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

What owners actually said

528 reports

34,951 miles · Dec 14, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

TIMING VALVE REPLACED AT 34,951 MILES, THEN ENGINE REPLACED AT 41,060 MILES ON JULY 24, 2008. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10439855

76,000 miles · Dec 8, 2011

Engine And Engine Cooling

BOUGHT MY 2007 MAZDA CX7 WITH 76000 MILES NOT EVEN KIDDING BUT 12HRS LATER MY MOTOR MOUNT AND THE VVT WENT OUT. A MONTH LATER RADIATOR CRACKED AND NOW IT HAD A BAD OIL LEAK AND LOUD KNOCKIN NOISE IT SOUNDS LIKE AN OLD TRUCK VERY BUMPED OUT I HAVE ONLY HAD IT FOR FIVE MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10439097

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2011

Engine And Engine Cooling

BOUGHT CAR 4 MONTHS AGO, 61K MILES, AT 64K MILES CAR TURNED OFF ON HIGHWAY, HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED AND THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, AND NOW CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE AT 64K MILES AND MAZDA WILL NOT COVER DUE TO OUT OF WARRANTY. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10437854

63,000 miles · Nov 16, 2011

Engine And Engine Cooling

Read full complaint

DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN IT MAKES A LOUD SQUEALING SOUND AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER BEGINS TO SMOKE. AIR CONDITIONING HAD QUIT WORKING THE DAY BEFORE. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR "TOOK A CRAP" AND THE CLUTCH LOCKED UP, FURTHERMORE THIS CAUSED ALL OF THE FLUIDS TO LEAK OUT OF THE BEARINGS. BASICALLY, A WORST CASE SCENARIO. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN MAY OF 2010 AT 24,000 MILES AND AFTER SEEING THESE COMPLAINTS, I WONDER IF THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM KNEW ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS WHEN I MADE THE PURCHASE. THE MECHANIC IS WORKING HARD TO FIND THE BEST PRICED COMPRESSOR KIT FOR REPLACEMENT AND OFFERED TO RUN MY VIN THRU A LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL I WASN'T TOLD ABOUT. EITHER WAY, I AM OUT ALOT OF MONEY UP FRONT; THANK GOODNESS THERE ARE STILL GOOD INDEPENDENT MECHANICS OUT THERE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436110

47,500 miles · Nov 16, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THE POWER TRAIN (TIMING CHAIN) FAILED IN LESS THAN 4 YEARS , 47,000 MILES --ONE OWNER WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10436093

66,300 miles · Nov 14, 2011

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE AC COMPRESSOR ON THE VEHICLE SEIZED CAUSING SMOKE AND SPARKS TO COME OFF OF THE BELT. THE AC COMPRESSOR AND THE BELT BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435601

68,000 miles · Nov 14, 2011

Engine And Engine Cooling

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SMOKE AND RATTLING AND LOW OIL PROMPTED ME TO MAKE AN APT AT MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER ONLY TO FIND THAT MY TURBO HAS BLOWN AND MY VVT VALVE AND TIMING CHAIN. (THE TRUCK IS A 2007) I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK AS IT WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH 2 KIDS. SO AFTER MY QUOTE OF 7000.00 TO FIX THE TRUCK I THOUGHT I WOULD DO SOME RESEARCH ONLINE ONLY TO FIND THAT THERE ARE AS MANY AS 50 PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE SAME TRUCK WITH THE SAME YEAR~!! WHY WONT MAZDA STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCT AND PUT OUT A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE? I WAS TOLD TO FIND THIS SITE AND LODGE MY COMPLAINT. HOPE THIS WILL DO SOME GOOD !! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435567

53,000 miles · Nov 9, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

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I STARTED TO ACCELERATE AFTER COMING OFF OF AN EXIT RAMP WHEN I HEARD A NOISE FROM THE ENGINE THEN I STARTED TO LOSE POWER. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT WHEN I DEPRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO ACCELERATE, A GRINDING NOISE OCCURRED. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO A PARKING LOT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE TURBO HAD FAILED. THEY WANT ALL MAINTENANCE RECORDS FOR THE TIME I HAVE OWNED THE CAR IN ORDER TO MAKE A DETERMINATION OF WHETHER IT WILL BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WHICH COVERS THE ENGINE AND TURBO TO 100,000. BUT IT APPEARS THEY ARE STATING IT IS DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE AS I CANNOT PRODUCE ALL MY OIL CHANGE RECEIPTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435107

82,000 miles · Nov 9, 2011

Engine And Engine Cooling

TIMING CHAIN BROKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10435026

62,000 miles · Nov 9, 2011

Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainSteering

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PURCHASED MY VEHICLE 15 MONTHS AGO AT 38,000 MILES. IN OCTOBER, I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. NO WARNING, NOTHING ON THE DASH LIGHTING UP, THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED LOOSING SPEED. THE STEERING WAS GOING AS WELL. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO TRY AND GET THE STEERING BACK AND IT WAS A HARD STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TRIED STARTING THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD TURN BUT NOT START. TWO TOWS LATER, I FIND, TO MY SURPRISE AT 62,000, THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE. MY TIMING CHAIN EITHER BROKE OR HAS DERAILED. THIS ALL HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 22ND. IT IS NOW NOVEMBER 10TH AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE AN EXACT DIAGNOSIS NOR A VEHICLE. YES, WARRANTY IS DONE AT 60,000 MILES, BUT WHAT VEHICLES LOOSE AND ENGINE AT 62,000 IN THIS DECADE? AND, THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY WHEN THIS HAPPENED AS I'M NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED TO THE STEERING IN THIS WHOLE PROCESS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10434984

Official recalls

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.