MAZDA CX-7 · model year

2009 MAZDA CX-7

85 NHTSA complaints, and 6 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2009MAZDACX-7 carries 85 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 CX-7 is suspension with 19 filings, followed by air bags (16) and engine (12). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 6 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 21 investigation files overlapping the 2009 CX-7, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

85
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

85 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SUSPENSION19
AIR BAGS16
ENGINE12
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING7
STEERING5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING4
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
POWER TRAIN2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1

Recalls (6)

19V78200031/10/2019

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 deg

17V42900029/06/2017

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

17V45700018/07/2017

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2012 CX-7, CX-9 and Mazda6 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 (Sa

16V59300011/08/2016

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2007-2012 Mazda CX-7 vehicles manufactured February 14, 2006, to May 9, 2012. In the affected vehicles, water may enter the front suspension ball joint fittings. If the water is contaminated with salt, such as from driving on

18V01800009/01/2018

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),

09E01100002/04/2009

EQUIPMENT

THULE, INC. IS RECALLING 2,323 OWNER-INSTALLED ROOF-MOUNTED FIT KITS, MODELS 3068 AND 3069, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2008 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2009 THAT ARE USED WITH THULE PODIUM FOOT PACKS, MODELS 460 AND 460R. THESE FIT KITS WERE SOLD AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED AB

Recent Complaints

20241220SERVICE BRAKES

I purchased a car from Best Buy Motors in Spanaway, WA on [XXX]. Three days later I took the car in for an oil change and my mechanic cited safety issues and identified the rear brakes were faulty and deemed them a safety hazard. I repaired the brakes because I did not want to continue driving them under those conditions. My mechanic stated that the dealership was wrong for selling the car with the brake pads so thin and worn. My bill for the brakes and oil change was $778.28. I called the dealership and asked them to pay for the "parts" $388.08. They talked to the mechanic and came back with parts for $119. They could have fixed the brakes for that amount before they sold it to me. My issue is that they had the car on the lot for over 6 weeks and allowed people to test drive the car with faulty rear brakes. That is hazardous to me and to people who are on the road. I still have the rotors and pads that were taken off the car. I showed the old parts to another mechanic and he

20241220FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

I purchased a car from Best Buy Motors in Spanaway, WA on [XXX]. Three days later I took the car in for an oil change and my mechanic cited safety issues and identified the rear brakes were faulty and deemed them a safety hazard. I repaired the brakes because I did not want to continue driving them under those conditions. My mechanic stated that the dealership was wrong for selling the car with the brake pads so thin and worn. My bill for the brakes and oil change was $778.28. I called the dealership and asked them to pay for the "parts" $388.08. They talked to the mechanic and came back with parts for $119. They could have fixed the brakes for that amount before they sold it to me. My issue is that they had the car on the lot for over 6 weeks and allowed people to test drive the car with faulty rear brakes. That is hazardous to me and to people who are on the road. I still have the rotors and pads that were taken off the car. I showed the old parts to another mechanic and he

20200117ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND BOTH REAR WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED GOING UP AND DOWN. THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED DESPITE HAVING THE TIRES CHECKED FOR PROPER TIRE PRESSURE AND FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED TO RESET THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT. ADDITIONALLY, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS RESET BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 20 MPH AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR AND OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,800.

Mileage: 98,800

20200117ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND BOTH REAR WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED GOING UP AND DOWN. THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED DESPITE HAVING THE TIRES CHECKED FOR PROPER TIRE PRESSURE AND FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED TO RESET THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT. ADDITIONALLY, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS RESET BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 20 MPH AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR AND OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,800.

Mileage: 98,800

20200117VISIBILITY/WIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW AND BOTH REAR WINDOWS FAILED TO OPERATE AS INTENDED GOING UP AND DOWN. THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED DESPITE HAVING THE TIRES CHECKED FOR PROPER TIRE PRESSURE AND FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED TO RESET THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT. ADDITIONALLY, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS RESET BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 20 MPH AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR AND OXYGEN SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,800.

Mileage: 98,800

20191224AIR BAGS

IN THE LAST 2 WEEKS, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED, THE AIRBAG LIGHT BY THE SPEEDOMETER FLASHES TWICE, STOPS, FLASHES TWICE, THEN STOPS. THIS CONTINUES FOR ABOUT 20-30 SECONDS AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED AND IS RUNNING/IDLING. ONCE THE 20-30 SECONDS HAVE PASSED, THE AIRBAG LIGHT THEN REMAINS PERMANENTLY LIT. IT REMAINS LIT WHILE DRIVING. THE CYCLE STARTS AGAIN ONCE THE CAR IS RESTARTED.

