2011 Mazda CX-7
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Mazda CX-7 has 202 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.5x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is suspension problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2011 mazda cx-7. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v593000 (suspension) however, the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufact.
202
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
2.5x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
SUSPENSION
51 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V593000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACT
- • THERE IS A RECALL NHTSA 16V593 REGARDING THE SUSPENSION ON THIS VEHICLE. I OWN A MAZDA CX7 SGT XA WITH 24,000 MILES. WANTED TO TRADE THIS VEHICLE IN AND ACURA DEALER ADVISED ABOUT RECALL AND STATED THEY COULD NOT ACCEPT AS TRADE UNTIL RECALL IS FIXED. CONTACTED MAZDA AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE PART
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V356000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V593000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE REMEDIES FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE R
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V593000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
42 complaints- • 1. WARNING ILLUMINATOR LIGHT ON INDICATING DRIVER/PASSENGER AIRBAGS MAY REQUIRE REPAIR AND/OR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. 2. REAR TAIL LIGHT: BULB HAS BECOME SO HOT THE BULB IS LITERALLY BURNING THROUGH THE RED CASING OF THE BREAK LIGHT - CONDENSATION OR WIRING IS CAUSING THE BULB TO OVERHEAT.
- • TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V356000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR
- • "TAKATA RECALL" ISSUED MAY 25, 2016 AND WE WERE JUST NOTIFIED AUGUST 12, 2016. REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE AND MAZDA SUGGEST THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT IF WE DO, HOW CAN WE NOT DRIVE A CAR THAT WE OWN?WE HAVE TO WORK TO PAY BILLS. HOW MANY MONTHS, AND/OR DEAT
“1. WARNING ILLUMINATOR LIGHT ON INDICATING DRIVER/PASSENGER AIRBAGS MAY REQUIRE REPAIR AND/OR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. 2. REAR TAIL LIGHT: BULB HAS BECOME SO HOT THE BULB IS LITERALLY BURNING THROUGH THE RED CASING OF THE BREAK LIGHT - CONDENSATION OR WIRING IS CAUSING THE BULB TO OVERHEAT.”
— NHTSA complaint filing
LIGHTING
38 complaints- • THE CONTROLS ESSENTIAL FOR VEHICLE OPERATION (SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, TRANSMISSION GEAR PLACEMENT), OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CENTER "CLUSTER" CONTROLS ARE ILLUMINATED REGARDLESS IF HEADLIGHTS ARE ON OR OFF. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS, THUS MAKING THIS ISSUE MORE PRESSING.
- • PURCHASED VEHICLE ON 2/27/2011. 1) DEC 27 2011 REPLACED DRIVERS HEADLAMP. 2) 4/18/12 BATTERY ISSUE. CAR WOULD NEED JUMP STARTS RANDOMLY 3) 8/18/12 PASSENGER HEADLAMP REPLACED 4) 11/5/12 BATTERY REPLACED 5) 12/21/12 DRIVERS HEADLAMP REPLACED 6) 7/1/13 DRIVERS HEADLAMP REPLACED.
