FaultScore

Mazda CX-7 engine problems

459 of the 1,546 complaints filed about the Mazda CX-7 are about the engine — 30% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2007.

459

Complaints

30%

Share of all complaints

3

Crashes

34

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

2007 CX-7 324 70.6%

Median failure at 62,000 miles

2008 CX-7 84 18.3%

Median failure at 59,300 miles

2009 CX-7 21 4.6%

Median failure at 72,960 miles

2010 CX-7 22 4.8%

Median failure at 51,050 miles

2011 CX-7 6 1.3%

Median failure at 30,000 miles

2012 CX-7 1 0.2%

Median failure at 87,000 miles

2013 CX-7 1 0.2%

Median failure at 59,400 miles

What owners said

2011 Mazda CX-7 Wheatridge, CO

ENGINE

Transmission went out at 150,232 Also car has a lot blond spots

NHTSA complaint #11481096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mazda CX-7 Boca Raton, FL Fire

ENGINE

My daughter was driving a 4 hour trip in Florida on I-95 Halfway into the trip she pulled into a parking lot to stop for lunch and before she could even turn off the vehicle, a fire erupted from under the hood. The car completely burned. There is a police report at Jupiter FL Police department # 22-184325

NHTSA complaint #11479489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Mazda CX-7 at 87,000 miles Glendale, AZ

ENGINE

THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, WOULD STALL OUT AND TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. THE CAR WOULD START WITH JUMPER CABLES, IDLE FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN GO COMPLETELY DEAD, NO LIGHTS, NO BUZZ, NO NOTHING AS SOON AS IT WAS PUT INTO REVERSE. THE CAR HAS A NEW BATTERY, NEW COILS, NEW SPARK PLUGS AND CONTINUES TO MISFIRE. MAZDA HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO MESSAGES DUE TO OPEN RECALLS.

NHTSA complaint #11405874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mazda CX-7 Eden, NC

ENGINE

I ALREADY HAVE A COMPLAINT BUT I FORGOT TO ADD THAT MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND WON'T COME OFF ALONG WITH MY ENGINE LIGHT IT WON'T EVEN CRANK SINCE WE BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY BECAUSE IDH THE MONEY TO GET IT FIXED AND TRYING TO ASK FOR A RIDE EVERYDAY! THANK YOU SO MUCH

NHTSA complaint #11384218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mazda CX-7 at 122,984 miles Eden, NC

ENGINE

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY I HEAR A LOUD NOISE SOUNDED LIKE I WAS IN A BIG RIG TRUCK THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT STARTED TO OVERHEAT B4 I COULD PULL OFF OF HIGHWAY IT CUT OFF RIGHT IN THE HIGHWAY I HAD MY GRANDSON WITH ME AND THANK GOODNESS THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC OR WE PROBABLY WOULD'VE BEEN DEAD

NHTSA complaint #11378612 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mazda CX-7 at 83,000 miles Locust GAP, PA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER IN-LAWS WERE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND SHUTOFF. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT OIL LEAKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND A HOLE WAS PRESENT ON THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. MURRAY MAZDA LOCATED AT 85 GRIFFITH RD, MUNCY, PA 17756 WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,000.

NHTSA complaint #11355546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mazda CX-7 at 76,000 miles Kansas City, MO

ENGINE

ENGINE VVT SOLENOID SEIZED CAUSING COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH. THE DEALER IS ASKING $10,730 TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THE CAR HAS 76,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #11351539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mazda CX-7 at 140,000 miles SAN Antonio, TX

ENGINE

WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP CALLED HEAVY FOOT MOTORS IN SAN ANTONIO TX. THE VERY NEXT DAY, THE VEHICLE STARTED SMOKING FROM THE HOOD, EXHAUST, AND SMOKE CAME THROUGH THE AIR VENTS. MY WIFE GOING ABOUT 5-10MPH WHILE MAKING A TURN IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN THE SMOKING STARTED. WE TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED. THEIR MECHANIC TOOK THE VEHICLE AND HAD IT FOR THREE WEEKS. I PICKED THE VEHICLE UP AND MADE IT MAYBE 5 MINUTES DOWN THE ROAD, AND THE VEHICLE DID THE SAME THING. SO I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND IT IS CURRENTLY THERE AS OF 4/4/2020. MY SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT THERE IS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE, EXHAUST, AS WELL AS THROUGH THE AC VENT AND GOING INTO THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHEN I WENT TO INSTALL MY CHILDREN'S SEAT BELT WE REALIZED THE BACK SEATS SEAT BELTS DO NOT LOCK TO SECURE A CARSEAT. THAT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME. ALSO, UPON PURCHASE I REALIZE THERE WAS NO DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE. WE AGREED IN PURCHASE CONTRACT THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD PUT ONE ON IF I PURCHASED IT. I JUST FOUND IT STRANGE HOW YOU COULD SELL A CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP WITHOUT A DRIVER SIDE DOOR HANDLE. THAT IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN INCASE SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN AND THAT WAS THE ONLY DOOR TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. I ALSO REALIZE NOW THAT THE TRUNK DOES NOT OPEN, THE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. I WILL BE GETTING A COPY OF THEIR MECHANIC'S REPORT WHERE HE STATED THAT IT IS HIS PROFESSIONAL OPINION THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD IN THIS CONDITION. I HAVE REQUESTED A REFUND WHICH INITIALLY,( VERBALLY) I WAS TOLD WE WOULD GET IF IT IN FACT WAS SOLD IN THAT MANNER BUT NOW THEY HAVE BACKED OUT OF THAT.

