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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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Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2016
Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE A 2007 MAZDA CX7, MY VEHICLE HAS 71,000 MILES I HAVE NOTICED A RATTLING NOISE FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I VISIT THREE MECHANICS AND ALL THREE MECHANICS ARE TELLING ME IT'S THE VVT TIMING CHAIN. THE COST THE REPAIR MY VEHICLE IS $3,000 TO $4,000 DOLLARS. I CONTACT THE MAZDA DEALER AND BECAUSE I HAVE NO WARRANTY I HAVE TO PA…

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I HAVE A 2007 MAZDA CX7, MY VEHICLE HAS 71,000 MILES I HAVE NOTICED A RATTLING NOISE FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I VISIT THREE MECHANICS AND ALL THREE MECHANICS ARE TELLING ME IT'S THE VVT TIMING CHAIN. THE COST THE REPAIR MY VEHICLE IS $3,000 TO $4,000 DOLLARS. I CONTACT THE MAZDA DEALER AND BECAUSE I HAVE NO WARRANTY I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. SO I BEGIN TO DO MY RESEARCH ONLINE. I REALIZED THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER MAZDA CX7 OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS I. WHAT A COINCIDENCE MAZDA HAS DISCONTINUED MANUFACTURING THE MAZDA CX7. THIS IS A MANUFACTURE ISSUE AND MAZDA NEEDS TO OWN UP FOR IT. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR VEHICLES DUE TO THIS VVT TIMING CHAIN ISSUE AND MAZDA NEEDS TO MAKE THIS A RE-CALL. I KNOW ONE THING I HOPE AND PRAY NOTHING HAPPENS TO ME WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I WILL NOT HESITATE TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE MAZDA CORP. I HOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP ALL OF US WHO ARE CURRENT OWNERS OF MAZDA CX7. I WILL USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO SPREAD AWARENESS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10824398

65,000 miles · Mar 9, 2015
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE STALLED IN SAMS CLUB PARKING LOT. IT DID RESTART BUT STARTED MAKING A RUBBING OR GRINDING NOISE. TURNS OUT THE AC COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP. ACCORDING TO INTERNET POSTINGS IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2007/2008 MODELS. APPARENTLY IT WAS ADDRESSED FOR 2009 MODEL. I'VE RAN 7 OR 8 VEHICLES FOR 200,000 PLUS MILES AND HAVE YET TO HAVE…

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VEHICLE STALLED IN SAMS CLUB PARKING LOT. IT DID RESTART BUT STARTED MAKING A RUBBING OR GRINDING NOISE. TURNS OUT THE AC COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP. ACCORDING TO INTERNET POSTINGS IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2007/2008 MODELS. APPARENTLY IT WAS ADDRESSED FOR 2009 MODEL. I'VE RAN 7 OR 8 VEHICLES FOR 200,000 PLUS MILES AND HAVE YET TO HAVE A COMPRESSOR GO OUT UNTIL THIS KNOW ANOMALY. WHERE IS THE RESOLUTION FROM MAZDA? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10693135

87,200 miles · Jan 3, 2015
Engine And Engine Cooling

I WAS DRIVING 60 MPH IN THE FREEWAY SUDDENLY I SMELLED BURN RUBBER INSIDE THE CABIN AND I HEARD A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE, AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS BROKE. I FOUND OUT THE AC COMPRESSOR LOCK-UP. I WAS LUCKY THERE IS NO INCIDENT HAPPEN. HOPE THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS CONCERN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10669852

94,400 miles · Jul 14, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED AND STARTED SMOKING AND RATTLING WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE AC COMPRESSOR WAS CLOSE TO DETACHING COMPLETELY AND COULD HAVE CAUSED EVEN GREATER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IF I CONTINUED DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610397

83,000 miles · Jul 13, 2014
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR DID NOT WANT TO MOVE AND WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT TAIL PIPE WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10610203

124,966 miles · Mar 13, 2014
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED AND VARIABLE VALVE TIMING, AND THROTTLE WENT OUT. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAS BEEN STRETCHED OUT ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS AT AROUND 64000 MILES. THE 2ND INCIDENT WAS AT 124966 MILES. MAZDA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE TIMING TO 70,000 MILES ON JANUARY 12. HOWEVER, I DID …

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TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED AND VARIABLE VALVE TIMING, AND THROTTLE WENT OUT. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAS BEEN STRETCHED OUT ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS AT AROUND 64000 MILES. THE 2ND INCIDENT WAS AT 124966 MILES. MAZDA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE TIMING TO 70,000 MILES ON JANUARY 12. HOWEVER, I DID NOT GET THAT LETTER AND IT HAPPENED AFTER I HAD ALREADY GOTTEN THE PROBLEM REPAIRED UNDER A SEPARATE WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10569086

60,000 miles · Jun 11, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

COMPRESSOR KIT WAS ALREADY HAVING ISSUES WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN STOPPED TO FUEL UP, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AS THE PULLEY ON THE COMPRESSOR KIT WAS CATCHING AND NOT TURNING CORRECTLY TO START THE IGNITION. THE CAR IS ONLY A 2007 AND ONLY HAD 60,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519320

