Total Complaints
59 filings
MAZDA CX-7 · model year
59 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2012MAZDACX-7 carries 59 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2012 CX-7 is suspension with 14 filings, followed by air bags (12) and exterior lighting (7). 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 4 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 2012 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.
Total Complaints
59 filings
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | 14 |
| AIR BAGS | 12 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 7 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| STEERING | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 3 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
| WHEELS | 2 |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 2 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
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
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
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),
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
No matter the bulbs I use, the headlights are always dim. This is incredibly unsafe for night driving.
There is excessive rust on this MAZDA. We drive in NYC, and i believe due to the close proximity to the ocean this Mazda was not properly prepared.
There is excessive rust on this MAZDA. We drive in NYC, and i believe due to the close proximity to the ocean this Mazda was not properly prepared.
There is excessive rust on this MAZDA. We drive in NYC, and i believe due to the close proximity to the ocean this Mazda was not properly prepared.
The headlights are too dim for safe night driving. Bulbs also fail yearly. This is a common problem reported with 2012 MAZDA CX7
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, WOULD STALL OUT AND TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. THE CAR WOULD START WITH JUMPER CABLES, IDLE FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN GO COMPLETELY DEAD, NO LIGHTS, NO BUZZ, NO NOTHING AS SOON AS IT WAS PUT INTO REVERSE. THE CAR HAS A NEW BATTERY, NEW COILS, NEW SPARK PLUGS AND CONTINUES TO MISFIRE. MAZDA HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO MESSAGES DUE TO OPEN RECALLS.
Mileage: 87,000
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, WOULD STALL OUT AND TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. THE CAR WOULD START WITH JUMPER CABLES, IDLE FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN GO COMPLETELY DEAD, NO LIGHTS, NO BUZZ, NO NOTHING AS SOON AS IT WAS PUT INTO REVERSE. THE CAR HAS A NEW BATTERY, NEW COILS, NEW SPARK PLUGS AND CONTINUES TO MISFIRE. MAZDA HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO MESSAGES DUE TO OPEN RECALLS.
Mileage: 87,000
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, WOULD STALL OUT AND TURN OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. THE CAR WOULD START WITH JUMPER CABLES, IDLE FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN GO COMPLETELY DEAD, NO LIGHTS, NO BUZZ, NO NOTHING AS SOON AS IT WAS PUT INTO REVERSE. THE CAR HAS A NEW BATTERY, NEW COILS, NEW SPARK PLUGS AND CONTINUES TO MISFIRE. MAZDA HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO MESSAGES DUE TO OPEN RECALLS.
Mileage: 87,000
NO ACCIDENTS HAS HAPPENED, BUT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS KEEP BLOWING OUT. I HAVE TO HAVE THEM REPLACED EVERY 3-6 MONTHS. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM. UPON DOING SEARCH ON INTERNET, I NOTICE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM. LIGHTS ARE NOT CHEAP AND VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND THIS HAPPENS.
Mileage: 141,000
OPENED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR TO GET INTO VEHICLE THIS MORNING ALL WAS FINE. WHEN I GOT TO WORK AND TRIED TO OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR, IT WOULD NOT OPEN. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR BY CLIMBING OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE AND OPENING THE SIDE DOOR. I CHECKED THE OTHER DOORS (AND TRUNK) AND THEY ALL OPENED. I CHECKED THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE THEN AND IT STILL WOULD NOT OPEN. IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD IF YOU NEED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR QUICKLY. ALSO I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN SO IT'S NO LONGER EASY TO CLIMB OVER THE SEATS TO OPEN THE PASSENGER DOOR INSTEAD.
Mileage: 65,000
AIRBAG SENSOR STAYS ON
Mileage: 123,000
AIRBAG SENSOR STAYS ON
Mileage: 123,000
AIRBAG SENSOR STAYS ON
Mileage: 123,000
THE DIM LIGHTS ARE SO DANGEROUS AND DO NOT PROVIDE ANY VISIBILITY AT NIGHT AT ALL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND I HAVE HAD SO MANY NEAR MISSES WHILE PASSING OTHER VEHICLES OR TRYING TO NOT RUN OFF THE ROAD DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE. PLUS THE BULBS BURN OUT SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND I'M CONSTANTLY HAVING TO REPLACE THEM. BUT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT IS SO SCARY BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE THE ROADWAY DUE TO POOR LIGHTING FROM THE CARS HEADLIGHTS. AND ALSO THE MOTORS THAT ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS ARE CONSTANTLY GOING OUT AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THOSE AS WELL OTHERWISE MY WINDOW GETS STUCK AND I CAN'T GET IT TO ROLL BACK UP.
