Problems · NHTSA complaints
2007 Mazda CX-7 problems
Owners filed 528 complaints about the 2007 Mazda CX-7 with NHTSA between Oct 2006 and Mar 2026. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (206).
Complaints
528
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
30
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling206
- Engine112
- Air bags102
- Suspension59
- Power train53
- Electrical system29
- Equipment29
- Tires20
- Steering20
- Exterior lighting11
- Structure8
- Vehicle speed control7
- Fuel system, gasoline7
- Seat belts5
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
2
14
73
85
59
63
27
34
20
46
78
10
8
3
1
0
1
0
1
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 14 |
| 2009 | 73 |
| 2010 | 85 |
| 2011 | 59 |
| 2012 | 63 |
| 2013 | 27 |
| 2014 | 34 |
| 2015 | 20 |
| 2016 | 46 |
| 2017 | 78 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
206 reports1 crash15 fires
“I HAVE A 2007 MAZDA CX7, MY VEHICLE HAS 71,000 MILES I HAVE NOTICED A RATTLING NOISE FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I VISIT THREE MECHANICS AND ALL THREE MECHANICS ARE TELLING ME IT'S THE VVT TIMING CHAIN. THE COST THE REPAIR MY VEHICLE IS $3,000 TO $4,000 DOLLARS. I CONTACT THE MAZDA DEALER AND BECAUSE I HAVE NO WARRANTY I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. SO I BEGIN TO DO MY RESEARCH ONLINE. I REALIZED THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER MAZDA CX7 OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS I. WHAT A COINCIDENCE MAZDA HAS DISCONTINUED MANUFACTURING THE MAZDA CX7. THIS IS A MANUFACTURE ISSUE AND MAZDA NEEDS TO OWN UP FOR IT. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR VEHICLES DUE TO THIS VVT TIMING CHAIN ISSUE AND MAZDA NEEDS TO MAKE THIS A RE-CALL. I KNOW ONE THING I HOPE AND PRAY NOTHING HAPPENS TO ME WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE BECAUSE I WILL NOT HESITATE TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE MAZDA CORP. I HOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP ALL OF US WHO ARE CURRENT OWNERS OF MAZDA CX7. I WILL USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO SPREAD AWARENESS. *TR”
Engine
112 reports1 crash8 fires
“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.”
Air bags
102 reports4 crashes1 fire3 related recalls
“BEFORE I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE I HAD TAKEN THE CAR IN TO STAR MAZDA AN AUTHORIZED DEALER IN GLENDALE TWICE FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT WARNING SIGN WHICH HAD BEEN LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD. TWICE STAR MAZDA CHARGED ME $140.00 FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM WITH THE LIGHT. AFTER I RECEIVED THE NOTICE I TOOK THE CAR IN AND AFTER TWO HOURS THEY INDICATED THAT THEY REPLACE THE PARTS NEEDED AND IT IS A SIMPLE RECALL AND ITS NOT SO IMPORTANT. THE AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS STILL LIT ON THE DASHBOARD AND MY REGULAR MECHANIC STATED THAT THE AIRBAG MIGHT NOT FUNCTION ON MY CAR SINCE THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT IS LIT. PLEASE ADVISE. I HAVE ANOTHER MAZDA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE DEALER REFUSES TO RESOLVE THE AIRBAG WARNING SIGN WHICH IS ON RIGHT AFTER I TURN ON THE VEHICLE. THE OTHER MAZDA VIN # IS [XXX]. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR”
Suspension
59 reports2 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“WHILE DRIVING THE WHEEL AND STEERING BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL. THE CAR WAS ONLY STOPPED BY A WALL ON THE HIGHWAY. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND HAD A HEART ATTACK DURING THIS INCIDENT WITH THE CAR. THE AIRBAG ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS DEPLOYED.”
Power train
53 reports1 fire
“DECEMBER 2015 I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A MAZDA DEALERSHIP (AAA SERVICE SAID TO DO SO BECAUSE OF THE NOISE AND FEAR THE VVT WOULD BREAK WHILE IN MOTION) TO REPLACE THE VVT (TIMING CHAIN) AND VALVE COVER GASKETS - PAYING OUT OF POCKET. AS OF TODAY, 2/12/16, THE SAME NOISE, BUT LOUDER, STILL OCCURS WHEN I START THE CAR AND DRIVE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AND WAS ON WHEN I TOOK IT IN. NO MENTION OF WAS MADE. ALSO, WHEN I RECEIVED MY RECEIPT, THEY HAD THE MILEAGE WRONG BY 20,000 MILES (POTENTIALLY AFFECTING CARFAX REPORTS) , AND INDICATED ON THE SHEET THAT OTHER AREAS SUCH AS LIGHTS WERE FINE AND THEY WERE NOT. THEY DID MENTION THAT MY TURBO MAY NEED REPLACING SOON (ANOTHER CONSISTENT COMPLAINT). THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT FILED IN NJ REGARDING THIS AND IT WAS THROWN OUT. WHY ISN'T THE GOVERNMENT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT ALL OF THESE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS? WHERE DO I GO SINCE I JUST DON'T TRUST MAZDA DEALERSHIPS?”
Electrical system
29 reports2 crashes5 fires
“The contact owns a 2007 Mazda CX-7. The contact stated that the air conditioning system was inoperable, and the cabin air filter was replaced; however, the failure persisted. Additionally, the contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, he smelled a burning odor. The contact stated that her husband drove to the residence, and while parking the vehicle, he noticed smoke coming from underneath the hood. There was no warning light illuminated. An independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle at the residence and determined that the air condition compressor clutch had seized, causing the compressor fuse to burn. The dealer was contacted, and the contact was informed that older vehicles were not service at their location. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 174,000.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.