NHTSA — Electrical System Problems

2007 Mazda CX-7 (Page 1 of 2)

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CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2007 Mazda CX-7 has numerous reports filed with the NHTSA about engine & A/C problems.

Owners report problems with the 2007 CX-7's Variable Valve Timing (VVT) & timing chain failing, causing major damage to the engine — Mazda uses an interference design so typically the valves are bent & the entire engine needs to be replaced. Mazda dealers typically quote $9,000 for an engine replacement.

There is also a trend of the turbo failing at low mileage.

Finally for the 2007 CX-7 there is a clear pattern of A/C compressor failure at relatively low mileage. Owners report smoke & occasionally the serpentine belt catches fire when the A/C compressor clutch seizes while driving. Mazda extended the A/C warranty to 60,000 miles, however many owners report their A/C compressor failed very soon after the 60k mark.

In 2011, Mazda began a "Special Service Program" that extended the warranty to 7 years/70,000 miles covering turbocharger oil leaks & excessive timing chain noise — an early sign of timing chain failure. However coverage under the program requires perfect documentation of all required maintenance with other stipulations. Buyer beware.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 5
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
70,627 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2007 Mazda CX-7 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2007 Mazda CX-7 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #27

Oct 202018

CX-7

  • 134,400 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Air bags have been replaced after recall in July of 2018 and air bag L8ghts hace come back on in October 2018. Both driver and passenger lights come on while driving and when stationary after starting the car.

- Lakeland, FL, USA

problem #26

Feb 212018

CX-7 4-cyl

  • miles
Recalls my # [xxx] kevin [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

- Lebanon, TN, USA

problem #25

Nov 012017

CX-7

  • 156,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Mazda Cx-7. while operating the vehicle, the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was previously repaired for an unknown air bag related recall. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the technician stated that the air bags were not connected in the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. Mazda of crystal lake (360 S Illinois rte 31, crystal lake, il 60012 (779) 994-4403) was contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 156,000.

- Algonquin, IL, USA

problem #24

Nov 042017

CX-7

  • 8,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I am having issues with my engine light on and my car having problems with a loud noise coming from the engine as well as sometimes shaking while stop in a light for a while.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #23

Jul 042017

CX-7

  • 122 miles
On the 4th of July my family and I were driving to westchester from manhattan. We had a full tank of gas, recent oil change and new car battery. The car is always maintained and it has never given us any trouble. During our drive we noticed something was wrong. The the car started to feel hot, but we weren't too sure if it's just hot out or if there was something wrong, because the ac was on. We pulled over and turned the car off. We checked the coolant and saw that we had oil. We opened the trunk, felt around to see if it was hot and to see if we smell anything. It seemed fine. As soon as we drove off, not 2 minutes in, when driver said the gas petal felt weird, it dropped from 50 to 30 to 20mph and we heard a light drilling noise. As soon as we stepped out of the car, it was in flames. Our family could have died. Https://www.facebook.com/valhallafd/posts/1548408978544577

- New York, NY, USA

problem #22

Mar 222017

CX-7

  • 141,000 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Mazda Cx-7. while accelerating from a stop light, there was a loud balloon pop noise. The contact notice smoke coming from the hood of the vehicle. The contact coasted to the side of the road and exited the vehicle before it caught fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 141,000.

- San Diego, CA, USA

problem #21

Mar 172017

CX-7

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Shortly after purchasing vehicle replaced timing, turbo, exaust, ball joints, tie rod ends & much more. Timing was first, then driving and turbo went out. 2 days ago car sitting in driveway, not running, started smoking from under hood, butst into flames and burnt up. Mazda said no recalls, clearly not true according to website. Almost burnt my house also as it was sitting in driveway and couldnt be moved. If we would have been inside the car, I doubt we would of had time to get pulled over & out as thats how quick it burnt!

