← New search

2011 Mazda CX-7

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Mazda CX-7 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 153.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected 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

61 reports with mileage · 92 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 51 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 42 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2026
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

The low beam wiring gets hot and melts the connectors to the bulb connection. The low beam headlights have been replaced 8 times in a year due to low visibility. It's like turning off the headlights but they are still on. It's been going on for years. I've taken it to Mazda and the mechanic told me they had a vehicle there now …

Read full complaint

The low beam wiring gets hot and melts the connectors to the bulb connection. The low beam headlights have been replaced 8 times in a year due to low visibility. It's like turning off the headlights but they are still on. It's been going on for years. I've taken it to Mazda and the mechanic told me they had a vehicle there now with the same problem and have not figured out the problem yet. Wiring harness has been replaced to the low beam, the connectors and bulbs replaced fuzes and nothing seems to fix it, the battery keeps needing to be replaced as well, alternator has been replaced. This is a safety issue due to the fact that the low beams are so dim the driver can't see to drive without using high beam headlights to drive and they are just like having regular low beams on.. I've used halogen as well as led trying to fix it nothing has worked

NHTSA ODI #11754388

Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. I HAVE TO PUT IN NEW HEAD LIGHT BULBS EVERY FEW MONTHS. I HAVE CHANGED THE HEAD LIGHT BULB ON BOTH SIDES FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR. CURRENTLY MY RIGHT HEAD LIGHT IS OUT AGAIN. I PURCHASED ANOTHER BULB AND HAVE TO PAY FOR A MECHANIC TO FIX MY HEAD LIGHT THIS WEEK.

NHTSA ODI #11180674

70,000 miles · Dec 4, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET OUR HEADLIGHTS TO WORK PROPERLY WITH NO SUCCESS. EVEN WHEN BOTH DIM HEADLIGHTS ARE WORKING THEY ARE SO DIMM WE CAN'T DRIVE WITH THEM AND IF ONE OF THEM GOES OUT WE MIGHT AS WELL NOT HAVE A HEADLIGHT. I HAVE A VW AND IF ONE OF IT'S LOW BEAM LIGHTS IS OUT IT IS 100 TIMES BRIGHTER THAN…

Read full complaint

FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET OUR HEADLIGHTS TO WORK PROPERLY WITH NO SUCCESS. EVEN WHEN BOTH DIM HEADLIGHTS ARE WORKING THEY ARE SO DIMM WE CAN'T DRIVE WITH THEM AND IF ONE OF THEM GOES OUT WE MIGHT AS WELL NOT HAVE A HEADLIGHT. I HAVE A VW AND IF ONE OF IT'S LOW BEAM LIGHTS IS OUT IT IS 100 TIMES BRIGHTER THAN THE MAZDA WITH BOTH LOW BEAMS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IF WE ARE OUT AT NIGHT WE HAVE TO USE THE HIGH BEAMS WHICH BLINDS ON COMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO JIM ELLIS MAZDA TWICE AND THE FIRST TIME I DIDN'T EVEN GET HOME WITH OUT THE LIGHT FALLING OUT. TOOK IT BACK AND THEY ASSURED ME IF WAS FIXED BUT IT WASN'T AND NOW THE SERVICE REP NOR THE SERVICE MANAGER WILL EVEN RETURN MY CALL. I HAVE HAD IT TO 3 DIFFERENT LOCAL SHOPS AND THEY CAN'T FIX IT EITHER. ONE OF THEM FINALLY GOT THE LIGHT FROM FALLING OUT AND REPLACED THEM BOTH WITH THE BRIGHEST LIGHT WE COULD FIND AND THEY ARE STILL VERY VERY DIMM. I HAVE ALSO SPENT HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS ON THIS ISSUE SO IT IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS BUT VERY DISAPPOINTING NOT TO MENTION VERY DANGEROUS. THANKS, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10929796

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2016
Electrical SystemExterior LightingUnknown Or Other

THE HEAD LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED OVER THREE TIMES IN LEAST THAN TWO YEARS. THE CONDENSATION ON THE COVERS MAKES IT DIFFICULT SEEING WHERE ONE IS DRIVING. THIS I BELIEVE IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS CONDENSATION HAS ALSO CAUSED MY RADIO TO LOSE ITS SOUND. THE BATTERY WILL NOT START IF IT RAINS OR ITS COLD.

NHTSA ODI #10837844

4,200 miles · Dec 26, 2013
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND SHIFT INTO DRIVE GEAR ALL FIVE DOORS FAIL TO LOCK UNLESS HE MANUALLY LOCKED THEM. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR LOCAL MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMAT…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND SHIFT INTO DRIVE GEAR ALL FIVE DOORS FAIL TO LOCK UNLESS HE MANUALLY LOCKED THEM. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR LOCAL MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,200. UPDATED 1/16/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE, THE DOORS WOULD NOT LOCK AUTOMATICALLY.

NHTSA ODI #10557282

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2013
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 2/27/2011. 1) DEC 27 2011 REPLACED DRIVERS HEADLAMP. 2) 4/18/12 BATTERY ISSUE. CAR WOULD NEED JUMP STARTS RANDOMLY 3) 8/18/12 PASSENGER HEADLAMP REPLACED 4) 11/5/12 BATTERY REPLACED 5) 12/21/12 DRIVERS HEADLAMP REPLACED 6) 7/1/13 DRIVERS HEADLAMP REPLACED. WENT TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS TO…

Read full complaint

PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 2/27/2011. 1) DEC 27 2011 REPLACED DRIVERS HEADLAMP. 2) 4/18/12 BATTERY ISSUE. CAR WOULD NEED JUMP STARTS RANDOMLY 3) 8/18/12 PASSENGER HEADLAMP REPLACED 4) 11/5/12 BATTERY REPLACED 5) 12/21/12 DRIVERS HEADLAMP REPLACED 6) 7/1/13 DRIVERS HEADLAMP REPLACED. WENT TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERS TO REPLACE ITEMS. BOTH DEALERS ASSURED ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH ELECTRICAL AND IT WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS. UNFORTUNATELY 4 HEADLAMPS AND A BATTERY WITHIN 2 YEARS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE IS JUST RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522788

792 miles · May 3, 2011
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE NOT ADEQUATELY ILLUMINATED DURING DAYLIGHT. THE ADJUSTMENT FOR THE LIGHTING WOULD NOT MAKE THEM BRIGHTER AND HE WAS UNABLE TO DISTINGUISH THE GAUGES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ADJUST…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS WERE NOT ADEQUATELY ILLUMINATED DURING DAYLIGHT. THE ADJUSTMENT FOR THE LIGHTING WOULD NOT MAKE THEM BRIGHTER AND HE WAS UNABLE TO DISTINGUISH THE GAUGES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT ADJUST THE LIGHTING ANY FURTHER AND LATER ADVISED THAT THE LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,400 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 792.

NHTSA ODI #10398792

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.

18V717000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Oct 12, 2018

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda 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 2011-2013 Mazda6, 2011-2012 CX-7, and 2011-2015 CX-9 sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless covered in Zone A or Zone B, Mazda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Mazda6, 2010-2012 CX-7, and 2010-2015 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 November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.

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.