2007 Mazda CX-7

THE TIMING CHAIN IN THIS VEHICLE BROKE WHILE UNDER POWER. WE RECENTLY RECEIVED A VOLUNTARY WARRANTY EXTENSION NOTICE (MAZDA CALLS IT A SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM) THAT INDICATED THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE, SPECIFICALLY ELEMENTS RELATED TO THE TIMING CHAIN AND VARIABLE VALVE TIMING. OUR CAR ALWAYS RATTLED AT STARTUP FROM THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT, THAT WAS OUR NORMAL EXPERIENCE AND EXPECTATION FOR WHAT THE CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO SOUND LIKE. WE NEVER KNEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM UNTIL A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND COME TO FIND OUT, OUR CAR HAD PASSED THE EXTENDED COVERAGE PERIOD PROVIDED BY MAZDA ANYWAY. IT IS AND WILL BE OUR CONTENTION THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE MOTOR OF THIS VEHICLE. WHILE OUR EXPERIENCE IS THAT THE CAR FAILED AT 83K MILES, MANY HAVE FAILED SOONER, AND OTHER MAZDA PRODUCTS USING THE SAME MOTOR ARE AFFECTED (L3T ENGINE, ALSO IN THE SPEED 6 AND THE SPEED 3) IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE SERVICE INTERVAL FOR THE TIMING CHAIN HAD NOT BEEN REACHED. MAZDA PUBLISHED A TSB ON THIS PROBLEM IN 2009 OR THEREABOUTS, BUT NEVER CONTACTED IT'S CUSTOMERS DIRECTLY TO INDICATE THAT SERVICE MAY BE REQUIRED. IT IS TIME FOR THE NTSB TO GET A RECALL NOTICE ISSUED AND PUT THIS ISSUE TO BED ONCE AND FOR ALL, BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. *TR

OUR 2007 MAZDA CX7 SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND I WAS FORCED TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN THE CENTER MEDIAN OF THE HIGHWAY, AS I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT DUE TO OTHER TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BROKEN PIN ON THE VARIABLE VALVE TIME ACTUATOR (VVT). THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE (NO WARNING LIGHTS) PRIOR TO THE ENGINE STOPPING. DEALERSHIP HAS INDICATED THAT COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS RECOMMENDED BY MAZDA. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE IS AWAITING ARRIVAL OF AN ADJUSTER FROM EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY TO SEE IF REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT WILL BE COVERED. ADDITIONAL ONLINE RESEARCH HAS INDICATED THAT THIS IS A WELL-DOCUMENT AND FREQUENTLY OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE, YET MANUFACTURER HAS NEGLECTED TO INITIATE A FULL RECALL. RATHER THEY ISSUED A "SERVICE BULLETIN" (#01-002/08) THAT ADDRESSES A VVT NOISE WHEN STARTING ENGINE. BULLETIN STATES "SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A LOUD TICKING NOISE FROM THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING. (VVT) THIS IS CAUSED BY THE LOCK PIN OF THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING ACTUATOR NOT FULLY ENGAGING. HEAT TREATMENT HAS NOW BEEN ADDED AROUND THE HOLE OF THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING ROTOR LOCK TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING." IT IS BELIEVED THAT HAD MY VEHICLE EXHIBITED ANY SYMPTOMS, I COULD HAVE HAD THE SERVICE BULLETIN REPAIRS MADE, AND THE ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THE BROKEN PIN WOULD HAVE MOST LIKELY BEEN AVOIDED. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL, AND NOT ADDRESSED BY A SERVICE BULLETIN. THERE IS STRONG EVIDENCE, AS DISCOVERED VIA THE INTERNET, THAT MULTIPLE CX7 VEHICLES HAVE HAD THIS EXACT SAME TYPE OF FAILURE WHERE THE VEHICLE HAS SUDDENLY STOPPED RUNNING WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS CONSTITUTES AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

ON 2/11/2012 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 70 MILES PER HOUR MY MAZDA CX-7'S ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO AVOID HAVING AN ACCIDENT AND MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH FAILURE OF THE TURBO SYSTEM AND TIMING CHAIN (A VERY SERIOUS AND RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL). MAZDA HAS EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTIES BUT IS DENYING CLAIM CITING OIL SLUDGE BUILDUP EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED PER THE OWNER'S MANUAL. MAZDA IS DENYING FAULT WITH THE ENGINE AND SADDLING ME WITH A BILL OF OVER THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX IT. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN SIX YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000 MILES ON IT. MAZDA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODELS ENGINE AND THE FACT THAT IT COOKS THE ENGINE OIL LONG AFTER PARKING. *TR