- Brookville, IN, USA

problem #20

May 312016

CX-7

  • 143,000 miles
Took my car to an independent mechanic. Computer registers that there's something wrong with intake but, once removed it works fine. Checked egr ventilation system works fine. Car still cuts out during acceleration. Idles very high he informed me that there's a problem with my computer electrical systems. I need some information pertaining to Mazda recall.

- St. Stephen, SC, USA

problem #19

Feb 122016

CX-7

  • 109,375 miles
Car popped and then smoke came out of the hood and caught on fire burnt car up.

- Stockbridge, GA, USA

problem #18

Feb 222013

CX-7

  • 34,366 miles
The contact owns a 2007 Mazda Cx-7. months after the vehicle was purchased, the instrument cluster gauges flickered and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The mechanic replaced the timing chain belt and the engine assembly. The dealer provided no invoice of the repairs. Months later, the failure recurred. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for further inspection and the contact was to tow the vehicle back to the dealer to determine what parts they actually replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 34,366.

- Tomahawk, WI, USA

problem #17

Jul 152014

CX-7 4-cyl

  • 105,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Prior to this date, which lead up to the last incident, upon getting the first few oil changes, at a dealership where I purchased the car, the engine began to sound like a truck (oil used was not synthetic and I were scheduled to come back in 5-months). When I inquired about it, I was told, "that was the way it was supposed to sound". after that comment, I changed to another dealership for service. The knocking continued, to this day, still. Over the years, the system lights would come on periodically (passenger air bag, check engine light and tire sensor) and the cooling fans would run after you turned the car off. Most times, they would reset themselves. Moving along, recently on 07/15/14, I was returning home for the evening and the car shut down on me. The steering control was hard but I kept it from crashing the wall on Lincoln dr. As I flagged the traffic to proceed, I was able to start the car only to advance to the end of the drive. Before I reached home, the car shut down 5-times. Finally reaching home it sat until I were able to get it to another dealer, closer to home. How about, the engine is shot, the radiator had a leek, I knew nothing about and the dealer says, "it will not start, now". I drove it to the dealer. Oil light was on and smelling as if I burned something, while it knocked. Check engine light and passenger air bag light were on when it cut-off, as I pulled into their driveway. I restarted the car found a parking space. Once the ignition shutdown, the cooling fans came on. Dilemma, I leased the car new in 2007. I bought it, with present car payments until 2016, in 2010. The dealer requests the engine and radiator to be replaced. There is no warranty, especially after 100,000 miles and I have scrap on my hands. Where does one go from here as Mazda used to be reputable? the engine shouldn't have any problems before 200,000 miles.

- Philadelphia, PA, USA

problem #16

Feb 032014

CX-7

  • 104,232 miles
Timing chain replacement resulted in a catastrophic failure of the high pressure fuel pump and its housing. Replacing the timing chain returned the engine to production line specs, that were too much for a worn fuel pump to handle. The increased pressure to the fuel pump shattered it into numerous pieces less than 100 miles after the timing chain was replaced. Said pieces became lodged inside the cam shaft and ended up bending all of the valves. The necessitated a complete valve job, removing and replacing the cylinder head, fuel pump, cam shaft and oil control calve. At worst, all timing chain replacements should require a fuel pump change in order to prevent the sequence of events that happened to my car and thousands of others.

- Escondido, CA, USA

problem #15

Jun 102014

CX-7

  • 78,000 miles
I pulled from my driveway onto a highway decided to turn on headlights because of heavy tree cover coming up, it was almost full dark turned knob on lever no lights hit breaks thank god those were still where I remembered them hit fog lights they came on. Went to high beam fogs shut off (correct) high beams at least worked much to other drivers slowing swerving an just all an all pissed off. My high beams seem to turn the clock back to about mid day. Scared the hell out of me though an cost me a shift so I'm into this off the get go 735.00$ lets see how much more its going to cost. So much for giving this rig for my 16yearold in two months should have stayed with Chevy or Nissan.

