THE TIMING CHAIN IS MESSED UP ON MY 2007 MAZDA CX-7 IT ONLY HAS 85K MILES ON IT. *TR
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.
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
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.
Power Train complaints
53 reportsOUR 2007 CX-7 MAZDA DEVELOPED NOISE. WE RECEIVED LETTER FROM DEALERSHIP REGARDING POSSIBLE NEED TO FIX AC COMPRESSOR. ABOUT 10 DAYS LATER ON SEPT.5 2010 WE TOOK A TRIP AND DID NOT TURN ON THE AC BUT A LOUD NOISE DEVELOPED AND WE LOST ACCELERATION ABILITY. NO WARNING LIGHT EVER CAME ON. OUR CAR HAS ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON IT. TO…
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OUR 2007 CX-7 MAZDA DEVELOPED NOISE. WE RECEIVED LETTER FROM DEALERSHIP REGARDING POSSIBLE NEED TO FIX AC COMPRESSOR. ABOUT 10 DAYS LATER ON SEPT.5 2010 WE TOOK A TRIP AND DID NOT TURN ON THE AC BUT A LOUD NOISE DEVELOPED AND WE LOST ACCELERATION ABILITY. NO WARNING LIGHT EVER CAME ON. OUR CAR HAS ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON IT. TOWED IT TO MAZDA DEALERSHILP. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T TELL WHAT WAS WRONG. SEVERAL DAYS LATER THEY SAID THE TURBO HAD FAILED AND THE ENGINE IS RUINED AND WOULD NEED REPLACING. THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE HAD NO OIL (REMEMBER, NO WARNING LIGHT) AND THEY FOUND SLUDGE, INDICATING NEGLECT. WE HAVE HAD OIL CHANGES AS REQUIRED. THEY HAVE NOT AGREED TO FIX IT. WE HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS OF SAME MODEL AND YEAR ONLINE ON EDMUNDS.COM. IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL AND YEAR AND THE DEALERS RESPONSE IS TO DENY HONORING WARRANTY DUE TO "SLUDGE". OUR NEXT MOVE IS TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WE PURCHASED IT FROM OUT OF TOWN. *TR
I HAVE A 2007 MAZDA CX-7. IT IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL CAR BUT ALSO HAS TONS OF PROBLEMS. AT 15000 MILES IT WAS LEAKING OIL AND THEY REPLACE THE ENGINE GASKETS. THEN LATER WAS ALSO LEAKING OIL. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS NOT. TOOK IT TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO SAID IT WAS LEAKING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN. MAZDA RESEALED IT. SINCE THEN M…
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I HAVE A 2007 MAZDA CX-7. IT IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL CAR BUT ALSO HAS TONS OF PROBLEMS. AT 15000 MILES IT WAS LEAKING OIL AND THEY REPLACE THE ENGINE GASKETS. THEN LATER WAS ALSO LEAKING OIL. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IT WAS NOT. TOOK IT TO SOMEONE ELSE WHO SAID IT WAS LEAKING FROM THE TIMING CHAIN. MAZDA RESEALED IT. SINCE THEN MY CAR DOESN'T SHIFT PROPERLY GOING UP AND DOWN HILLS. MY AIR CONDITIONER IS HOT AND MAKES A FUNNY SOUND. MY CAR HAS LOSS OF POWER AND SOUND LIKE A DIESEL. OVERALL I THINK THAT MAZDA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEMS OR THEY WILL NOT GET MANY RETURNING CUSTOMERS! SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! IT WAS A 35000 DOLLAR CAR! *TR
MY 2007 CX-7 HAD BEEN MAKING A NOISE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS SO I HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY TWO DIFFERENT PLACES AND WAS TOLD BY BOTH THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IS ABOUT TO BREAK. IT HAS 66K MILES WHICH SEEMS LOW TO BE HAVING THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP BUT SINCE I'M OVER THE 60K MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRE…
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MY 2007 CX-7 HAD BEEN MAKING A NOISE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS SO I HAD IT CHECKED OUT BY TWO DIFFERENT PLACES AND WAS TOLD BY BOTH THAT THE TIMING CHAIN IS ABOUT TO BREAK. IT HAS 66K MILES WHICH SEEMS LOW TO BE HAVING THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. I WILL BE TAKING IT TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP BUT SINCE I'M OVER THE 60K MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. *TR
MAZDA 2007 CX-7 ENGINE SEIZED. HEARD A CLICKING SOUND FOR A FEW SECONDS AT THE START-UP OF THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY AND WOULD GO AWAY. THIS WENT ON FOR A FEW WEEKS, BUT DID NOT OCCUR EVERYTIME THE CAR STARTED. CAR SEIZED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY, LOUD CLANGING NOISE FOLLOWED BY DECREASE IN SPEED, COULD…