NHTSA complaint #11320474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Mazda CX-7 at 154,000 miles Salt Lake City, UT

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX7. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER SPOUSE DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS A MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS NOR WAS IT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO ASSISTANCE PROVIDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

NHTSA complaint #11309268 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Mazda CX-7 at 98,800 miles Ivyland, PA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND BOTH REAR WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED GOING UP AND DOWN. THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED DESPITE HAVING THE TIRES CHECKED FOR PROPER TIRE PRESSURE AND FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED TO RESET THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT. ADDITIONALLY, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS RESET BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 20 MPH AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR AND OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,800.

NHTSA complaint #11300056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mazda CX-7 at 69,700 miles Durham, NC

ENGINE

JUNE 2014, I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE OUT OF TOWN ON VACATION AND IT SUDDENLY BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH LIKE THE PISTONS WERE MISFIRING. MILEAGE WAS 69,700. I PULLED INTO A DEALERSHIP (1 MILE AWAY), DROPPED THE KEYS, AND CALLED TO EXPLAIN IN THE MORNING. LATER, THEY SAID THEY DROVE THE CAR AROUND THE LOT AND THE ENGINE LOCKED UP. THEY TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAKING IT WORSE AND CHARGED ME FOR CONFIRMING THE LOSS OF COMPRESSION IN THE PISTONS. WE REPLACED THE ENGINE AT GREAT EXPENSE AND TO A POOR RESULT. I FOUND THIS 2007 MODEL HAD A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING (VVT) CAUSING THE TIMING CHAIN TO COME OUT OF ADJUSTMENT AND DESTROY THE ENGINE. INSTEAD OF ISSUING A RECALL AND FIXING IT, MAZDA OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 6 YEARS-60,000 MILES. THIS IS ABOUT THE AVERAGE POINT OF FAILURE, MEANING HALF THE PEOPLE ARE NOT COVERED. A FEATURE OF THE TURBO CHARGER IS MAKING THE ENGINE RUN HOT, BURNING THE OIL, SO PEOPLE WERE OFTEN DENIED BECAUSE THE OIL "HAD NOT BEEN CHANGED." INTERESTINGLY, MAZDA SAID THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY WITH A PREVIOUS OWNER. THAT DATE AND LOCATION COINCIDED WITH A DATE OF SERVICE SHOWN ON CARFAX FOR TYPICAL MAINTENANCE ONLY. THAT DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT POSSIBLY DO ANY WORK WITHOUT IT SHOWING ON CARFAX. I WONDER WHO MAZDA PAID FOR THE WARRANTY CLAIM... I WANT NHTSA TO COMPEL MAZDA TO COMPENSATE OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO THIS DOCUMENTED DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA complaint #11279145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mazda CX-7 at 104,000 miles Westminster, CO

ENGINE

I STARTED GETTING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE FOR LAST 6 MONTHS. BUT WHEN THE RPM IS GREATER THAN 2000. THE NOISE DECREASES, WHEN I TOOK TO THE DEALER SERVICE, THEY MENTIONED THAT TIMING CHAIN NEED TO BE REPLACED. MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE AND ADMITS IT BUT NEVER PERFORMS A RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #11270849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Mazda CX-7 at 90,600 miles Bossier City, LA

ENGINE

THE MAZDA HAS MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH TURBO BOOSTER FUNCTIONING AND MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING AIR POLLUTION ISSUES WITH BILLOWING WHITE SMOKE FR TAILPIPE, MAZDA DOES NOT WARRANTY THIS BY ONGOING ISSUES WITH SOME REPAIRS HAVING TO BE DONE AS EARLY AS 60000 MILES,. MY CAR IS LESS THAN 100000 MILES WITH EXTENSIVE REPAIR REQUIRED TO RESOLVE ISSUE, REPAIRS AS EXPENSIVE AS 3000 DOLLARS. THE SMOKE IS SO THICK IS IMPAIRS THE VISION OF CARS THAT MAYBE BEHIND VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED AND RESOLVED, CAR OWNERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE WHEN PURCHASING THESE MAZDA OF THIS HEAVILY UNRELIABLE IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE TO MAKE THE DECISION BEFOREHAND IF THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS SHOULD THEY OCCUR.