RECEIVED WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAM SSP87 LETTER TO HANDLE VARIABLE VALUE TIMING ACTUATOR FIX. EXTENDS WARRANTY TO 84 MONTHS OR 70000 MILES. MY CAR HAS 74,000 MILES AND HAS SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN SSP. WAS TOLD BY BOTH THE DEALER ( TURNERSVILLE MAZDA IN TURNERSVILLE NJ ) AND MAZDA NORTH AMERICA THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO HELP ME. I OFFERED TO PAY PART OF THE REPAIR IF THEY WOULD WORK WITH ME, BOTH DEALER AND MAZDA NA HAD NO INTEREST. CARE DOES FUNCTION OK NOW BUT I WILL NOT DRIVE IT ANYMORE UNTIL I CAN GET IT FIXED. I WILL ALSO BE LOGGING A COMPLAINT WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND CONTACTING THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND POSSIBLY A SMALL CLAIMS COURT CASE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A COMMON PROBLEM AND MAZDA NA SEEMS TO SHOW NO INTEREST IN STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 MAZDA CX7 THAT HAS A BROKEN VVT TIMING SYSTEM. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AND THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 74,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH MAZDA AND THEY ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS DEVASTATING AS A CONSUMER TO NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MAZDA ON A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THEIR VEHICLE. I AM REQUESTING THAT SOMETHING BE DONE SO THAT MAZDA TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT AND COMPENSATES MAZDA CX7 OWNERS FOR THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS! *TR

VVT ACTUATOR BROKE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING WE REALIZED THE BROKEN PART CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR CAUSING A COMPLETE MOTOR REPLACEMENT NECESSARY. WE CONTACTED THE MAZDA DEALER IN OUR AREA WHO TOLD US MAZDA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH 2007 CX-7 AND ARE IGNORING THE PROBLEM, THEY TOLD US IT WASN'T WORTH FIXING. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE A YEAR AGO AND STILL OWE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY, NOW WE CAN'T TRADE IT OFF AND ARE HAVING TO PAY PAYMENTS ON A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. MAZDA RECENTLY VOLUNTARILY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO COVER THIS DEFECTIVE PART BUT PUT THE CUTOFF AT 70,000 MILES, THE THING DOESN'T BREAK UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 80,000 OR MORE. I CONTACTED MAZDA AND ASKED FOR HELP AND WAS TOLD TOO BAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A CLUNKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS ABOVE 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIMING BELT AND ADJUSTERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

THIS VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED USED BY ME DAUGHTER, SINCE THE FAILURE MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT IT, I REPLACED THE FAULTY TURBO CHARGER AND IT IS NOW BACK IN SERVICE. THOUGH MY WIFE HAS VERY LIMITED FAITH IN THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE ISSUE IS THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MAZDA, THE DEALERSHIP MECHANICS/SERVICE MGR STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $8000.00. BEING A MECHANIC MYSELF I KNEW THAT THE ENGINE RAN EXCEPTIONALLY WELL BUT THAT THE TURBO HAD A BURNED UP CARTRIDGE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN DOING THE WORK I REALIZED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE ROUTING OF OIL TUBING CREATED THE FAILURE OF THE TURBO. ALSO, THE FACT THAT MAZDA DOES NOT INDICATE THAT THEIR (ANY) TURBO CHARGED GASOLINE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE IDLED TO COOL THE TURBO ASSEMBLY AFTER DRIVING BEFORE SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. AS IS COMMON PRACTICE WITH DIESEL ENGINES AND RACING ENGINES THAT ARE TURBO CHARGED. NOR DID THEY ENGINEER AND INSTALL A TIMER DEVICE WHICH WOULD DO THIS FOR THE CONSUMER SO THAT THIS FAILURE WOULD BE AVOIDED. I HAVE READ OF MANY OF THESE FAILURES IN THE US ON FORUMS AND MAZDA HAS FORCED MOST TO PAY FOR NEW ENGINES WHEN THEY WERE NOT NEEDED. *TR

THE ENGINE HAS TWO FAULTY PARTS. V.V.T. ACTUATOR AND TURBO. THEY ADMIT BAD DESIGN, BUT ONLY WARRANTY IT TO 70K. THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO GET OUT OF THIS REPAIR WHEN THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT PART OF THEIR DESIGN IS FAILING. TOTAL ENGINE DAMAGE WHEN PARTS FAIL. THIS NEEDS ATTENTION AS CONSUMERS ARE BEING RIPPED OFF AND PUT IN DANGER. SAME ENGINE IN MAZDA 3 AND 6. *TR

TURBO PROBLEMS IN MY MAZDA CX-7. REPLACED FIRST TURBO IN OCTOBER 2010 TOTAL $$ 4500.00. NOW MY TURBO HAS FAILED FOR THE 2ND TIME IN JANUARY 2012. I HAVE ALL MY RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES, BUT JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER POSTS THAT YOU READ FROM OTHER MAZDA CX-7 OWNERS, MAZDA FINDS A REASON TO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY THAT THEY ACTUALLY BUILT A CAR THAT HAS A MAJOR DEFECT. I'VE READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE CX-7 TURBO'S THAT I CAN'T EVEN KEEP UP WITH THEM ALL. MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY HAVE REPLACED AT LEAST 50 TURBOS IN THE CX-7'S IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE. ALSO SAID IT IS SOMETHING WITH A DEFECT IN THE LINES THAT CLOG. SAD THAT A CORPORATION LIKE THAT GETS AWAY WITH RIPPING OFF THE HARD WORKING CONSUMER. I WILL NEVER BUY A MAZDA AGAIN. *TR