER INFORMING HER THAT THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. *TT *JS
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CX-7 ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WAS A POP AND THEN SMOKE AND FLAMES. MY DAUGHTER MOVED TO THE LEFT SHOULDER AS SOON AS SHE HEARD THE POP AND THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS IN GREAT CONDITION. THE VEHICLE W…
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MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THE CX-7 ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THERE WAS A POP AND THEN SMOKE AND FLAMES. MY DAUGHTER MOVED TO THE LEFT SHOULDER AS SOON AS SHE HEARD THE POP AND THE VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS IN GREAT CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS AT 94,000 MILES. AN OIL CHANGE WAS COMPLETED RECENTLY AS WELL AS ALL REGULAR MAINTENANCE.
I LOST POWER TO MY 2010 MAZDA CX7 WHILE GOING 60 MP DOWNHILL IN A MOUNTAIN PASS. MY CAR WENT FROM 60 MP TO 40 MP IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AS BLACK SMOKE POURED OUT OF MY TAIL PIPE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED. MY MECHANIC SAID THE TURBO WAS BLOWN, WHICH CAUSE THE CAR'S OIL TO COMPLETELY BURN UP, CAUSING DAMAGE T…
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I LOST POWER TO MY 2010 MAZDA CX7 WHILE GOING 60 MP DOWNHILL IN A MOUNTAIN PASS. MY CAR WENT FROM 60 MP TO 40 MP IN ABOUT 30 SECONDS. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AS BLACK SMOKE POURED OUT OF MY TAIL PIPE AND HAD THE CAR TOWED. MY MECHANIC SAID THE TURBO WAS BLOWN, WHICH CAUSE THE CAR'S OIL TO COMPLETELY BURN UP, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE TIMING CHAIN AND ENGINE. ALL OF THE OIL WAS GONE IN A MATTER OF A FEW MILES. THE CAR HAD BEEN UP TO DATE ON ALL MAINTENANCE. A NEW TURBO AND ENGINE WAS NEEDED ON A CAR THAT HAD 74,000 MILES ON IT.
2010 MAZDA PURCHASED USED AT 70K MILES APRIL OF 2015. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE OIL COOLER, THE ENTIRE VVT SYSTEM AND NOW A TURBOCHARGER HAS BLOWN. 5K IN REPAIRS AND THE CAR IS BARELY WORTH THAT.
WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST POWER AND A HOWLING NOISE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT IT WAS AND NOTHING VISIBLE NO LEAKS NOTHING. HAD MY WIFE HIT THE HAS AND NO NOISE. STARED DRIVING AND NOISE CAME BACK AND WHITE SMOKE. JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE DONE AND NEXT OIL CHANGE DUE IN ABOUT 1000 MILES. DRO…
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WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST POWER AND A HOWLING NOISE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. PULLED OVER TO SEE WHAT IT WAS AND NOTHING VISIBLE NO LEAKS NOTHING. HAD MY WIFE HIT THE HAS AND NO NOISE. STARED DRIVING AND NOISE CAME BACK AND WHITE SMOKE. JUST HAD AN OIL CHANGE DONE AND NEXT OIL CHANGE DUE IN ABOUT 1000 MILES. DROVE ABOUT 20 MPH TO GET HOME CHECK OIL AND IT WAS OK. THE WHITE SMOKE MAKES ME THINK THE TURBO WENT ON MY CAR. I JUST PURCHASED THIS CAR IN OCTOBER OF 2015. IT'S BEEN BACK TO THE SHOP FOR ELECTRIC PROBLEMS WITH THE KEY AND RADIO THAT STILL NOT RESOLVED. RADIO SHUTS OFF AND BEEPS THAT KEY IS NOT IN CAR.
TAKATA RECALL. MY COMPLAINT IS WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THE TURBO CHARGER FOR MY VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND THE ENTIRE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE THAT I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I HAD TO ROLL DOWN ALL THE WINDOWS BECAUSE THE IT WAS SO BAD AND THOUGHT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THIS IS NOT SAFE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN…
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TAKATA RECALL. MY COMPLAINT IS WHY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ON THE TURBO CHARGER FOR MY VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND THE ENTIRE CABIN FILLED WITH SMOKE THAT I HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I HAD TO ROLL DOWN ALL THE WINDOWS BECAUSE THE IT WAS SO BAD AND THOUGHT THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THIS IS NOT SAFE TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN. I'VE GOOGLED THIS AND THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ON REPLACEMENT HAPPENING TWICE. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BECAUSE I'VE KEPT MY MAINTENANCE UP AND JUST DID OIL AND FLUIDS CHANGED AND HAVE TO HAVE IT DONE AGAIN BECAUSE THE OIL LEAKED INTO THE TURBO CHARGER. THIS IS COSTING ME $2,460.00 FOR REPAIR AND DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS FATAL PROBLEM. I EXPECTING COVERAGE ON THIS AND WILL BE CONTACTING MY LAWYER.
Official recalls
519V782000 · 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.
18V717000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Oct 12, 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.
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: 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.
18V018000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jan 9, 2018
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2013 Mazda6 and 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 2010 Mazda6, CX-7 and CX-9 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 covered in Zone A or Zone B, Mazda is recalling certain 2009 Mazda6, CX-7, and 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.
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: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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