Mileage: 81,075

20191007ENGINE

THE MAZDA HAS MULTIPLE ISSUES WITH TURBO BOOSTER FUNCTIONING AND MALFUNCTIONING CAUSING AIR POLLUTION ISSUES WITH BILLOWING WHITE SMOKE FR TAILPIPE, MAZDA DOES NOT WARRANTY THIS BY ONGOING ISSUES WITH SOME REPAIRS HAVING TO BE DONE AS EARLY AS 60000 MILES,. MY CAR IS LESS THAN 100000 MILES WITH EXTENSIVE REPAIR REQUIRED TO RESOLVE ISSUE, REPAIRS AS EXPENSIVE AS 3000 DOLLARS. THE SMOKE IS SO THICK IS IMPAIRS THE VISION OF CARS THAT MAYBE BEHIND VEHICLES WITH THIS PROBLEM. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE REVIEWED AND RESOLVED, CAR OWNERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE WHEN PURCHASING THESE MAZDA OF THIS HEAVILY UNRELIABLE IMPORTANT PART OF THE VEHICLE TO MAKE THE DECISION BEFOREHAND IF THEY WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS SHOULD THEY OCCUR.

Mileage: 90,600

20190906UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TAKATA RECALL. THE HEADLIGHTS ARE A DANGER. MY 2009 MAZDA CX-7 IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE INSIDE OF THE LAMPS ARE ALL COATED. I NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT. THEY ARE JUST A DEATH TRAP. I CANNOT USE THEM. I USE MY BRIGHTS SO I DON'T GET IN AN ACCIDENT.

20181027ENGINE

THE EXHAUST FROM THIS CAR IS HORRIBLE. CAUSING BREATHING ISSUES

20181027UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE EXHAUST FROM THIS CAR IS HORRIBLE. CAUSING BREATHING ISSUES

20180731AIR BAGS

"TAKATA RECALL" INDICATOR AIRBAG LIGHT HAVING ISSUES?

20180521SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V593000 (SUSPENSION) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (HYMAN BROTHERS MAZDA, 12602 JEFFERSON AVENUE NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA 23602) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20171106SUSPENSION

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LACKED STABILITY WHEN BEING OPERATED AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V429000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V593000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE REMEDY COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF COMMUNICATION BY THE DEALER (DENNIS DILLON MAZDA, 9501 W FAIRVIEW AVE, BOISE, ID). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,142. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Mileage: 157,142

20171106AIR BAGS

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LACKED STABILITY WHEN BEING OPERATED AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V429000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V593000 (SUSPENSION). THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO GET THE REMEDY COMPLETED DUE TO LACK OF COMMUNICATION BY THE DEALER (DENNIS DILLON MAZDA, 9501 W FAIRVIEW AVE, BOISE, ID). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,142. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Mileage: 157,142

20170925SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V593000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER (EICH VOLKSWAGEN, 1931 W DIVISION ST, ST CLOUD, MN 56301 (320) 251-1737) INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

20170824SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V593000 (SUSPENSION) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN OCTOBER OF 2016. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20170824AIR BAGS

ON THE 8TH OF AUGUST 2017 A FLASHING SIGNAL APPEARED AND I CHECKED MY MANUAL AND IT WAS AN ALERT ABOUT AIRBAG ALERT. I CALLED HILEY MAZDA IN GRAND PRAIRIE TEXAS AND MADE APPOINTMENT. THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $99.99 AND I LEFT BECAUSE THE EVENING NEW SAID THEIR WAS A RECALL FOR AIR BAGS MY YEAR AND MODEL.

20170816SUSPENSION

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V593000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20170811AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V356000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER, MAZDA OF WESLEY CHAPEL IN WESLEY CHAPEL, FLORIDA, WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

20170725WHEELS

"TAKATA RECALL' MY VALVE STEM IS BROKEN ON MY TIRE. THE TIRE DEALER HAS A 3 LLB COFFEE CAN FULL OF THESE . NOBODY WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR FAULTY PRODUCTS. I ONLY HAVE 6 THOUSAND MILES ON A NEW SET OF TIRES. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO . THE REPLACEMENT VALVES COST HALF OF THE PRICE OF A TIRE AND I LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME. PLEASE HELP

Mileage: 116,000

Compare 2009MAZDACX-7 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 MAZDA CX-7 have?
The 2009 MAZDA CX-7 has 85 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2009 MAZDA CX-7?
Yes, the 2009 MAZDA CX-7 has 6 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 MAZDA CX-7?
The most-complained component for the 2009 MAZDA CX-7 is SUSPENSION with 19 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and ENGINE.
Is the 2009 MAZDA CX-7 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.