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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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36,671 miles · Jul 25, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

DRIVING A 2007 MAZDA CX-7 WITH 36, 671 MILES ON IT WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND TURNED THE AIR ON, THERE WERE SPARKS AND SMOKE. ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON IN THIS MODEL AND MAZDA HAS NOT RECALLED THIS PART. PART SPECIFICALLY IS THE AIR COMPRESSOR, IT LOCKS UP,…

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DRIVING A 2007 MAZDA CX-7 WITH 36, 671 MILES ON IT WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND TURNED THE AIR ON, THERE WERE SPARKS AND SMOKE. ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH THIS PROBLEM IS COMMON IN THIS MODEL AND MAZDA HAS NOT RECALLED THIS PART. PART SPECIFICALLY IS THE AIR COMPRESSOR, IT LOCKS UP, STOPS THE ENGINE, AND TEARS UP THE SERPENTINE BELT. SINCE I AM OVER THE WARRANTY BY 600 MILES THIS WILL COST ME UPWARDS OF 2,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278302

66,000 miles · Jul 23, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

7/17 I BROUGHT MY MAZDA CX-7 (2007) TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR DUE TO AIR CONDITIONING NOT WORKING AND MAKING A LOUD NOISE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AND A BAD ODOR. HERE IS A LIST OF PROBLEMS FOUND WITH THE CAR: 1. BAD COMPRESSOR COST TO REPAIR $1100 2. FRONT TRANSFER STEERING CASE SEAL LEAKING COST TO REPAIR $1500 3. MOTOR OIL…

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7/17 I BROUGHT MY MAZDA CX-7 (2007) TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR DUE TO AIR CONDITIONING NOT WORKING AND MAKING A LOUD NOISE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE AND A BAD ODOR. HERE IS A LIST OF PROBLEMS FOUND WITH THE CAR: 1. BAD COMPRESSOR COST TO REPAIR $1100 2. FRONT TRANSFER STEERING CASE SEAL LEAKING COST TO REPAIR $1500 3. MOTOR OIL SEAL LEAK COST TO REPAIR $875 4. OXYGEN SENSOR MELTED TO THE CHASSIS COST OF REPAIR $240 5. WATER PUMP LEAK COST OF REPAIR $275 THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIR IS $3,935 BEFORE TAXES. THIS IS RIDICULOUS FOR A 2 YEAR OLD CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10278092

52,063 miles · Jul 17, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

IN MARCH, MY 2007 MAZDA CX-7 HAD AN AIR COMPRESSOR FAILURE. I WAS COMING OFF AN EXIT RAMP OF A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING HOT AIR. I TURNED IT OFF, THEN SMELLED BURNING RUBBER. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, WHITE SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH MY HOOD. WHILE I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME, I…

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IN MARCH, MY 2007 MAZDA CX-7 HAD AN AIR COMPRESSOR FAILURE. I WAS COMING OFF AN EXIT RAMP OF A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY AIR CONDITIONER WAS BLOWING HOT AIR. I TURNED IT OFF, THEN SMELLED BURNING RUBBER. IMMEDIATELY AFTER, WHITE SMOKE STARTED POURING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH MY HOOD. WHILE I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT HOME, I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR ANY FURTHER. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALER, AND MY CAR, LIKE SO MANY OTHERS, WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AT A LITTLE OVER 50,000 MILES. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT THE PROBLEM WAS MY AIR COMPRESSOR. I DID RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND MANY OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE 2007 CX-7, BUT THAT NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED. I WAS UNABLE TO GET A LOANER VEHICLE FROM MY DEALERSHIP AND HAD TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR. THE COST OF MY REPAIR WAS $1480, ALONG WITH THE CAR RENTAL. I LOVE MY CX-7, BUT I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER MAZDA AFTER THIS VEHICLE. I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED AND CORRECTED BY MAZDA. I INTEND TO LET AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM.. I TRIED TO CONTACT MAZDA TO NO AVAIL. IT TOOK MY DEALERSHIP A WEEK TO GET THE REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE NEW AIR COMPRESSOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10277232

