MAZDA CX-7 WITH LESS THAN 90,000 HAS ENGINE LIGHT ON DUE TO BAD VARIABLE ACTUATOR FOR THE ENGINE AND BAD OIL CONTROL VALVE. I HAVE HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND MAINTENANCE. THE COST OF REPAIR IS $1700. LAST YEAR I SPENT $3000.00 DUE TO AIR CONDITIONER AND OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR WITH LESS THAN 60,000. *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.
What owners actually said
528 reports2007 MAZDA CX-7 HAD FAILURE OF THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR. BEARINGS FREEZE UP IN THE COMPRESSOR UNIT. THIS CAUSES PULLEY TO STOP TURNING AND PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE DRIVE BELT. THIS CAUSES CAR TO OVERHEAT AND BATTERY TO LOSE CHARGE BECAUSE ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP ARE NOT SPINNING. THEY DO NOT SPIN BECAUSE THE DRIVE BEL…
Read full complaint
2007 MAZDA CX-7 HAD FAILURE OF THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR. BEARINGS FREEZE UP IN THE COMPRESSOR UNIT. THIS CAUSES PULLEY TO STOP TURNING AND PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE DRIVE BELT. THIS CAUSES CAR TO OVERHEAT AND BATTERY TO LOSE CHARGE BECAUSE ALTERNATOR AND WATER PUMP ARE NOT SPINNING. THEY DO NOT SPIN BECAUSE THE DRIVE BELT SLIPS OVER THEM BECAUSE AIR CONDITIONER PULLEY HAS SEIZED UP. THIS HAPPENS AROUND 34,000 MILES AND GENERALLY WITHIN MONTHS OF THE EXPIRATION OF THE 36 MONTH WARRANTY. INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO MAZDA. MAZDA REFUSES TO COVER REPAIR UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY AS IT IS NOT AN ESSENTIAL PART - EVEN THOUGH THE CAR BECOME UNDRIVEABLE. *TR
MAZDA CX7 2007 ISSUE WITH THE AC COMPRESSOR/ CONDENSOR. *TR
MY MAZDA 2007 CX7 STALLED ON ME AND THEN DIED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ON MONDAY THEY TOLD ME THE OIL WAS LOW AND I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I MAINTAIN MY CAR AS REQUIRED AND THERE WERE NO SIGNALS INDICATING MY OIL OR ANYTHING ELSE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 2007 …
Read full complaint
MY MAZDA 2007 CX7 STALLED ON ME AND THEN DIED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND ON MONDAY THEY TOLD ME THE OIL WAS LOW AND I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. I MAINTAIN MY CAR AS REQUIRED AND THERE WERE NO SIGNALS INDICATING MY OIL OR ANYTHING ELSE WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN 2007 AND THIS IS THE FIRST MAJOR INCIDENT I HAVE EVER HAD. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT GIVE ANY OTHER OPTIONS BUT TO BUY A NEW ENGINE FOR 6,400.00. I WAS TOLD THAT MY WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 60,000 MILES. *TR
I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED FLOWING MASSIVE AMOUNT OF SMOKE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR STOPPED WORKING. THANK FULLY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND BACK TO THE DEALER. TELLING ME THAT MY A/C COMPR…
Read full complaint
I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN MY CAR STARTED FLOWING MASSIVE AMOUNT OF SMOKE FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR. I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR STOPPED WORKING. THANK FULLY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND BACK TO THE DEALER. TELLING ME THAT MY A/C COMPRESSOR WENT. COSTING ABOUT 2000$ TO FIX!. AFTER SOME INVESTIGATION, I REALIZED THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH 07' AND 08' MAZDA CX-7 CARS. I BELIEVE MAZDA FIXED THE PROBLEM ON NEWER CX-7S BUT COMPLETELY IGNORED THE OLDER MODELS. PLEASE HELP ME FIX THIS! *TR
I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED MAZDA CX-7 GRAND TOURING EDITION VEHICLE. I BOUGHT IT ON NOVEMBER 8, 2008 WITH 18,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER OWNING IT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING WHEN I HEARD A POP AND CLANKING SOUND. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE UNTIL MY CAR STARTED LOSING POWER HOWEVER I MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO WORK.…
Read full complaint
I RECENTLY BOUGHT A USED MAZDA CX-7 GRAND TOURING EDITION VEHICLE. I BOUGHT IT ON NOVEMBER 8, 2008 WITH 18,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER OWNING IT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING WHEN I HEARD A POP AND CLANKING SOUND. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE UNTIL MY CAR STARTED LOSING POWER HOWEVER I MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO WORK. NO LIGHTS CAME ON, NOTHING. MY HUSBAND CAME THAT MORNING TO DRIVE THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC AND WITHIN 2 MILES ALL THE DASH LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. IT WAS TOWED TO GRAPPONE MAZDA IN CONCORD NH FOR WHAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE WARRANTY WORK SINCE WE WERE STILL UNDER THE WARRANTY. WE WERE TOLD TO PRODUCE ALL SERVICE RECORDS WHICH WE DID, AND THEY FOUND SOME GAPS, HOWEVER, NEVER OVER THE RECOMMENDED 7500 MILES THAT THEY RECOMMEND FOR AN OIL CHANGE. OUR WARRANTY COVERAGE WAS DENIED TWICE. TO THIS DAY, WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR ENGINE. THERE HAVE BEEN SUGGESTIONS AND ALSO WE'VE BEEN TOLD THAT THE TURBO DEFINITELY WENT. WE OBTAINED A CARFAX TO SEE WHAT WAS DONE TO THE CAR BEFORE WE OWNED IT AND FOUND OUT THE TURBO HAD BEEN REPLACED BEFORE WE BOUGHT THE CAR WHEN IT WAS ONLY A YEAR OLD WITH 18,000 MILES ON IT. MAZDA IS REFUSING TO WORK WITH US ON THIS AND HAVE LEFT US WITHOUT A CAR NOW FOR 2 MONTHS. *TR
