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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

Exterior Lighting complaints

14 reports
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32,950 miles · Sep 4, 2014
Exterior Lighting

DUE TO DEFECTIVE SEALS ON THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, MOISTURE BUILDS UP INSIDE THE LENS CAUSING VERY POOR VISIBILITY AT NIGHT DRIVING...THIS IS ON THE INSIDE, NOT THE OUTSIDE OF THE LENS....HAD PURCHASED EXTENDED 7 YEAR 70K MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY BUT MAZDA SAYS IT FROM GOING THROUGH CAR WASHES...WHAT A SCAM..GUESS SOMEONE…

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DUE TO DEFECTIVE SEALS ON THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, MOISTURE BUILDS UP INSIDE THE LENS CAUSING VERY POOR VISIBILITY AT NIGHT DRIVING...THIS IS ON THE INSIDE, NOT THE OUTSIDE OF THE LENS....HAD PURCHASED EXTENDED 7 YEAR 70K MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY BUT MAZDA SAYS IT FROM GOING THROUGH CAR WASHES...WHAT A SCAM..GUESS SOMEONE HAS TO GET HURT FOR THEM TO FIX THERE DEFECTIVE PARTS...MY WIFE WON'T DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT.. LAST MAZDA I BUY..THEIR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SERVICE IS HORRIBLE...THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED...LOOK AROUND, THEY ARE ALL FOGGED UP!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10630570

59,000 miles · Oct 17, 2013
EngineExterior LightingFuel System, Gasoline

MAZDA GOT STUCK AND HAD NO POWER THE FIRST TIME SECOND TIME HAPPENED OCTOBER 9,2013 CAR KEPT SHUTTING OFF AND FINALLY COULD NOT MOVE. TURBO ONCE AGAIN TWICE IN 5 MONTHS AND I ONLY HAD THIS PRE-OWNED VEHICLE FOR 7 MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10548244

49,800 miles · Jan 31, 2012
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR EXTERIOR LIGHT WOULD BURN A HOLE IN THE TAIL LIGHT COVER, MELTING THE PLASTIC. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE AT A CHARGE BUT THE CONTACT DECLINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR EXTERIOR LIGHT WOULD BURN A HOLE IN THE TAIL LIGHT COVER, MELTING THE PLASTIC. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE AT A CHARGE BUT THE CONTACT DECLINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,880. UPDATED 02/22/12 *BF UPDATED 03/01/12

NHTSA ODI #10446059

44,600 miles · Sep 20, 2010
Exterior Lighting

TAIL LIGHT LENSES / PLASTIC IN THE HOUSING FOR STOP LIGHTS, FLASHERS / SIGNAL LIGHTS AND BACK UP LIGHTS IGNITED SLOWLY AND MELTED AWAY. I REALIZED THAT SOMETHING WAS BURNING IN MY CAR AND AFTER A THOROUGH SEARCH, I NOTICED THAT MY LEFT TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING AND THE BRAKE LIGHT / STOP LIGHT APPEARED TO BE SMOKY. WHEN I ATT…

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TAIL LIGHT LENSES / PLASTIC IN THE HOUSING FOR STOP LIGHTS, FLASHERS / SIGNAL LIGHTS AND BACK UP LIGHTS IGNITED SLOWLY AND MELTED AWAY. I REALIZED THAT SOMETHING WAS BURNING IN MY CAR AND AFTER A THOROUGH SEARCH, I NOTICED THAT MY LEFT TAIL LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING AND THE BRAKE LIGHT / STOP LIGHT APPEARED TO BE SMOKY. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE LIGHT BULB TO CHECK THE TAIL LIGHT HOUSING, I NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC LENS WITHIN THE TAIL LIGHT HOUSING HAD MELTED AND A STRONG SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC WAS FELT IMMEDIATELY. I REMOVED ALL THE BULBS WITHIN THE HOUSE TO CHECK FOR FURTHER MELTDOWN OF THE PLASTIC LENS BUT AT THIS TIME, IT APPEARS THAT ONLY THE BRAKE LIGHT LENS HAS MELTED TO THE POINT THAT I CAN NOW SEE THE WHITE LIGHT COMING THRU THE OUTER SHELL OF THE RED LENS IN THE STOP LIGHT. I HAVE KEPT BOTH LIGHT BULBS FROM THE LEFT AND RIGHT TAIL LIGHTS, TO SHOW THE MELTED PLASTIC AROUND THE BULBS AND I LEFT THE MELTED LENS IN THE TAIL LIGHT HOUSING TO PROVE THAT THERE WAS A MELTDOWN WITHIN THE TAIL LIGHT HOUSING. NOTE THAT THE BULBS I REMOVED 7743-12VOLT, ARE ALL ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FROM WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER ON 12/7/2007. I AM NOT SURE IF I SHOULD WORRY ABOUT THE MELTDOWN EVENTUALLY BECOMING A ELECTRICAL FIRE INSIDE THE TAIL LIGHT HOUSING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10356383

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.