THE TRANSMISSION JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN WOULD NOT REVERSE THE VEHICLE
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
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.
Power Train complaints
7 reportsON 4/18/18 - WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, ALL OF A SUDDEN AND WITH NO WARNING, PUSHING GAS PEDAL, IT REVED UP INTO GEAR, STAYED THERE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN BANGED INTO NEXT GEAR AND PROCEEDED TO DO THE SAME THROUGH THE REMAINING GEARS. THEN THE AT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. I TURNED THE CAR AROUND AND DROVE BACK TO THE OFFICE (THIS WAS AT…
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ON 4/18/18 - WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, ALL OF A SUDDEN AND WITH NO WARNING, PUSHING GAS PEDAL, IT REVED UP INTO GEAR, STAYED THERE AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN BANGED INTO NEXT GEAR AND PROCEEDED TO DO THE SAME THROUGH THE REMAINING GEARS. THEN THE AT LIGHT ILLUMINATED. I TURNED THE CAR AROUND AND DROVE BACK TO THE OFFICE (THIS WAS AT LUNCH TIME). WHEN I LEFT THE OFFICE FOR THE EVENING, THE CAR NOW WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE. I ENDED UP HAVING IT TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP. I WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. NOW I WOULD PROBABLY BE INCLINED TO AGREE BUT THE CAR DOES NOT EVEN HAVE 65K MILES ON IT!!! EVERYONE I HAVE TALKED TO SAID THAT IS NOT NORMAL FOR A TRANSMISSION TO GO WITH THAT FEW MILES ON IT. SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG HERE.
CAR WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO REVERSE. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT OUT AND DRIVE IT TO SMITHAVEN MAZDA. THIS CAR WAS ABLE TO RUN IN DRIVE BUT WOULD BOG DOWN WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD TRY TO SHIFT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME AND THE NEXT DAY I…
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CAR WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF A DRIVEWAY, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE INTO REVERSE. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH IT OUT AND DRIVE IT TO SMITHAVEN MAZDA. THIS CAR WAS ABLE TO RUN IN DRIVE BUT WOULD BOG DOWN WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD TRY TO SHIFT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME AND THE NEXT DAY I SPOKE TO THE SERVICE MANGER AT MAZDA AND HE PERFORMED A DIOGNOSTIC ON THE CAR. HE CALLED LATER THAT DAY TO INFORM ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS BLOWN AND THE COST TO REPLACE IT WOULD BE $4,300. THIS CAR HAS 72,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS PURCHASED NEW IN 2011. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND EVERY RECOMENDED REPAIR AND SCHEDULED MAINTENAINCE WAS PERFORMED. I AM INTERESTED IN CONTACTING MAZDA OF AMERICA TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A FAILED TRANSMISSION ON A CAR THAT WAS WELL MAINTAINED AND WAS NOT DRIVEN ABUSIVELY.SO FAR I HAVE HAD REPAIR ESTIMATES FROM $3,000 TO $4,300 AT THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVE READ OF COMPLAINTS OF TRANSMISSION FALURES WITH OTHER MAZDA CX7 OWNERS. MAZDA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECTIVE CAR PART , CONSIDERING A CAR THAT WAS VERY WELL MAINTAINED AT THE DEALER. MAZDA OFFERED NO APOLOGY OR EXPLANATION AS TO WHY THIS TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL ON A CAR WITH THIS MILEAGE AND MAINTENANCE RECORD.
ON 12/14/2015, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60-65 MPH ON A MARYLAND HIGHWAY AT AROUND 10AM. I WAS IN THE NEXT LANE BESIDE THE FAST LANE. THE 2011 MAZDA CX7 STARTED TO DECELERATE. I LOOKED DOWN AT THE GAGES TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T INADVERTENTLY GO INTO NEUTRAL. I WAS STILL IN DRIVE. I HIT THE BRAKE, NOT COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND TH…
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ON 12/14/2015, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 60-65 MPH ON A MARYLAND HIGHWAY AT AROUND 10AM. I WAS IN THE NEXT LANE BESIDE THE FAST LANE. THE 2011 MAZDA CX7 STARTED TO DECELERATE. I LOOKED DOWN AT THE GAGES TO MAKE SURE I DIDN'T INADVERTENTLY GO INTO NEUTRAL. I WAS STILL IN DRIVE. I HIT THE BRAKE, NOT COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND THEN STEPPED BACK ON THE GAS, PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. IT WENT DOWN TO ABOUT 20 MPH. IN MY REARVIEW MIRROR I SAW A TRACTOR TRAILER COMING TOWARD ME AND THERE WAS NO WHERE I COULD MOVE, AND I COULD NOT SEE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TRAILER TO GO INTO THE NEXT LANE WITHOUT HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. I WAS HIT IN THE REAR BY THE TRAILER. I HAD ON MY SEATBELT AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I CHECKED FOR CARS IN THE FAST LANE AND SLOWLY MOVED ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK FOLLOWED ME. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED LAST YEAR FROM MILE ONE IN BALTIMORE, MD. THE CAR FAX FOR THE VEHICLE WAS GREAT, WITH NO ISSUES. I GOT OIL CHANGES EVERY 6K MILES, MY LAST ONE BEING IN SEPTEMBER 2015, AT JIFFY LUBE. THIS WAS MY FIRST INSTANCE WITH ANY ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION ISSUES. IF THERE WAS AN ISSUE, I DID NOT GET ANY INDICATION LIGHT ON MY DASH BOARD THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE.