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MAZDA 2007 CX-7 ENGINE SEIZED. HEARD A CLICKING SOUND FOR A FEW SECONDS AT THE START-UP OF THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY AND WOULD GO AWAY. THIS WENT ON FOR A FEW WEEKS, BUT DID NOT OCCUR EVERYTIME THE CAR STARTED. CAR SEIZED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND FAILED TO OPERATE NORMALLY, LOUD CLANGING NOISE FOLLOWED BY DECREASE IN SPEED, COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE PAST 15 MPH. CAR HAS 30,000 MILES, CALLED DEALER SINCE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER INDICATES THAT ENGINE AND TURBO NEED TO BE REPLACED AND HAS CONTACTED MAZDA FOR WARRANTY VERIFICATION. NO OIL IN CAR, AND MECHANIC REPORTS SLUDGE IN OIL PAN. DEALER REQUESTED RECEIPTS FOR ALL OIL CHANGES AND PARTS SINCE I PERFORMED ALL MAINTENANCE. I HAVE NO RECEIPTS. FROM READING THE HORROR STORIES FROM SIMILAR INDIVIDUALS ONLINE WITH SAME PROBLEM, MAZDA WILL MORE THAN LIKELY DECLINE MY WARRANTY AND CLAIM THAT I THE OWNER DID NOT PROPERLY MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PAST PROBLEMS WITH MY VEHICLE SINCE ITS PURCHASE AND HAVE HAD WARRANTY SERVICE WORK PERFORMED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. WITH ALL THE TIMES THAT MY VEHICLE WAS IN SERVICE, I WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF A MAZDA SERVICE BULLETIN #01-002/08, WHICH ADDRESSES CERTAIN VIN # 2007 CX-7'S (MINE QUALIFIES) TO HAVE A VARIABLE VALVE TIMING REPLACED DUE TO NUMEROUS ENGINE FAILURES COINCIDING WITH THE PROBLEM THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED. THE BULLETIN INDICATES THAT ONLY CUSTOMERS WHO COMPLAIN OF ENGINE NOISE WILL BE TREATED WITH WARRANTY REPLACEMENT SERVICE. SINCE I HAD NO INCLINING OF THE ONGOING ISSUES WITH THE 2007 CX-7, I AM BEING PENALIZED FOR HAVING TO PAY FOR THE ENGINEERING DEFECTS WITH THE MAZDA 2007 CX-7. *TR
LIKE TONS OF OTHER REPORTS ONLINE, MY 2007 CX-7 IS HAVING A TIMING CHAIN/VVT ACTUATOR FAILURE AT AROUND 40000MILES. LUCKILY, AFTER READING THE REPORTS ONLINE, I TOLD MY MAZDA DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING WHILE TIMING CHAIN WAS AT ITS BREAKING POINT (THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A BLOWN UP…
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LIKE TONS OF OTHER REPORTS ONLINE, MY 2007 CX-7 IS HAVING A TIMING CHAIN/VVT ACTUATOR FAILURE AT AROUND 40000MILES. LUCKILY, AFTER READING THE REPORTS ONLINE, I TOLD MY MAZDA DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING WHILE TIMING CHAIN WAS AT ITS BREAKING POINT (THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A BLOWN UP ENGINE WHILE DRIVING). *TR
2007 MAZDA CX-7. 47,000 MILES. CLEAN ENGINE AND CLEAN OIL PER THE SERVICE DESK AT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP. PIN RELATED TO TIMING CHAIN BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK AND RUINED THE ENTIRE ENGINE. MY CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY ROAD AND ANOTHER VEHICLE ALMOST COLLIDED WITH ME AS I SLOWLY TRIED TO MOVE IT…
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2007 MAZDA CX-7. 47,000 MILES. CLEAN ENGINE AND CLEAN OIL PER THE SERVICE DESK AT THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP. PIN RELATED TO TIMING CHAIN BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE TIMING CHAIN TO BREAK AND RUINED THE ENTIRE ENGINE. MY CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF A VERY BUSY ROAD AND ANOTHER VEHICLE ALMOST COLLIDED WITH ME AS I SLOWLY TRIED TO MOVE IT OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE IT STOPPED ALTOGETHER. WHILE THE COMPANY HAS YET TO DECIDE IF THEY WILL PAY FOR THE REPAIR SINCE THE CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY, I STILL BELIEVE THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED AS A RECALL ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS I HAVE SEEN ONLINE ABOUT OTHER MAZDA CX-7 OWNERS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA CX7. THE CONTACT STATED THE CVT TRANSMISSION AND SPRING TENSIONER FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THE PARTS WERE MANUFACTURER FROM PLASTIC AND BELIEVED IT TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. AS A RESULT, THE TIMING CHAIN WOULD CONTINUOUSLY FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE CONTINU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA CX7. THE CONTACT STATED THE CVT TRANSMISSION AND SPRING TENSIONER FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THE PARTS WERE MANUFACTURER FROM PLASTIC AND BELIEVED IT TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. AS A RESULT, THE TIMING CHAIN WOULD CONTINUOUSLY FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR. THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000
