YearToAvoid

2010 Mazda CX-7 Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

67/100

#2 most-complained of 4 CX-7 years

The 2010 Mazda CX-7 has a Complaint Index of 67 and ranks 2nd-worst of 4 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 155 complaints, 5 recalls (4 do-not-drive), and top issues in Suspension, Wheels & Tires (37%) and Airbags (30%).

Complaints
155
Recalls
5
incl. Do Not Drive
Crashes / fires
2 / 2
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
21
18 city / 25 hwy

Top 2010 Mazda CX-7 problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Suspension, Wheels & Tires57 (37%)
  2. Airbags46 (30%)
  3. Electrical System29 (19%)
  4. Engine26 (17%)
  5. Steering10 (6%)
  6. Brakes9 (6%)
  7. Other9 (6%)
  8. Structure & Body6 (4%)
  9. Transmission & Powertrain6 (4%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers3 (2%)

What owners report

  • Passenger side-impact airbags failed to deploy during a crash, leaving occupants without protection.
  • A vehicle caught fire on the highway with a pop, smoke, and flames, resulting in a total loss.
  • Instrument cluster gauges were reported as hard to read in bright sunlight or at night due to poor white illumination.
  • Transmission or transfer case fluid leaked onto hot exhaust components, producing smoke and burning odor.
  • Brakes reportedly failed completely while backing out of a driveway, requiring use of the parking brake to stop.
  • The engine produced a loud winding noise and lost power while accelerating onto a highway.
2010 Mazda CX-7 complaints: complaints filed per quarter312010 Q22012 Q12013 Q42015 Q22016 Q42018 Q12019 Q32021 Q1
203 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2010 Q2 to 2024 Q2; peak 2017 Q3 (31).

2010 Mazda CX-7 recalls

5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. NHTSA 18V717000Oct 12, 2018Airbags155,436 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  3. NHTSA 18V018000Jan 9, 2018Airbags70,227 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2013 Mazda6 and 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 2010 Mazda6, CX-7 and CX-9 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 covered in Zone A or Zone B, Mazda is recalling certain 2009 Mazda6, CX-7, and 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.

    Risk: 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 March 2, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 1317F.

See all 5 recalls for the 2010 Mazda CX-7 →

2010 Mazda CX-7 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
18 MPG
Highway
25 MPG
Combined
21 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,800
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.

2010 compared with other CX-7 years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Caution671555 !21
2011Avoid1001534 !20
2012Good33394 !20

All Mazda CX-7 years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Mazda CX-7 reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2010 CX-7 has a Complaint Index of 67 and ranks 2nd-worst among the 4 model years with data, earning a Caution verdict.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Mazda CX-7?
Suspension, Wheels & Tires complaints make up 37% of reports (57 complaints, median mileage 69,000), followed by Airbags at 30% (46 complaints, median mileage 77,869) and Electrical System at 19%.
Does the 2010 Mazda CX-7 have any recalls?
Yes, NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2010 CX-7, and 4 of them are do-not-drive recalls, mostly involving airbag inflators and one covering front suspension lower control arms.
How does the 2010 CX-7 compare to other years?
The 2010 model's Complaint Index of 67 is lower than the 2011 model's 100 (Avoid) but higher than the 2012 model's 33 (Good), placing 2010 in the Caution range.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.