PURCHASED (NEW) - JULY 4TH, 2011. ONE MONTH IN, THE FRONT DRIVER TIRE BLOWS OUT ON THE 55 FREEWAY IN COSTA MESA. THE CAR IS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY - TO HAVE A TIRE PLACED ON. THE PRICE WAS SURELY "SURPRISE SURPRISE" - $250.00. WE PUSH TO KNOW WHY THE TIRE WAS SO EXPENSIVE, IT'S BECAUSE THE SIZE IS NEW FOR THIS SIZE…
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PURCHASED (NEW) - JULY 4TH, 2011. ONE MONTH IN, THE FRONT DRIVER TIRE BLOWS OUT ON THE 55 FREEWAY IN COSTA MESA. THE CAR IS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY - TO HAVE A TIRE PLACED ON. THE PRICE WAS SURELY "SURPRISE SURPRISE" - $250.00. WE PUSH TO KNOW WHY THE TIRE WAS SO EXPENSIVE, IT'S BECAUSE THE SIZE IS NEW FOR THIS SIZE VEHICLE AND THERE'S ONE MAKER OF THE TIRE. BRIDGESTONE. WE PAY FOR IT BEGRUDGINGLY, AND GO ABOUT OUR WAY. FEBRUARY 6TH, 2015, 3 YEARS, 6 MONTHS OF OWNING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HISTORY IS GOOD, MAINTENANCE IS EXCELLENT (MY WIFE IS A THERAPIST FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SO THAT'S WHY VEHICLE CHOICE WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT - TRAVELING CLIENT TO CLIENT IN ADMINISTERING THERAPY SESSIONS) AND WITHOUT WARNING, SHE CANNOT REVERSE. CAR CAN DRIVE FORWARD, YET IS LOSING POWER WHEN THE AUTOMATIC ATTEMPTS TO SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, SO IT JUMPS FROM FIRST TO 3RD. WE TAKE THE VEHICLE TO BROWNING MAZDA IN CERRITOS AND WE ARE ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ($3,200.00). 3 YEARS 6 MONTHS 64,262 MILES, EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE HISTORY, & THIS VEHICLE NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION? THIS FELT LIKE A TERRIBLE JOKE. THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY? 3Y/60K. EXPIRED JUST OVER 4,000 MILES AGO. WE CONTACT MAZDA (CORPORATE) & ARE ADVISED LATER IN THE DAY THAT THEY WOULD PAY HALF OF THE TICKETED AMOUNT. THAT'S STILL EGREGIOUS AS THERE WOULDN'T BE A VEHICLE SOLD IF MOST BUYERS KNEW THAT AT SUCH RIDICULOUSLY LOW MILEAGE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL THEM. WE RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE AND HAVE IT LOOKED AT FOR TWO MORE OPINIONS AND APPARENTLY THERE ARE NO CODES INDICATING THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD, YET IT'S OBVIOUSLY THE TRANSMISSION ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC AS INDICATED SIMPLY BY THE TEST DRIVE. *TR
VEHICLE EXHIBITS SUDDEN ACCELERATION. APPROX 25% TO 35% OF THE TIME VEHICLE WILL LURCH FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. VEHICLE BEHAVES AS IF THE ACCELERATOR IF PRESSED DOWN ALL THE WAY, EVEN THOUGH IT IS BARELY ENGAGED. SOMETIMES THE ACCELERATION IS SO STRONG THAT THE TIRES WILL BREAK LOOSE. SUDDEN ACCELERATION STARTS AT …
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VEHICLE EXHIBITS SUDDEN ACCELERATION. APPROX 25% TO 35% OF THE TIME VEHICLE WILL LURCH FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. VEHICLE BEHAVES AS IF THE ACCELERATOR IF PRESSED DOWN ALL THE WAY, EVEN THOUGH IT IS BARELY ENGAGED. SOMETIMES THE ACCELERATION IS SO STRONG THAT THE TIRES WILL BREAK LOOSE. SUDDEN ACCELERATION STARTS AT ABOUT 2MPH AND STOPS BY 10MPH. APPROX 5% TO 10% OF THE TIME WILL HAPPEN IN REVERSE AS WELL. ON APPROX. NOV 1, 2014 THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED AN CRASH WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PARKED. *TR
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…
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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.
Official recalls
419V782000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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