2007 Mazda CX-7 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2007 Mazda CX-7 ranks worst of 7 model years, with a complaint index of 100, 528 complaints, and 4 recalls including 3 do-not-drive airbag campaigns. Engine problems, mostly air conditioner compressor failures that seize the engine, drive most reports.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 7 CX-7 years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 528
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- 3 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 7
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 30
- Injuries
- 11
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 18.5
- 16.5 city / 22 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 11 / 0
Top 2007 Mazda CX-7 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine321 (61%)
- Airbags102 (19%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires76 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain53 (10%)
- Other45 (9%)
- Electrical System38 (7%)
- Steering20 (4%)
- Fuel System11 (2%)
- Structure & Body11 (2%)
- Brakes10 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Air conditioner compressor locks up while driving, shredding the serpentine belt and sometimes melting the battery cable.
- Under-hood sparks, smoke, and small fires trace back to the seized AC compressor, occasionally spreading toward the interior.
- Turbo failures and timing belt problems appear alongside the compressor issue in the same complaint threads.
- Anti-lock brakes reportedly fail to reduce speed adequately in slippery conditions, leading to a collision.
- Front airbags fail to deploy in moderate-speed crashes, including rear-end and side-impact collisions.
- Underbody fires start while driving at moderate speed and spread rapidly into the cabin area.
2007 Mazda CX-7 recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V782000Oct 31, 2019Airbags69,879 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 17V457000Jul 18, 2017Airbags79,402 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 17V429000Jun 29, 2017Airbags205,377 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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.
Risk: 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.
2007 Mazda CX-7 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16.5 MPG
- Highway
- 22 MPG
- Combined
- 18.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,325
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Premium
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2007 compared with other CX-7 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2007 Mazda CX-7 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2007 CX-7 has the highest complaint index (100) of all 7 model years and carries an Avoid verdict, mainly due to engine complaints tied to air conditioner compressor failures.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2007 Mazda CX-7?
- Engine complaints make up 61% of all reports (321 of 528), with owners describing the air conditioner compressor seizing and causing the engine to stall, smoke, or catch fire, typically around 62,919 miles.
- Does the 2007 Mazda CX-7 have a recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2007 CX-7, 3 of which are do-not-drive campaigns covering airbag inflators, plus one recall for water intrusion into the front suspension ball joints.
- How does the 2007 CX-7 compare to other CX-7 years?
- The 2007 model has the highest complaint count (528) and complaint index (100) among the 7 years with data, ranking worst overall, while 2012 has the lowest complaint index at 17.