46,000 miles · Jul 13, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

I BOUGHT MY 2007 MAZDA CX-7 LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO, WITH ONLY 17,000 MILES ON IT BECAUSE IT WAS A DEALER DEMO FOR LESS THAN A YEAR. OVER THE WEEKEND (SATURDAY, JULY11, 2009) MY AIR CONDITIONING BEGAN BLOWING OUT HOT AIR. THE NEXT DAY, MY ENGINE SOUNDED AS IF IT WERE SPUTTERING, AND MY CAR BEGAN SMOKING AND SMELLING LIKE BURNT R…

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I BOUGHT MY 2007 MAZDA CX-7 LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO, WITH ONLY 17,000 MILES ON IT BECAUSE IT WAS A DEALER DEMO FOR LESS THAN A YEAR. OVER THE WEEKEND (SATURDAY, JULY11, 2009) MY AIR CONDITIONING BEGAN BLOWING OUT HOT AIR. THE NEXT DAY, MY ENGINE SOUNDED AS IF IT WERE SPUTTERING, AND MY CAR BEGAN SMOKING AND SMELLING LIKE BURNT RUBBER. THIS MORNING, 7/13/09, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK MY CAR TO MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME MY AIR COMPRESSOR NEEDED REPLACING FOR MORE THAN $800, AND MY CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. ON TOP OF THAT, THE AIR COMPRESSOR WILL TAKE UP TO 3 WEEKS TO ORDER, AND MAZDA WILL NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR A RENTAL CAR OR PROVIDE A COMPARABLE DEALER CAR TO DRIVE BECAUSE MY 25,000 MILE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. MY REAL CONCERN IS NOT THE MONEY, ALTHOUGH IT'S A HUGE REPAIR BILL FOR A BRAND NEW CAR, BUT IT'S SAFETY. IF I'D DRIVEN MY CAR A FEW MORE MILES, I'M AFRAID MY ENGINE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. --NICOLE FERGUSON, WINSTON-SALEM, NC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276584

41,000 miles · Jul 8, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

I OWN A 2007 MAZDA CX7 WITH ONLY 41K MILES ON IT. IT STARTED BLOWING HOT AIR, A/C WOULD NOT WORK AND IT WAS MAKING AWFUL NOISE. I DID SOME INVESTIGATING ONLINE AND DISCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2007 MODEL HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. LUCKILY I READ HOW PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THEIR CAR BREAKING DOWN AND INOPERABLE …

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I OWN A 2007 MAZDA CX7 WITH ONLY 41K MILES ON IT. IT STARTED BLOWING HOT AIR, A/C WOULD NOT WORK AND IT WAS MAKING AWFUL NOISE. I DID SOME INVESTIGATING ONLINE AND DISCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE 2007 MODEL HAVING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. LUCKILY I READ HOW PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THEIR CAR BREAKING DOWN AND INOPERABLE WHEN THE SAME ISSUE HAPPENED TO THEM, SO I TOOK THE CAR STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER. IT IS THE AC COMPRESSOR AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER TO EVEN DRIVE CAR ($1400 REPAIR). THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE NO ONE WOULD THINK THEIR CAR WAS UNDRIVABLE BECAUSE THE A/C ISN'T WORKING. WHEN THE COMPRESSOR GOES OUT, IT IS SHORTLY FOLLOWED BY SMOKE, BAD SMELL AND CAR BREAKDOWN. ON THE HIGHWAY THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A PART DEFECT AND MAZDA IS FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, YET THEY ARE DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. AN AC COMPRESSOR IS NOT SUPPOSED TO LAST ONLY 20K-50K MILES ON A CAR, THAT IS RIDICULOUS AND CONSUMERS OF THE 2007 MAZDA CX-7 SHOULD NOT BE BURDENED WITH BEARING THE REPLACEMENT COST BECAUSE WE HAVE A DEFECTIVE PART IN OUR CAR, NOR SHOULD WE HAVE TO BE SUBJECTED TO THE SAFETY HAZARD THIS DEFECT CAN CAUSE BY COMPLETE BREAKDOWN OF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10276063