DRIVING HOME FROM WORK DURING RUSH HOUR. SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT OUTSIDE VEHICLE AND INTO THE CABIN. FEARING AN ENGINE FIRE, PULLED OFF TO LEFT SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. OPENED HOOD (WITH MUCH TREPIDATION) TO OBSERVE PROBLEM. SMOKE CONTINUED TO EMANATE FROM PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE COMPAR…
Read full complaint
DRIVING HOME FROM WORK DURING RUSH HOUR. SMOKE BEGAN POURING OUT OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT OUTSIDE VEHICLE AND INTO THE CABIN. FEARING AN ENGINE FIRE, PULLED OFF TO LEFT SHOULDER OF HIGHWAY AND SHUT OFF ENGINE. OPENED HOOD (WITH MUCH TREPIDATION) TO OBSERVE PROBLEM. SMOKE CONTINUED TO EMANATE FROM PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEAR SERPENTINE BELTS - NO OBVIOUS FIRE. LET VEHICLE SIT FOR 5 MINUTES AND RESTARTED - SAME PROBLEM. SHUT OFF A/C, AND SMOKE AND NOISE DISCONTINUED. IDLED FOR 5 MINUTES - NO MORE APPARENT PROBLEMS WITH A/C OFF. PULLED BACK ON TO HIGHWAY AND CONTINUED TRIP HOME. DID SOME ONLINE INVESTIGATION AND DEDUCED THAT A/C COMPRESSOR HAD SEIZED. ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE OF WIDESPREAD PROBLEM, INCLUDING CATASTROPHIC FAILURES FOR OTHER MAZDA CX7 OWNERS. ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE OF A COMPLETE COMPONENT REDESIGN FOR 2008 MODEL YEAR. BROUGHT CAR TO DEALER FOLLOWING MONDAY - A/C COMPRESSOR HAD SEIZED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT TO THE TUNE OF $1300 AT MY COST (12,000 KM OVER WARRANTY). NO HELP FROM THE DEALER, AND NO HELP FROM MAZDA. ZOOM-ZOOM APPEARS TO REPRESENT HOW QUICKLY MAZDA RETREATS FROM CUSTOMER SUPPORT. *TR
THE SUV BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN STOPPED TO LOOK AT IT THE BELT HAD BEGAN TO MELT DUE TO THE AC COMPRESSOR LOCKING UP. WHEN WENT TO DEALER TO PURCHASE NEW COMPRESSOR PARTS REP STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH ONLINE FOUND SEVERAL REPORTS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS. CHANGED A/C COMPRESSOR, DR…
Read full complaint
THE SUV BEGAN TO SMOKE FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN STOPPED TO LOOK AT IT THE BELT HAD BEGAN TO MELT DUE TO THE AC COMPRESSOR LOCKING UP. WHEN WENT TO DEALER TO PURCHASE NEW COMPRESSOR PARTS REP STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH ONLINE FOUND SEVERAL REPORTS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS. CHANGED A/C COMPRESSOR, DRYER RECEIVER, AND BELT. YES THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS COST $420 AND IT WAS $90 TO RECHARGE THE SYSTEM (MAZDA QUOTED $450 FOR LABOR, HUSBAND IS MECHANIC SO HE DONE THE WORK). HAD THE BELT BROKE THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED ME TO BE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY TODDLER IN 100 DEGREE WEATHER. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY ABOUT 50,000 ON IT AND A/C COMPRESSORS SHOULD LAST WAY LONGER THAN THAT. WHEN CALLED MAZDA THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO DRIVE THE CAR 45 MILES TO THE DEALER PAY FOR AN INSPECTION AND THE DEALER WOULD SEND THEM A REPORT. I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS FAR SO WE BOUGHT THE PARTS FROM MAZDA AND DONE THE WORK. *TR
THE CLUTCH WENT OUT ON THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR. CALLED MAZDA APPARENTLY IT IS A KNOWN AND COMMON PROBLEM. MAZDA QUOTED ABOUT A $1,000 FIX. $30,000 POS! *TR
AFTER DRIVING ROUGHLY 38,000 MILES, MY MAZDA CX-7'S A/C STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS. IT STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR AND STARTED TO MAKE A GRINDING SOUND. WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO A PLACE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR, A BURNING SMELL BEGAN TO ARISE. IT WAS EVENTUALLY FOUND THAT THE COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THERE W…
Read full complaint
AFTER DRIVING ROUGHLY 38,000 MILES, MY MAZDA CX-7'S A/C STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS. IT STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR AND STARTED TO MAKE A GRINDING SOUND. WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO A PLACE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR, A BURNING SMELL BEGAN TO ARISE. IT WAS EVENTUALLY FOUND THAT THE COMPRESSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THERE WERE METAL PARTS IN THE COMPRESSOR. THIS CAUSED HUGE DAMAGES TO THE CAR AND IT WAS ESTIMATED TO COST ROUGHLY $17,000 IN DAMAGES. IT HAS YET TO BE FIXED, BUT THE CAR HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN FOR 38,000 MILES AND HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE INTERVALS. THERE WAS ALMOST NO INDICATION OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE I DID NOT TURN ON THE A/C OFTEN. *TR
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.
Illustration