NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
3 reportsClear category filter61,993 miles · Feb 26, 2014
Power Train
THIS MAZDA CX-7 HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY MY DISABLED FINANCE AND USED FOR IN CITY DRIVING IT'S WHOLE LIFE AND ONE DAY A HIGH PITCHED WHINING SOUND DEVELOPED AND THE CAR WAS DELIVERED TO CAPITOL MAZDA FOR AN INSPECTION. UPON GETTING THE RESULTS WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD NOT HAD REGULAR SERVICING AT THE DEALER. I AGREED AS I AM AN E…
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THIS MAZDA CX-7 HAS BEEN DRIVEN BY MY DISABLED FINANCE AND USED FOR IN CITY DRIVING IT'S WHOLE LIFE AND ONE DAY A HIGH PITCHED WHINING SOUND DEVELOPED AND THE CAR WAS DELIVERED TO CAPITOL MAZDA FOR AN INSPECTION. UPON GETTING THE RESULTS WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CAR HAD NOT HAD REGULAR SERVICING AT THE DEALER. I AGREED AS I AM AN ENGINEER AND DO MOST SERVICING OF MY FAMILIES VEHICLES. THEY SAID I HAD NOT DONE THE OIL CHANGES, BUT I HAD DONE THEM EVERY 5,000 MILES. EVERY VEHICLE I HAVE EVER OWNED HAD MORE THAN 200,000 MILE ON THEM WHEN I SOLD THEM. THE CURRENT TOYOTA TRUCK I AM DRIVING HAS 205,000 AND I HAVE DONE ALL OF THE SERVICING MYSELF. MAZDA WANTS OVER $8,000.00 TO REPAIR IT BACK TO DRIVING CONDITION. THIS IS AN OUTRAGE. AND IT DOESN'T SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SEVERAL FORUMS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE ISSUE SHOW SOME OWNERS HAVE HAD MORE THAN ONE TURBO INSTALLED AND THEN THE ISSUE CAME BACK. ONLINE I HAVE FOUND LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF STORIES JUST LIKE MINE. THE TURBO IN THE CX FAMILY OF VEHICLES IS AN ISSUE. SINCE MAZDA DOESN'T WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, THE GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE TO LOOK INTO A FINE AND ALSO A RECALL OF ALL OF THESE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS VEHICLES ON OUR ROADS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10565908
57,007 miles · Feb 27, 2013
EnginePower Train
I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. I HEARD A HIGH PITCHED SQUEALING SOUND THEN SMOKE STARTED BLOWING OUT OF MY CAR. I COULD NOT SEE, AND THE OTHER DRIVERS BEHIND ME LOST VISABILITY TOO. IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS BLINDING SMOKE, SURROUNDED BY HUGE TRUCKS, I LOST ACELERATION. MY INSTRUMENTATION PANEL DID NOT HAVE ANY WARNING LIGHTS ON. I…
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I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY. I HEARD A HIGH PITCHED SQUEALING SOUND THEN SMOKE STARTED BLOWING OUT OF MY CAR. I COULD NOT SEE, AND THE OTHER DRIVERS BEHIND ME LOST VISABILITY TOO. IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS BLINDING SMOKE, SURROUNDED BY HUGE TRUCKS, I LOST ACELERATION. MY INSTRUMENTATION PANEL DID NOT HAVE ANY WARNING LIGHTS ON. I WAS DRIVING BLIND. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, AND HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY TURBO BLEW OUT, (WHICH I GUESS SUCKED ALL THE OIL OUT OF THE CAR) I NEED A VVT VALVE AND THE TIMING CHAIN IS STRETCHED. ON A CAR WITH 57,000 MILES! IN CHECKING ON LINE, I FOUND THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH THE CX-7 FOR 6 YEARS AND THEY ARE NO LONGER MAKING THIS MODEL. I SEE THAT MAZDA DEALS WITH THESE PROBLEMS BY STATING THE OWNER DID NOT MAINTAIN THE CAR PROPERLY, WHEN IN ACTUALITY, THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE TURBO SYSTEM AND HOW THE OIL COOLS IT. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH "SLUDGE BUILDUP". I BELIEVE MAZDA HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULLY AVOIDING A RECALL. BUT THESE ISSUES ARE A REAL SAFETY CONCERN. I AM VERY LUCKY THAT THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT. THESE ISSUES CAN BE DANGEROUS. WHEN EVERYTHING BLEW ON MY CAR, NO ONE COULD SEE THE ROAD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10500598
758 miles · Dec 18, 2008
Power Train
I JUST BOUGHT A 2009 MAZDA CX-7 THREE WEEKS AGO, WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE THIRD WEEK, MY CAR STOPPED SHIFTING GEARS. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IT JUST STOPPED. I HAD THE CARE TOWED INTO THE SAME DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR AT, AND COME TO FIND OUT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHI…
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I JUST BOUGHT A 2009 MAZDA CX-7 THREE WEEKS AGO, WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE THIRD WEEK, MY CAR STOPPED SHIFTING GEARS. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IT JUST STOPPED. I HAD THE CARE TOWED INTO THE SAME DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR AT, AND COME TO FIND OUT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2008. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL FROM SOMEONE ON MONDAY, I WAITED AND FINALLY WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP MY SELF AND THEY HAD NO ANSWERS ABOUT THE CAR. I THEN CALLED MAZDA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE AND MADE A COMPLAINT ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK WITH WHAT WAS HAPPENING, AT THE TIME THEY CALLED ME BACK IS WHEN I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS INFORMED THAT THEY NEEDED MORE TIME TO GET MORE INFO AND THAT THEY WOUL;D CALL ME BACK. I WAITED UNTIL WEDS.. AND I RECEIVED A CALL AND WAS TOLD THEY STILL HAVE NO INFORMATION FOR ME AND THAT THE ETA OF FIXING MY CAR WOULD BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN THREE TO FOUR WEEKS. SO TELL ME CAN I DO, DOES MY CAR FIT UNDER THE LEMON LAW, SHOULD THEY GIVE ME A NEW CAR? WHAT DO I DO AND WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10252161
Official recalls
5Oct 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.
Jan 9, 2018
Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2013 Mazda6 and CX-9 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 covered in "Zone A," Mazda is recalling certain 2010 Mazda6, CX-7 and CX-9 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 covered in Zone A or Zone B, Mazda is recalling certain 2009 Mazda6, CX-7, and CX-9 vehicles 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 or "Zone C." 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 explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity 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: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.
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.
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.
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 ↗
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