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

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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NHTSA ODI #10275415

44,000 miles · Jun 22, 2009

Engine And Engine CoolingFire

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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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NHTSA ODI #10274583

39,800 miles · Jun 18, 2009

Engine And Engine Cooling

AIR CONDITIONER STOPPED WORKING AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT FILLED WITH SMOKE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY THE DEALER REPORTED THAT THE AIRCONDITIONER HAD FAILED AND THAT THE CLUTCH ON THE AC ALTHOUGH FUNCTIONING WAS NOT TURNING AND THAT THE BELT WAS BURNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10274195

45,000 miles · Jun 11, 2009

Engine And Engine Cooling

MY WIFE'S 2007 CX7 A/C COMP FROZE UP AND SEIZED THE MOTOR ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED HARM TO MY CHILD AND OTHER BY STANDARDS THIS SEEMS TO BE A BI PROBLEM WITH MAZDA AND THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10273512

36,900 miles · Jun 3, 2009

Equipment

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER DOES NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR PRESSURE WAS BURNED OUT, WHICH WAS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. THE DEALER WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS EX…

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NHTSA ODI #10272763

53,000 miles · May 31, 2009

Equipment

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I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2007 MAZDA CX7. IN JAN. OF 2008, MY A/C STOPPED WORKING AND SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP, WE WERE TOLD THE A/C COMPRESSOR WAS FRIED. IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT POINT WITH APPROX. 25,000 MILES. AROUND THIS TIME WE HAD TO HAVE ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED BECAUSE THEY WERE BALD. NOW IT IS MAY 2009, AND ONCE AGAIN, THE A/C STOPPED WORKING, THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD US IT WAS THE COMPRESSOR AGAIN, THAT THE PART HAD TO BE ORDERED. THEY DISCONNECTED THE COMPRESSOR AND SAID IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. THE NEXT DAY WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SMOKE WAS POURING OUT OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AFTER PULLING OFF OF THE ROAD WE TRIED TO RE START THE CAR, THAT IS WHEN THE BELT SNAPPED, AND THE CAR IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE. AND THE TIRES ARE BALD AGAIN ONE YEAR LATER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10272447

14,000 miles · May 15, 2009

Air Bags

PASSENGER AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON AS BEING OFF WHEN MY WIFE IS SEATED ON PASSENGER SEAT. DEALER FIXED IT 5 TIMES AND WORKS BETTER THEN BEFORE, BUT STILL OCCASIONALLY COMES ON WHILE DRIVING ALMOST RANDOMLY ON/OFF. MY WIFE IS PETITE BUT WEIGHTS 105LBS OR SO. THE LIGHT SHOULD NOT COME ON AS BEING OFF FOR THIS WEIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10268808

36,300 miles · May 11, 2009

Engine And Engine Cooling

FAULTY A/C COMPRESSOR AND CLUTCH ON ALL 2007-2008 CX-7. ALL CX-7'S WITH THE FAULTY A/C COMPRESSOR AND CLUTCH WILL FAIL. IT COSTS -$1,200 -$1,400 TO FIX (IF NOT UNDER WARRANTY). MAZDA ACKNOWLEDGES THE FAILURE, BUT DOES NOT COVER COST OF NEW "REDESIGNED UNIT" BECAUSE OF ECONOMICS (AND NO SAFETY ISSUE). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10268400

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.