FOR QUITE AWHILE I HAD BEEN HEARING A "TICKING" NOISE WITH MY 2007 MAZDA CX-7..BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN LAFAYETTE, LA. TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THEY CHECKED IT OUT, UPDATED RECALLS IN AFFECT, STATED THEY FOUND NOTHING. CONTINUED TO HEAR IT OFF AND ON, HAD MY OIL CHANGED REGULARLY. ON JULY 10, 2010 MY CAR BROKE DOWN (4 YRS …
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FOR QUITE AWHILE I HAD BEEN HEARING A "TICKING" NOISE WITH MY 2007 MAZDA CX-7..BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN LAFAYETTE, LA. TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. THEY CHECKED IT OUT, UPDATED RECALLS IN AFFECT, STATED THEY FOUND NOTHING. CONTINUED TO HEAR IT OFF AND ON, HAD MY OIL CHANGED REGULARLY. ON JULY 10, 2010 MY CAR BROKE DOWN (4 YRS OLD, 33,000 MILES) HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER IN BEAUMONT, CLOSE TO WHERE IT HAD BROKEN DOWN. THE SERVICE DEPT. ASKED FOR MY SERVICE RECORDS AFTER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT PROBLEM WAS WITH THE ENGINE.. DID NOT HAVE EVERY RECEIPT DUE TO DEALER IN AREA CLOSING WITH NO RECORDS THERE, BUT PROVIDE THE LAST FEW.. AFTER TAKING AN "IMAGE" AND SENDING IT TO MAZDA, IT WAS DETERMINED THEY WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY BECAUSE I HAD EXCESSIVE "SLUDGE" AND WANTED ME TO PAY FULL COST OF A NEW ENGINE/MOTOR. NO ONE WANTED TO LISTEN TO ME..I DO REMEMBER THAT WHEN MY OIL WAS CHANGED, THE MECHANIC HAD TOLD ME IN THE PAST THAT IT SEEMED TO HAVE "SLUDGE", BUT THAT WAS ONLY BETWEEN 3,000 MILES. I HAD TAKEN CARE OF MY CAR, AND THEY WERE TELLING THAT IT HAD "POOR MAINTENANCE" AND WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY! *TR
MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2007 MAZDA CX-7 A FEW YEARS AGO, AND OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP WITH MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. FROM AN OIL LEAK, TO A BAD COMPRESSOR, THEN THE TIMING CHAIN GONE BAD AND NOW ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE EGR. THE CAR HAS A LITTLE OVER 38K MILES AND TO ME IT SEEMS VERY ODD FOR A CAR BEING THIS…
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MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A 2007 MAZDA CX-7 A FEW YEARS AGO, AND OVER THE LAST THREE MONTHS IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP WITH MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. FROM AN OIL LEAK, TO A BAD COMPRESSOR, THEN THE TIMING CHAIN GONE BAD AND NOW ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH THE EGR. THE CAR HAS A LITTLE OVER 38K MILES AND TO ME IT SEEMS VERY ODD FOR A CAR BEING THIS YOUNG IN MILES, TO HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS SUCH AS THESE. AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH WITH THE MAZDA CORPORATE OFFICE, THEY FIRST AGREED TO PAY FOR THE PARTS FOR MY LATEST PROBLEMS SINCE I'M NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. I WAS FINE WITH THAT UNTIL I FOUND OUT THE LABOR WAS OVER $500 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. WHEN I CALL THE CORPORATE OFFICE TO TRY TO DISCUSS SPLITTING THE LABOR COSTS, THEIR SUPERVISOR CONTACTED ME BACK WITH AN ATTITUDE LIKE I DID SOMETHING WRONG AND DECIDED THEY WERE NOW NOT GOING TO HELP AT ALL. THAT IS JUST POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE BEHIND A VEHICLE THAT WAS NOT READY TO BE PUT ON OUR US ROADWAYS. IN MY OPINION, THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED. AFTER REVIEWING SOME OF THE FORUMS, MANY OTHERS AGREE WITH MY DISPLEASURE IN THE PROBLEMS WITH THE MAZDA CX-7--CHECK THIS LINKHTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0E5B59/110. THANK YOU. *JB
Official recalls
419V782000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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