89,725 miles · Apr 30, 2013
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE BEGAN TO VIBRATE, SCRAPING SOUND, A/C STOPPED WORKING. I HAD CAR TOWED TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE A/C COMPRESSOR, TIMING CHAIN AND ACTUATOR. TOTAL COST $2306.57. DEALERSHIP STATED THEY BROUGHT PCM UP TO DATE. EGR VALVE INDICATOR FAULT NOW ACTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510046

55,882 miles · Mar 23, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainFire

STARTED SMELLING STRONG BURNING RUBBER ODOR EMANATING THROUGH VENTS OF CAR WHILE IN OPERATION, EXITED HIGHWAY UPON SEEING WHITE SMOKE FUMING FROM UNDER HOOD. LOSS CONTROL OF STEERING AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT CRANK AGAIN. MECHANIC DETERMINED AC COMPRESSOR HAS SEIZED AND SERPENTINE BELT WAS SNAPPED DUE TO FRICTION FROM P…

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STARTED SMELLING STRONG BURNING RUBBER ODOR EMANATING THROUGH VENTS OF CAR WHILE IN OPERATION, EXITED HIGHWAY UPON SEEING WHITE SMOKE FUMING FROM UNDER HOOD. LOSS CONTROL OF STEERING AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT CRANK AGAIN. MECHANIC DETERMINED AC COMPRESSOR HAS SEIZED AND SERPENTINE BELT WAS SNAPPED DUE TO FRICTION FROM PULLEYS. IF I HAD STAYED ON FREEWAY INSTEAD OF EXITING, WITH THE LOST OF STEERING I SURELY WOULD HAVE POSED A DANGER TO MYSELF AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THIS COMPLAINT IS ONE OF NUMEROUS THOUSANDS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED ON BEHALF OF MAZDA AND ITS CX-7 MODEL. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED FOR THE AC COMPRESSOR BEFORE IT CAUSES SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR FATALITY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504235

48,500 miles · Jan 13, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainInjury

IN NOVEMBER OF 2012 MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING HOME FROM SEATTLE, WA TO SAN DIEGO, CA. WHEN WE WERE DRIVING WE SMELLED BURNING RUBBER SO PULLED OVER TO SEE IF WE COULD SEE SOMETHING WRONG UNDER THE HOOD. SINCE IT WAS 10PM AND DARK OUTSIDE WE COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING AND DECIDED TO FIND THE NEAREST HOTEL TO STAY AT UNTIL WE COULD TAKE …

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IN NOVEMBER OF 2012 MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING HOME FROM SEATTLE, WA TO SAN DIEGO, CA. WHEN WE WERE DRIVING WE SMELLED BURNING RUBBER SO PULLED OVER TO SEE IF WE COULD SEE SOMETHING WRONG UNDER THE HOOD. SINCE IT WAS 10PM AND DARK OUTSIDE WE COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING AND DECIDED TO FIND THE NEAREST HOTEL TO STAY AT UNTIL WE COULD TAKE IT TO A SHOP. AFTER WE STARTED DRIVING WE SAW THERE WAS A FREEWAY EXIT 1/2 A MILE AWAY SO MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING REALLY SLOW(ABOUT 35MPH) HOPING WE COULD MAKE IT WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A HUGE JERKING MOTION THAT FELT LIKE WE RAN INTO SOMETHING EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T. WE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND GOT A TOW TRUCK. IT ENDED UP BEING THE AC COMPRESSOR AND SERPENTINE BELT THAT NEEDED REPLACED, ALTHOUGH MAZDA WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AS THEY STATED IN THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT IT HAD "DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP OR MATERIALS," THE WARRANTY WAS ONLY EXTENDED TO 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES. MY MAZDA WAS 6 YEARS OLD AND HAD ONLY 48,000 MILES BUT WASN'T COVERED BECAUSE IT WAS A YEAR PASSED THE WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE MILES WERE STILL UNDER. WE ENDED UP PAYING $2,000.00 TO FIX IT AS WELL AS ANOTHER $300.00 TO STAY IN A MOTEL FOR 5 DAYS. EVER SINCE THE DAY THAT THE CAR BROKE AND HAD THE HUGE JERKING MOVEMENT, BY BACK HAS HURT EVERYDAY SINCE THEN. IT ESPECIALLY DIDN'T HELP THAT I WAS ALMOST 5 MONTHS PREGNANT AND ALTHOUGH NOTHING HAPPENED TO THE BABY, I'M HOPING THERE WAS NO PERMANENT DAMAGE TO MY BACK SINCE I'VE NEVER HAD BACK PAIN OR PROBLEMS SINCE BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. I DIDN'T KNOW WHO ELSE TO CONTACT ABOUT THIS BUT I THINK THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM AND MAZDA NEEDS TO FIX IT BEFORE MORE PEOPLE GET HURT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY ALREADY KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM WHICH IS WHY THE EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10492401

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.