NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
6 reportsClear category filter55,000 miles · Oct 14, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainUnknown Or Other
TCS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE POWER EVEN IF THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED ALL THE WAY, THE CAR MOVES ONLY UP TO 5 MILES PER HOUR (RPM POWER). VEHICLE LOSES THROTTLE. AC BLOWS WARM WHEN TCS LIGHT IS ON. THERE IS A WHITE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER THE CAR IS PARKED FOR COUPLE HOURS. …
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TCS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE POWER EVEN IF THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED ALL THE WAY, THE CAR MOVES ONLY UP TO 5 MILES PER HOUR (RPM POWER). VEHICLE LOSES THROTTLE. AC BLOWS WARM WHEN TCS LIGHT IS ON. THERE IS A WHITE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER THE CAR IS PARKED FOR COUPLE HOURS. THE SAME ISSUE OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES WITHIN A PERIOD OF YEAR AND A HALF. MY CAR WAS @ SERVICE SHOP MORE THAN 2 MONTHS. I CONTACTED MAZDA CORPORATE OFFICE IN SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUES I HAVE WITH THE CAR, BUT THEY DID NOT RESPOND POSITIVELY.
NHTSA ODI #10916089
55,000 miles · Oct 10, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainUnknown Or Other
TCS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE POWER EVEN IF THE GAS PEDAL IS PRESSED ALL THE WAY, THE CAR MOVES ONLY UP TO 5 MILES PER HOUR (RPM POWER). VEHICLE LOSES THROTTLE. AC BLOWS WARM WHEN TCS LIGHT IS ON. THERE IS A WHITE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST.
NHTSA ODI #10915020
108,000 miles · Apr 17, 2016
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train
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.
NHTSA ODI #10859985
37,530 miles · Jan 3, 2013
EnginePower Train
2010 CX7 GRAND TOURING WAS PURCHASED WITH 5,844 MILES FROM DEALER. WE CHANGED THE OIL & FILTER EVERY 6,000 MILES USING RECOMMENDED OIL AS SHOWN IN THE OWNERS MANUAL (5W20). MANUAL RECOMMENDATION IS TO CHANGE OIL EVERY 7,500 MILES WITH NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH IS THE CASE AS MY WIFE DROVE TO AND FROM WORK. AT 37,000 MIL…
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2010 CX7 GRAND TOURING WAS PURCHASED WITH 5,844 MILES FROM DEALER. WE CHANGED THE OIL & FILTER EVERY 6,000 MILES USING RECOMMENDED OIL AS SHOWN IN THE OWNERS MANUAL (5W20). MANUAL RECOMMENDATION IS TO CHANGE OIL EVERY 7,500 MILES WITH NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH IS THE CASE AS MY WIFE DROVE TO AND FROM WORK. AT 37,000 MILES, VEHICLE WAS STARTED IN 20DEG F. TEMPS, WARMED UP FOR AND EXPERIENCED LOUD ENGINE KNOCK. ONCE DRIVEN, VEHICLE HAD NO POWER AND HAD TROUBLES GETTING TO HWY SPEED. DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED IT THE NEXT DAY AND WAS INFORMED THE ENGINE HAD EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL SLUDGE UNDER THE OIL FILLER CAP. SERVICE DEPT. CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY AND SAID THEY WOULD NEED TO PULL THE VALVE COVER TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER TO SEE IF MAZDA NATIONAL WOULD COVER UNDER WARRANTY. WE AGREED SINCE WE PROPERLY MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE AND HAD NOTHING TO HIDE. TWO DAYS LATER WE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER AND WERE INFORMED THERE WAS EXCESSIVE SLUDGE AND THEY WOULD NEED TO SEE RECEIPTS FROM WHERE WE CHANGED OUR OIL. WE PERFORMED OUR OWN OIL CHANGES AND DID NOT KEEP RECEIPTS FROM THE AUTO PARTS STORE WHERE WE PURCHASED THE OIL. DEALER SAID WITHOUT THE RECEIPTS WE WOULD NOT GET WARRANTY WORK DONE AND CHARGED US $260 TO DO THE INVESTIGATION TO BETTER THEIR CASE. I CALLED NATIONAL MAZDA AND ALL THEY DID WAS READ THE NOTES FROM THE DEALER AND WERE NOT WILLING TO BUDGE. THE REP FROM MAZDA ([XXX]) WAS EXTREMELY RUDE AND COULD CARE LESS WE WERE EXPERIENCING MAJOR ISSUES WITH A CAR WITHIN THE WARRANTY. THERE ARE NUMEROUS CLAIMS SIMILAR TO OURS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. IT APPEARS MAZDA HAS THEIR STANDARD "EXCESSIVE ENGINE SLUDGE" PITCH DOWN AS THIS IS THE COMMON THEME IN ALL CX7 ENGINE PROBLEMS. WE HAD THE ENGINE REBUILT AT A LOCAL SHOP (PAID $6,100) AND NOW ARE TOLD THE TURBO IS SHOT AS WELL WHICH IS ESTIMATED AT ANOTHER $2,000 TO REPLACE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10490900