- • FROM THE TIME I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE THE PLASTIC LENS ON THE XENON HEADLIGHTS HAS BEEN CLOUDY. THE VEHICLE IS GARAGED AND PRESENTLY HAS JUST 15,000 MILES. THE CLOUDY HEADLIGHT LENS REDUCE VISIBILITY. THE DEALER FROM THE DATE OF DELIVERY STATES CLOUDINESS IS NORMAL. *TR
“THE CONTROLS ESSENTIAL FOR VEHICLE OPERATION (SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, TRANSMISSION GEAR PLACEMENT), OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CENTER "CLUSTER" CONTROLS ARE ILLUMINATED REGARDLESS IF HEADLIGHTS ARE ON OR OFF. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS, THUS MAKING THIS ISSUE MORE PRESSING. ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
STEERING
16 complaints- • "TAKATA RECALL" ISSUED MAY 25, 2016 AND WE WERE JUST NOTIFIED AUGUST 12, 2016. REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE AND MAZDA SUGGEST THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT IF WE DO, HOW CAN WE NOT DRIVE A CAR THAT WE OWN?WE HAVE TO WORK TO PAY BILLS. HOW MANY MONTHS, AND/OR DEAT
- • RECALL DATE OF AUGUST 10, 2016.I RECEIVED NOTICE FROM MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS THAT MY CAR IS SUBJECT OF THIS FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS. TO DATE JANUARY 11, 2017 I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTIFICATION FROM MAZDA INFORMING ME THAT REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. I BELIEVE THIS TIME PERIO
- • THE STEERING IS OUT OF CONTROL, COULD NOT PARK STRAIGHT AND SIGNAL LIGHT WHEN TURNING DOES COME OFF WHEN STEER THE CAR. HARD TO DRIVE THE CAR STRAIGHT VERY DANGEROUS WHEN HITTING THE ROAD SLOW DOWN BUMP. THE SHOCK ABSORB IS STOCK SINCE LESS THAN 30 MILES SHOULD BE REPLACED AS RECALLS. FRONT LIGHT
“"TAKATA RECALL" ISSUED MAY 25, 2016 AND WE WERE JUST NOTIFIED AUGUST 12, 2016. REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE AND MAZDA SUGGEST THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT IF WE DO, HOW CAN WE NOT DRIVE A CAR THAT WE OWN?WE HAVE TO WORK TO PAY BILLS. HOW MANY MONTHS, AND/OR DEAT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
7 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND SHIFT INTO DRIVE GEAR ALL FIVE DOORS FAIL TO LOCK UNLESS HE MANUALLY LOCKED THEM. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR LOCAL MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED
- • VEHICLE EXHIBITS SUDDEN ACCELERATION. APPROX 25% TO 35% OF THE TIME VEHICLE WILL LURCH FORWARD WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. VEHICLE BEHAVES AS IF THE ACCELERATOR IF PRESSED DOWN ALL THE WAY, EVEN THOUGH IT IS BARELY ENGAGED. SOMETIMES THE ACCELERATION IS SO STRONG THAT THE TIRES WILL BREAK LOOSE.
- • PURCHASED (NEW) - JULY 4TH, 2011. ONE MONTH IN, THE FRONT DRIVER TIRE BLOWS OUT ON THE 55 FREEWAY IN COSTA MESA. THE CAR IS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY - TO HAVE A TIRE PLACED ON. THE PRICE WAS SURELY "SURPRISE SURPRISE" - $250.00. WE PUSH TO KNOW WHY THE TIRE WAS SO EXPENSIVE, IT'S BECAUSE
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE TURNED THE VEHICLE ON AND SHIFT INTO DRIVE GEAR ALL FIVE DOORS FAIL TO LOCK UNLESS HE MANUALLY LOCKED THEM. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER OR LOCAL MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 202 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐SUSPENSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V593000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: 1. WARNING ILLUMINATOR LIGHT ON INDICATING DRIVER/PASSENGER AIRBAGS MAY REQUIRE REPAIR AND/OR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. 2. REAR TAIL LIGHT: BULB HAS BECOME SO HOT THE BULB IS LITERALLY BURNING THROUGH THE RED CASING OF THE BREAK LIGHT - CONDENSATION OR WIRING IS CAUSING THE BULB TO OVERHEAT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐LIGHTING: THE CONTROLS ESSENTIAL FOR VEHICLE OPERATION (SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, TRANSMISSION GEAR PLACEMENT), OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE CENTER "CLUSTER" CONTROLS ARE ILLUMINATED REGARDLESS IF HEADLIGHTS ARE ON OR OFF. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS, THUS MAKING THIS ISSUE MORE PRESSING.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐STEERING: "TAKATA RECALL" ISSUED MAY 25, 2016 AND WE WERE JUST NOTIFIED AUGUST 12, 2016. REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE AND MAZDA SUGGEST THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT IF WE DO, HOW CAN WE NOT DRIVE A CAR THAT WE OWN?WE HAVE TO WORK TO PAY BILLS. HOW MANY MONTHS, AND/OR DEAT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Mazda CX-7 — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 202
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 9
- Injury reports
- 4
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Mazda CX-7