NHTSA complaint #11266866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mazda CX-7 at 115,466 miles Harrisonburg, VA

ENGINE

THE MOTOR STARTED RUNNING HOT AND LOSING POWER AND I SHUT IT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE AND WAS SCANNED ON COMPUTER AND ONLY SHOWED CODE FOR STEERING WHEEL ANGLE. THE MECHANIC PULLED THE COILS AND PLUGS AND CHECKED FOR SPARK AND INSTALLED NEW PLUGS AND ALL COILS OPERATED NORMALLY. COMPRESSION WAS CHECKED AND WAS LOW IN ALL CYLINDERS AROUND 70-80 PSI. PLUGS AND COILS WERE REINSTALLED AND INTERCOOLER PUT BACK ON. CAR IS IN A NO START CONDITION, CAR WAS TAKEN TO CLOSEST MAZDA DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT FIX PROBLEM SINCE SOMEONE HAD BEEN IN THE MOTOR. THE MECHANIC CALLED THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND TOLD THEM EXACTLY WHAT HAD BEEN DONE AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT MAKE IT RIGHT. THE CAR HAS 115000 MILES AND HAS NUMEROUS RECALLS FOR THE VVT TIMING CHAIN, TURBO, ENGINE, AND THEY HAVE TSB'S FOR THESE ISSUES AND STILL PLAY DUMB. I WANT MY MOTOR FIXED BY MAZDA AT MAZDA'S EXPENSE SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS AND ISSUES WITH THESE VEHICLES AND MAZDA KNOWS ABOUT IT AND STILL DOESN'T WANT TO MAKE THINGS RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #11181220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mazda CX-7 at 39,100 miles Arvada, CO

ENGINE

TOOK CAR IN FOR AIR BAG RECALL (WHICH WAS FIXED). DEALER DID A FULL CIRCLE INSPECTION AND FOUND THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDED REPLACEMENT. WE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MAZDA JANUARY, 2012 STATING THEY WERE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY TO 7 YRS FROM THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY DATE OR 70,000 MILES WHICHEVER COMES FIRST FOR REPAIRS TO THE TIMING CHAIN. THIS LETTER LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THEY KNEW THERE WERE ISSUES WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. OUR CAR HAS 39,100 MILES (OBVIOUSLY LOW FOR THE AGE OF THE CAR). WE WERE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE IT WAS OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY PERIOD. IT SEEMS VERY UNFAIR THAT OUR CAR WAS NOT COVERED FOR AN ISSUE MAZDA WAS CLEARLY AWARE OF IN 2012. WHILE IT WAS NOT AN ACTUAL RECALL, SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TIMING CHAIN AND ALL OWNERS SHOULD BE COMPENSATED FOR FAILURE OF THE CHAIN. I DO NOT KNOW EXACTLY WHAT CAN HAPPEN TO A CAR IF THE CHAIN BREAKS, BUT MY BEST GUESS IS IT WILL STOP RUNNING, WHICH IS A HUGE CONCERN REGARDING SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11166081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mazda CX-7 Lompoc, CA

ENGINE

MAZDA IS AWARE THAT THE CX-7 IS A HORRIBLY MADE CAR WHICH CAN BE NOTED WITH THE EXTENSIVE LIST OF RECALLS WHICH THE COMPANY HAS PUT OUT SINCE ITS CREATION. ENGINE FAILURE BEING THE BIGGEST CONCERN TO THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE ON THE ROAD. ENGINE FAILURE AT 70MPH ON A BUSY HIGHWAY CAN RESULT IN DEATH. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO HAVE MAZDA COMPENSATE ALL OWNERS FOR DEFECTICE VEHICLES. MY ENGINE FAILED AND MAZDA WAS OF NO HELP.

NHTSA complaint #11163910 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Mazda CX-7 Orlando, FL

ENGINE

THE EXHAUST FROM THIS CAR IS HORRIBLE. CAUSING BREATHING ISSUES

NHTSA complaint #11143450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2007 Mazda CX-7 at 148,000 miles Anoka, MN

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA CX-7. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. NORTH FRONTIER AUTO (205 8TH AVE SE, PINE CITY, MN) WAS CALLED AND DIAGNOSED THAT AN UNKNOWN SENSOR FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GET THE BATTERY JUMPSTARTED AND DROVE TO NORTH FRONTIER AUTO WHERE THE CODES WERE CLEARED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND SOLENOID WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE SOLENOID FAILURE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE TIMING CHAIN FAILURE WAS NOT. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY REPAIRED THE TIMING CHAIN. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AXLE, BALL JOINT, AND CONTROL ARM WERE DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURES WERE CONFIRMED AND THE TIMING CHAIN WAS CONFIRMED TO BE INCORRECTLY INSTALLED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000.

NHTSA complaint #11122751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2010 Mazda CX-7 at 165,000 miles California City, CA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 MAZDA CX-7. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S TEMPERATURE GAUGE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE SHOOK AND A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN STALLED. A "WARNING STATE OF SHOCK" MESSAGE APPEARED. IN AN ATTEMPT TO COOL THE ENGINE, THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANTELOPE VALLEY MAZDA (1015 AUTO MALL DR, LANCASTER, CA 93534, (661) 945-7590) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE MANUFACTURER INFORMING HER THAT THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE VEHICLE'S WARRANTY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. *TT

NHTSA complaint #11079835 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Mazda CX-7 at 59,400 miles Youngstown, FL

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT INQUIRED ABOUT A 2013 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LACK OF ACCELERATION AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER. ALSO, THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 59,400.

NHTSA complaint #11066016 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Mazda CX-7 problems