39,400 miles · Oct 10, 2012
EnginePower Train
ON OCTOBER 4 2012 I WAS TOLD BY THE MAZDA DEALER SERVICE DEPT THAT MY TIMING CHAIN AND TURBO CHARGER ON MY 2010 MAZDA CX7 WENT BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 39400 MILES ON IT AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER MAZDAS POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD BY MAZDA WARRANTY DEPARTMENT THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR ANYTHI…
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ON OCTOBER 4 2012 I WAS TOLD BY THE MAZDA DEALER SERVICE DEPT THAT MY TIMING CHAIN AND TURBO CHARGER ON MY 2010 MAZDA CX7 WENT BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 39400 MILES ON IT AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER MAZDAS POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD BY MAZDA WARRANTY DEPARTMENT THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR ANYTHING BASED ON SLUDGE BUILD UP IN THE ENGINE. I SENT THEM COPIES OF OIL CHANGE MAINTENANCE AS THEY REQUESTED WHICH WERE DONE AT APROX EVERY 3400 MILES AS OPPOSED TO THE REQUIRED 7500MILES. I WAS TOLD THEN THAT THEY WOULD COVER ONLY THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT BECAUSE IT WAS ON A RECALL AND THAT THE TURBO CHARGER WOULD NOT BE COVERED AT ALL. THEY CAME TO THIS CONCLUSION DUE TO THE TURBO GOING BAD DUE TO AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE WHAT IS THAT I ASKED AND THEY HAD NO ANSWER. THE ANSWER I WAS GIVEN IS IT WILL NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THAT IS THAT AND I HAVE BASICALLY NO RECOURSE.THERE IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM WITH THESE CX7 AS THERE ARE SO MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET AND YET MAZDA REFUSES TO PAY ON THESE PART THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY 6YRS/60,000 MILES. THE CAR GETS TOO HOT AND BURNS THE OIL AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSES THE SLUDGE A MANUFACTURES DEFECT NOT NEGLECT ON OIL CHANGE AND FILTER MAINTENANCE. OTHER MAZDA OWNER HAVE THE SAME RESULT WHETHER THEY OIL CHANGED AT 3000, 4000, OR THE REQUIRED 7500 HOW CAN WE ALL HAVE SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT REGARDING THIS ENTIRE TURBO SYSTEM. MAZDA NEEDS TO OWN UP TO THE DEFECTS REGARDING THE CX7 MODELS AND HONOR THE CUSTOMERS WARRANTY WORK. THE CAR HAS SO MANY PROBLEMS THAT THEY ARE PRESENTLY NOT MAKING IT ANYMORE. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO LAYOUT AND WAIT TO BE REIMBURSED POSSIBLY BY MAZDA IN THE FUTURE THIS IS A DISGRACE. I WILL NEVER DRIVE ANOTHER MAZDA VEHICLE AGAIN AND I WILL NOT EVER RECOMMEND THEM TO ANY ONE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10479600
87,000 miles · Nov 30, 2010
Power Train
FLUID HAS BEEN LEAKING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. AFTER DRIVING FOR EVEN SHORT DISTANCES THE FLUID SEEMS TO DROP ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE OR SOME OTHER HOT METAL AND BURNS WITH AN ACRID SMELL AND A MINOR AMOUNT OF SMOKE. I HAVE A CONCERN THAT A FIRE MAY START FROM THE BURNING FLUID. VEHICLE WAS…
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FLUID HAS BEEN LEAKING FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. AFTER DRIVING FOR EVEN SHORT DISTANCES THE FLUID SEEMS TO DROP ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE OR SOME OTHER HOT METAL AND BURNS WITH AN ACRID SMELL AND A MINOR AMOUNT OF SMOKE. I HAVE A CONCERN THAT A FIRE MAY START FROM THE BURNING FLUID. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALER FOR A REPAIR TO THE TRANSFER CASE, WHICH IS LEAKING FLUID, BUT IT IS PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND THE COST WILL BE OVER $1000. THERE IS A TSB ON THIS PROBLEM THAT IS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OF THE TRANSFER CASE SEALS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10368334
Official recalls
5Oct 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ↗