44,000 miles · Jul 6, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR RECENTLY PURCHASED DECEMBER 2008 AND INSPECTED ONE MONTH AGO BUT IS OVER WARRANTY. THE COMPRESSOR GOES OUT FOR NO REASON PER THE DEALER AND HE ADVISED THAT HE SEE THIS PROBLEM IN THE CX7S ALL OF THE TIME. I HAVE ALSO VISITED OTHER CAR BLOG SITES AND PEOPLE REPORTING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE COMPRESSOR. I CALLED MAZDA …

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CAR RECENTLY PURCHASED DECEMBER 2008 AND INSPECTED ONE MONTH AGO BUT IS OVER WARRANTY. THE COMPRESSOR GOES OUT FOR NO REASON PER THE DEALER AND HE ADVISED THAT HE SEE THIS PROBLEM IN THE CX7S ALL OF THE TIME. I HAVE ALSO VISITED OTHER CAR BLOG SITES AND PEOPLE REPORTING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THE COMPRESSOR. I CALLED MAZDA AND THEY GAVE ME A FILE #124465 BUT ADVISE THEY ARE SIMPLY UNABLE TO REACH THE REP IN MY AREA. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275862

39,000 miles · Jul 6, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILURE ON MANY MAZDA CX7 CARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275859

46,500 miles · Jul 1, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling

AT 45K AND ON VACATION 500MI FROM HOME, A/C STARTED BLOWING HOT AIR AND BURNING ODOR,FRICTION NOISE, AND SMOKE FROM SERPENTINE BELT AREA. TOOK THE CAR TO LOCAL MAZDA DEALER, TOLD THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR HAD SEIZED UP AND THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR OVER 1 WEEK (NATIONALLY!) AND THAT COMPRESSOR FAILURE MIGHT HAVE CAUSED OTHER P…

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AT 45K AND ON VACATION 500MI FROM HOME, A/C STARTED BLOWING HOT AIR AND BURNING ODOR,FRICTION NOISE, AND SMOKE FROM SERPENTINE BELT AREA. TOOK THE CAR TO LOCAL MAZDA DEALER, TOLD THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR HAD SEIZED UP AND THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR OVER 1 WEEK (NATIONALLY!) AND THAT COMPRESSOR FAILURE MIGHT HAVE CAUSED OTHER PROBLEMS THAT NEED TO BE FIXED. HAVE TO GET A RENTAL CAR AND COME BACK IN 2+ WEEKS TO PICK THE CAR BACK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10275415

44,000 miles · Jun 22, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA CX-7. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP AND STOPPED THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED THE SERPENTINE BELT TO SHRED AND THE BATTERY CABLE TO MELT. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH,…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA CX-7. WHILE DRIVING 80 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING, THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP AND STOPPED THE ENGINE, WHICH CAUSED THE SERPENTINE BELT TO SHRED AND THE BATTERY CABLE TO MELT. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE WITH HER YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED TO PAY FOR 75% OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 44,000.

NHTSA ODI #10274637

21,773 miles · Jun 22, 2009
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

MAZDA CX7 2007- 21,000 MILE . AIR CONDITIONER SEIZED THERE BY SHREDDING SERPENTINE BELT , LOSS OF POWER STEERING, ALTERNATOR. REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THEN 1 WEEK LATER AFTER ABOUT 900 MILES THE PULLEY OFF CRANKCASE (HARMONIC BALANCE) ACTUALLY FELL OFF ( FOUND INSIDE WHEEL WELL FENDER). SERPENTINE BELT NOW NOT SPINNING , LOSS OF…

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MAZDA CX7 2007- 21,000 MILE . AIR CONDITIONER SEIZED THERE BY SHREDDING SERPENTINE BELT , LOSS OF POWER STEERING, ALTERNATOR. REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. THEN 1 WEEK LATER AFTER ABOUT 900 MILES THE PULLEY OFF CRANKCASE (HARMONIC BALANCE) ACTUALLY FELL OFF ( FOUND INSIDE WHEEL WELL FENDER). SERPENTINE BELT NOW NOT SPINNING , LOSS OF POWER STEERING AGAIN AND ENGINE OVER HEATING AGAIN. SECOND REPAIR IN PROGRESS NOW(06-22-09). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10274583

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.