THE DIM LIGHTS ARE SO DANGEROUS AND DO NOT PROVIDE ANY VISIBILITY AT NIGHT AT ALL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND I HAVE HAD SO MANY NEAR MISSES WHILE PASSING OTHER VEHICLES OR TRYING TO NOT RUN OFF THE ROAD DUE TO NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE. PLUS THE BULBS BURN OUT SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND I'M CONSTANTLY HAVING TO REPLACE THEM. BUT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT IS SO SCARY BECAUSE I CANNOT SEE THE ROADWAY DUE TO POOR LIGHTING FROM THE CARS HEADLIGHTS. AND ALSO THE MOTORS THAT ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS ARE CONSTANTLY GOING OUT AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THOSE AS WELL OTHERWISE MY WINDOW GETS STUCK AND I CAN'T GET IT TO ROLL BACK UP.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED MY BRAND NEW MAZDA CX7. DEALERSHIP JUST SIMPLY RESETTED IT WITHOUT FURTHER INSPECTION AND NOW AFTER WARRANTY LIGHT IS BACK ON. HAD ALREADY REPLACED GAS CAP AND L RESET WAS DONE AGAIN BUT IT IS BACK ON. I READ A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THE CHECK EGINE LIGHT. I SEEMS LIKE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MAZDA CARS BUT MAZDA DOES NOT SEEM TO CONCERNED ABOUT IT. MY CAR CANT PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE CODE P0442-EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM LEAK DETECTED (SMALL LEAK) KEEPS COMING UP. I WANT MAZDA TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG MAZDA OWNERS. EMAILED MAZDA AND NO ANSWER SO I CALLED 800 NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP. NOT SURE OF THE DATE IT INITIALLY HAPPENED. BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN LAST SUMMER 2018 THANKS.
Mileage: 1,000
HEADLIGHTS BLOW NUMEROUS TIMES IN A YEAR. WHEN 'OPERATIONAL''THE HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM AT NIGHT. I RESEARCHED AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A REOCCURRING ISSUE ON MANY MAZDA VEHICLES. I HAVE TRIED TO REACH OUT TO MAZDA, WITH NO RESPONSE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND MY TURN SIGNALS ARE BRIGHTER THAN MY LIGHTS. EVERYONE ON THE FORUM SUGGESTS THE PROJECTOR LENSES THAT COME EQUIPPED ARE FAULTY. I SPENT $400 ON AFTERMARKET HEADLIGHTS (FULL HOUSING) TO TRY AND RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM OR MAKE IT BETTER TO BE ABLE TO SEE AT NIGHT, SINCE I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROM MAZDA AND THEY SEEM NOT WILLING TO LOOK INSIDE THE ISSUE WITH MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES.THIS HAS BEEN A REPCCUING ISSUE SINCE PURCHASE IN 2012.
Mileage: 25,000
HEADLIGHTS BLOW NUMEROUS TIMES IN A YEAR. WHEN 'OPERATIONAL''THE HEADLIGHTS ARE VERY DIM AT NIGHT. I RESEARCHED AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A REOCCURRING ISSUE ON MANY MAZDA VEHICLES. I HAVE TRIED TO REACH OUT TO MAZDA, WITH NO RESPONSE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND MY TURN SIGNALS ARE BRIGHTER THAN MY LIGHTS. EVERYONE ON THE FORUM SUGGESTS THE PROJECTOR LENSES THAT COME EQUIPPED ARE FAULTY. I SPENT $400 ON AFTERMARKET HEADLIGHTS (FULL HOUSING) TO TRY AND RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM OR MAKE IT BETTER TO BE ABLE TO SEE AT NIGHT, SINCE I HAVE HEARD NOTHING FROM MAZDA AND THEY SEEM NOT WILLING TO LOOK INSIDE THE ISSUE WITH MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES.THIS HAS BEEN A REPCCUING ISSUE SINCE PURCHASE IN 2012.
Mileage: 25,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA CX-7. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE MADE A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED AT (MOFFITT MAZDA IN BOSSIER CITY, LOUISIANA) PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V593000 (SUSPENSION) AND THE FAILURE RECURRED DIRECTLY AFTER THE REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000.
Mileage: 88,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA CX-7. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH THE HEADLIGHTS TURNED ON, THE LIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE BRIGHT ENOUGH FOR THE DRIVER TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND LOCAL DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN.
Momentary increase in steering effort after recall remedy
Inadvertent Curtain Air Bag Deployment
Front Subframe Corrosion
Lower ball joint separation
Brake Booster Failure
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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.