Car Defect Radar
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Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated October 26, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.
Urgent recall on this model.

At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. Confirm by VIN that the repair was completed before driving or buying this car. The fix is free at a dealer.

Recalls

4 total · 4 to confirm

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

Airbags recall

Do not driveRecall 19V782000 · Oct 2019

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.
Status
Do not drive until repaired. A dealer fixes this free of charge.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Airbags recall

Do not driveRecall 18V717000 · Oct 2018

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.
Status
Do not drive until repaired. A dealer fixes this free of charge.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Airbags recall

Do not driveRecall 17V429000 · Jun 2017

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.
Status
Do not drive until repaired. A dealer fixes this free of charge.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Suspension recall

Confirm it was repairedRecall 16V593000 · Aug 2016

A loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy
Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower control arms, free of charge. As a priority, Mazda will first address all affected 2007-2008 vehicles as well as 2009-2011 vehicles currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia. West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. The remaining vehicles will be addressed as parts are available. The recall began September 20, 2017. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500. Mazda's number for this recall is 9716H.
Status
Remedy available. Confirm by VIN that this repair was completed.
What to do
Enter the VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to confirm this car was repaired.

Owner complaints by system

153 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Worth reading
12

Most reports here involve transmission slipping. Of these, 2 mention a crash.

transmission slipping 5unintended acceleration 3sudden stalling 2
A recent report: Transmission went out at 150,232 Also car has a lot blond spots

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11481096 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Worth reading
40

Most reports here involve premature wear. Of these, 1 mention a crash.

premature wear 17electrical shorts 6
A recent report: The low beam wiring gets hot and melts the connectors to the bulb connection. The low beam headlights have been replaced 8 times in a year due to low visibility. It's like turning off the headlights…
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The low beam wiring gets hot and melts the connectors to the bulb connection. The low beam headlights have been replaced 8 times in a year due to low visibility. It's like turning off the headlights but they are still on. It's been going on for years. I've taken it to Mazda and the mechanic told me they had a vehicle there now with the same problem and have not figured out the problem yet. Wiring harness has been replaced to the low beam, the connectors and bulbs replaced fuzes and nothing seems to fix it, the battery keeps needing to be replaced as well, alternator has been replaced. This is a safety issue due to the fact that the low beams are so dim the driver can't see to drive without using high beam headlights to drive and they are just like having regular low beams on.. I've used halogen as well as led trying to fix it nothing has worked

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11754388 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Minor
4

Most reports here involve loss of braking.

loss of braking 2corrosion 1
A recent report: 2011 MAZDA CX-7. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE SYSTEM CORROSION AND DAMAGES. *SMD *JS THE CONSUMER REQUESTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS. *JS

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #10734162 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Worth reading
47

Most reports here involve loss of steering. Of these, 3 mention a crash, 1 mention an injury.

loss of steering 10corrosion 4
A recent report: My wheel on front driver's side is wobbly and I just decided to look up for any recalls and I'm lucky we didn't have a major accident I drive the interstate almost daily also I want to report that my…
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My wheel on front driver's side is wobbly and I just decided to look up for any recalls and I'm lucky we didn't have a major accident I drive the interstate almost daily also I want to report that my door handles have had to be replaced 6 times since we've bought the car in 2019

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11738584 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Worth reading
36

Most reports here involve airbags not deploying. Of these, 2 mention a crash, 3 mention an injury.

airbags not deploying 2airbags deploying unexpectedly 1
A recent report: My mechanic told me to check with Mazda as there might be a recall that has not been taken care of yet. I called Mazda and they told me there were 3 recalls (2 of which my mechanic already fixed) and…
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My mechanic told me to check with Mazda as there might be a recall that has not been taken care of yet. I called Mazda and they told me there were 3 recalls (2 of which my mechanic already fixed) and the airbag recall. Told me not to drive, but would not provide any vehicle to use and would not set an appointment until December 8th, 2025.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11701786 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Minor
6

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 2
A recent report: AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK SYSTEM LOCKED ALL DOORS AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THERE IS NO MECHANICAL OVER RIDE AND THE DRIVE WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR. AFTER ATTEMPTING RELEASE MULTIPLE TIMES THE LOCK RELEASED AND…
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AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCK SYSTEM LOCKED ALL DOORS AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THERE IS NO MECHANICAL OVER RIDE AND THE DRIVE WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR. AFTER ATTEMPTING RELEASE MULTIPLE TIMES THE LOCK RELEASED AND THE DRIVER COULD EXIT BY CLIMBING OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE AND EXITING THE PASSENGER DOOR. WHEN OUTSIDE THE CAR AND ATTEMPTING TO UNLOCK IT THE DOOR HANDLE FELL OFF. IF THIS HAD BEEN AN EMERGENCY OR A CAR FIRE THE DRIVER WOULD HAVE DIED. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED TO A MAZDA CX7 BECAUSE THERE IS A UTUBE PROCEDURE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. MAZDA NEEDS TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THE PROBLEM WITH A MECHANICAL OVER RIDE PROCEDURE. I DON'T KNOW IF THE CX5 AND CX9 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT MY GUESS IS YES. THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED IN STORE PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN IN AB ACCIDENT.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11139675 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Minor
8

Most reports here involve unintended acceleration.

unintended acceleration 1
A recent report: IN MARCH 20, 2018 I HAVE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL LETTER FROM MAZDA (PO BOX 1091, ROYAL OAK, MI 48068); SAFETY RECALL 9716H, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO. 16V-593. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, SUBURBAN…
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IN MARCH 20, 2018 I HAVE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL LETTER FROM MAZDA (PO BOX 1091, ROYAL OAK, MI 48068); SAFETY RECALL 9716H, NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO. 16V-593. I CALLED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT, SUBURBAN MAZDA, 37911 GRAND RIVER AVE., FARMINGTON HILLS MI 48335 (248-471-0800) WHERE THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME ABOUT NON AVAILABILITY OF THE REQUIRED PART AT THAT TIME (04-18-2018). MANAGER STATED ONCE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WILL RECEIVE THE PART THEY WILL CONTACT ME TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. AS OF TODAY (SEPT. 17, 2018) THE MAZDA, SUBURBAN IMPORTS OF FARMINGTON HILLS, SERVICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT NOTIFY ME ABOUT AVAILABILITY OF THE PART AND THE SCHEDULING OF THE REPAIR. *TR

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11129812 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 153 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2011 and 2026, roughly 10 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.

How does it compare with other years? The 2011 has 153 complaints on file, fewer than the 2010 (155) and more than the 2012 (39). Of the 3 model years of the Mazda CX-7 we cover, the 2010 has the most (155). Older model years have had longer to collect complaints.