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2008 Mazda CX-7

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2008 Mazda CX-7 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 153.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

128 reports with mileage · 63 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.

  • Air Bags. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 44 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports9 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine complaints

44 reports
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66,600 miles · Nov 8, 2012
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AS THE EMISSIONS GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE EGR VALVE AND THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT M…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED. THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AS THE EMISSIONS GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE EGR VALVE AND THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,600.

NHTSA ODI #10483710

50,835 miles · Aug 28, 2012
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-7. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND BLUE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO ENGINE SLUDGE. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE BE …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-7. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD GRINDING NOISE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND BLUE SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO ENGINE SLUDGE. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE ENGINE BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,835. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10472720

46,235 miles · Jul 24, 2012
Engine

I BOUGHT THE CAR AT 30K MILES IN NOVEMBER OF 2011. I HAVE SINCE DRIVEN 15K MILES ON IT. I NOTICED A CLICK IN THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND I NEEDED TO GET A 45K MILE MAINTENANCE ON IT. I TOLD THEM THE CLICKING WAS BOTHERING ME. THEY SAID THAT WAS FINE. …

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I BOUGHT THE CAR AT 30K MILES IN NOVEMBER OF 2011. I HAVE SINCE DRIVEN 15K MILES ON IT. I NOTICED A CLICK IN THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE AND I NEEDED TO GET A 45K MILE MAINTENANCE ON IT. I TOLD THEM THE CLICKING WAS BOTHERING ME. THEY SAID THAT WAS FINE. I GOT THE CAR BACK AND THE NOISE APPEARED TO HAVE GONE... BUT REAPPEARED AFTER A FEW DAYS. I WENT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND TOLD THEM THAT A CAR UNDER 5 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 50K MILES ON IT SHOULDN'T MAKE THAT NOISE. THEY FINALLY ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN, CAUSING A LEAK IN THE OIL WHICH PUT SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS MY FAULT ETC. I PROCEEDED TO LOOK ONLINE AND THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, THEY AREN'T EVEN MAKING THE CAR ANYMORE AND I'M SURE IT'S DUE TO THESE SAME ENGINE PROBLEMS. MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS MY FAULT... AND THE OTHER PEOPLE ON HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F1826A6/0 HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I HOPE SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS! THE DEALERSHIP TRIED TO SWITCH OUT THE CAR SAYING THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO HELP... AND AFTER DRIVING IT FOR 10 MINUTES... I TOLD THEM THE BEGINNING NOISE WAS IN THIS CAR AS WELL. HE ACTED ALOOF AND SAID HE DIDN'T HEAR IT... UNTIL WE WERE BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP. THEN HE SAID... 'OH ... I HEAR IT NOW' THEY NEED TO DO A FULL RECALL OF THIS CAR. WORKING SO HARD TO FINALLY BE ABLE TO GET A CAR MAKES YOU SO HAPPY... BUT TO GET RIPPED OFF IN THE END.... IT'S AWFUL. I FEEL COMPLETELY VULNERABLE AND IT'S TERRIBLE. THANKS FOR EVEN HAVING THIS WEBSITE... HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET THIS CAR OFF THE MARKET! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10467216

65,900 miles · Jul 23, 2012
Engine

AC FAILED ON LONG TRIP. TEMP GAUGE DID NOT INDICATE OVERHEATING, NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE LIT UP. AFTER ARRIVING AT DESTINATION 5 HOURS FROM HOME, TURNED OFF ENGINE AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM RT FRONT HOOD AREA NEAR WHEEL. TRIED TO START, NOT TURNING OVER. ADDED COOLANT TO OVER FLOW (IT WAS EMPTY). STILL NOT STARTING. NO MAZDA…

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AC FAILED ON LONG TRIP. TEMP GAUGE DID NOT INDICATE OVERHEATING, NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE LIT UP. AFTER ARRIVING AT DESTINATION 5 HOURS FROM HOME, TURNED OFF ENGINE AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM RT FRONT HOOD AREA NEAR WHEEL. TRIED TO START, NOT TURNING OVER. ADDED COOLANT TO OVER FLOW (IT WAS EMPTY). STILL NOT STARTING. NO MAZDA DEALER OPEN IN AREA (CLOSEST ONE WAS 45 MILES SOUTH IN FT WAYNE. TIME WAS APPROX 2PM ON SATURDAY. ENTERPRISE RENT A CAR ALSO NOT OPEN EXCEPT AIRPORT LOCATIONS (THEY ARE OPEN 8-12 ON SATS). KNEW THERE WAS A W-MART NEARBY W/ AUTO SERVICE. OUR VEHICLE IS PARKED IN LARGE MCDONALD'S LOT NEAR THE BACK OUT OF THE WAY, RELATIVELY SAFE LOCATION...CLLD AND SPOKE W/ [XXX] AT WAL-MART. HE OFFERED TO COME LOOK AT THE CAR AFTER WORK-W/IN 15 MIN HE WAS THERE. BECAUSE ENGINE NOT TURNING OVER, HE AT FIRST WAS CONCERNED ENGINE MAY HAVE SEIZED UP/HEAD GASKET BLEW ETC. HE ISOLATED THE AC CLUTCH AS THE PROBLEM BY MANUALLY TURNING OVER THE ENGINE AND THEN TAKING BELT OFF COMPLETELY. STARTED RIGHT UP... HE THEN PROCEEDED TO DRIVE US TO AIRPORT IN FT WAYNE, HAD OUR CAR TOWED TO HIS REPAIR SHOP, ACCESSED THE PROBLEM AREA AND ADVISED ME WHAT PART TO ORDER.THE MAN IS A SAINT. WE SPENT 4 HOURS AT AIRPORT UNTIL ENTERPRISE TOOK MERCY ON US AND RENTED US A CAR EVEN THOUGH I ONLY HAVE A DEBIT VISA. PART HAS BEEN ORDERED FROM DEALER WHERE WE PURCH CAR.THEY MATCHED PRICE ONLINE OF $289.01 AND SHIPPING TO INDIANA IS ONLY $12 WILL ARRIVE BY END OF DAY TOMORROW. NOT SURE WHAT LABOR COST WILL BE. UNABLE TO ORDER ONLY CLUTCH FROM MAZDA. DON'T NEED PUMP BUT WILL HAVE EXTRA IN CASE IT FAILS IN THE FUTURE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10467017

Official recalls

4

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.