- Vaughn, WA, USA

problem #14

Jan 012013

CX-7

  • 90,000 miles
Air bag light comes on and off randomly with or without passenger in seat. Have had so many issues with this 2007 Cx-7 from 2 different complete A/C system rebuilds in first 2 years, belt tensioner pulley, egr valve codes (had to get egr valve cleaned), coolant temp codes (replaced thermostat & temp sensor) and now air bag random light. I am on a Mazda forum and honestly there should be more recalls on this vehicle due to the volume of complaints in several categories... Mazda responses to just about everything is to replace something for a minimum $500 up to thousands... I am tired of having to deal with Mazda and will never buy another... traded in a 2001 Chevy Tahoe for Cx-7 with 250,000 mi and only had normal maintenance. The Cx-7 was a bad investment for me...

- Salisbury, NC, USA

problem #13

May 252013

CX-7 4-cyl

  • 60,000 miles
Compressor kit was already having issues when driving and when stopped to fuel up, the car would not start as the pulley on the compressor kit was catching and not turning correctly to start the ignition. The car is only a 2007 and only had 60,000 miles on it.

- Fulshear, TX, USA

problem #12

May 162013

CX-7 4-cyl

  • 96,000 miles
A/C compressor locked up.

- Garland, TX, USA

problem #11

Apr 022013

CX-7 4-cyl

  • 89,725 miles
Engine began to vibrate, scraping sound, A/C stopped working. I had car towed to Mazda dealership where they replaced the A/C compressor, timing chain and actuator. Total cost $2306.57. Dealership stated they brought PCM up to date. Egr valve indicator fault now active.

- Bradenton, FL, USA

problem #10

Jun 092012

CX-7 4-cyl

  • 101,000 miles
My 2007 Cx-7 started making a loud banging noise when I started it (May 7,2012). I brought it to the dealership to have it checked out and they said it was my timing chain & actuator (vvt) and it would take $1350 to repair. I paid the money and it was fixed in a couple of days. On June 7th,2012 I started to realize that my ac was not working, but had decided to wait a little bit to have it fixed because I was still hurting financially from the last fix a month ago. Than on June 9th, 2012, I went to start my vehicle and it sounded like it was about to explode. I live in the country and the closest dealership is at least 50 miles away. So I brought it to my local repair shop and they told me my turbo is blown. The Mazda dealership wants $80 to diagnose it and $5000 to fix it (that doesn't include my towing fees and the cost of fixing the ac). I've read all of the complaints online and everyone is saying sludge build up and Mazda wants the receipts for all of their oil changes. I have all my receipts for the synthetic oil changes that I have had done to the vehicle on time (not to mention only filling the car with premium gas). Unfortunately, my car is up to 100,000 miles and they only extended the warranty to what...70K" so basically I have a car that I paid $16K for and is completely useless to me only after 100K miles. From what I've researched vvt's are not supposed to go out until what 250K-300K miles" and it seems a bit ridiculous for the turbo to go out after 100K miles....

- Watertown, TN, USA

problem #9

Dec 122011

CX-7

  • 70,000 miles
This vehicle has caused me nothing but problems! I have had it for 3 years and it has been in the shop 4 times and this last time is the transmission at 70,000 miles! this is ridiculous...Mazda needs to clean up it's act. Customers should not have charges like this early on in the life of a vehicle. The vehicle is gorgeous but perhaps they should have spent a little more time putting it together as it doesn't matter for eye appealing it is when it doesn't run!

- Brandon, SD, USA

problem #8

Sep 092011

CX-7

  • 92,700 miles
I have had my 2007 Mazda Cx-7 for less than one year. I stopped at a red light after exiting the highway and my car engulfed in thick white smoke. I had the car towed to a local shop per my insurance company to have it checked out. The repair shop at first called to tell me it was the starter, and that it would cost 600 to fix it. Come to find out that not only the starter blew, but it also ruined the alternator as well as the fuses on the battery. I was told by Mazda that this is not a common occurrence. The total of the repairs is now over 1200. The vehicle has been meticulously maintained throughout its lifespan and is at 92,000 miles.

- Clinton, MA, USA

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