2011 Mazda CX-7 Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2011 Mazda CX-7 has 153 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 50, and 4 recalls including 3 do-not-drive airbag campaigns. It ranks 4th worst of 7 model years and carries a Caution verdict.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 50/100
- #4 of 7 CX-7 years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 153
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- 3 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 8
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 4
- Top issue
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20
- 18 city / 24 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
Top 2011 Mazda CX-7 problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires55 (36%)
- Airbags42 (27%)
- Electrical System40 (26%)
- Steering16 (10%)
- Engine8 (5%)
- Other7 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain7 (5%)
- Structure & Body6 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers6 (4%)
- Brakes5 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Front lower control arm ball joints can separate, causing a front tire to come off or the vehicle to lose control while driving at low speed.
- Steering can suddenly fail to respond, with drivers reporting the wheel turning on its own and the vehicle crashing into embankments or curbs.
- Takata frontal airbags in some vehicles failed to deploy during rear-end or frontal collisions, leading to head or whiplash injuries.
- Instrument cluster lighting stays on regardless of headlight status, or is too dim to read gauges in daylight, and dealers reportedly could not adjust it.
- Some owners describe sudden unintended acceleration or lurching from a stop, with the vehicle behaving as if the pedal were fully pressed.
- A cracking noise from the windshield at startup in cold weather was reported shortly after purchase.
2011 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 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.
- 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.
2011 Mazda CX-7 fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 24 MPG
- Combined
- 20 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,000
- 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.
2011 compared with other CX-7 years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Mazda CX-7 reliable?
- Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 CX-7 carries a complaint index of 50 and a Caution verdict, ranking 4th worst among the 7 model years with data.
- What are the main problems with the 2011 Mazda CX-7?
- Suspension, wheels and tires account for 36% of complaints, followed by airbags at 27% and electrical system issues at 26%. Median mileage at failure for suspension complaints was 56,131 miles.
- Does the 2011 Mazda CX-7 have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2011 CX-7, and 3 of them are do-not-drive recalls covering Takata airbag inflators, plus one recall for front lower control arm ball joints.
- How does the 2011 CX-7 compare to other CX-7 years?
- The 2011 model's complaint index of 50 is lower than the 2007 (100) and 2008 (83) model years but higher than 2009 (33) and 2012 (17), placing it 4th worst of 7 years tracked.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Mazda CX-7?
- EPA rates the 2011 CX-7 at 20 mpg combined (18 city / 24 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,000.