2009 Mazda CX-7 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
64 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 35 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 64 complaints (29.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 3 | 4.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 3.1% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 3.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 3.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 19 |
| Air Bags | 16 |
| Engine | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Steering | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
Suspension: 19; Air Bags: 16; Engine: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Steering: 5; Exterior Lighting: 4; Unknown Or Other: 3; Electrical System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 5 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 5; 150,000 and above: 3
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 29 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2012: 8; 2013: 4; 2014: 1; 2015: 5; 2016: 8; 2017: 20; 2018: 3; 2019: 3; 2020: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10508309 · 2013-04-15 (April 15, 2013)
WHILE I WAS DRIVING IN TOWN HWY THE A/C SYSTEM QUICK WORKING , SMOKING COMING FROM THE HOOD AND I TOTALLY LOST THE POWER STEERING ON THE CAR.. FINALLY AFTER PULLING OVER ON A SAFE PLACE ON THE SIDE OF THE HWY I REALIZED THE A/C COMPRESSOR LOCKED AND THE CLUTCH FELL OFF AND THE SERPENTINE BELT FOR THE STEERING WAS BROKEN AS WELL.. WHAT A MESS AND DANGEROUS SITUATION.. NOW DE DEALER SAYS MY CAR A/C COMPRESSOR REPAIR ISN'T COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY WITH ONLY 39000 MILES ON IT.. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND DANGEROUS FOR ALL THE MAZDA CX-7 OWNERS .. PLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 139,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10508309 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10903715 · 2016-09-06 (September 6, 2016)
MAZDA RECALL #: 9516E / NHTSA RECALL #: 16V-356 MAY 25, 2016 SAFETY RISK: AN INFLATOR RUPTURE MAY RESULT IN METAL FRAGMENTS STRIKING THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS, RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. MAZDA RECALL #: 9716H AUG 10, 2016 SAFETY RISK: THE VEHICLE MAY EXPERIENCE SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. BOTH ARE RECALLS THAT STATE THEY MAY RESULT IN CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH OR CAUSE SERIOUS HARM TO THE OCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. BOTH ARE LISTED AS INCOMPLETE; REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MAN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10903715 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10326235 · 2010-04-18 (April 18, 2010)
I BOUGHT THE 2009 MAZDA CX7 IN MARCH OF 2009. ABOUT MID AUGUST TO EARLY SEPTEMBER 2009 THE CAR WOULD BEGIN TO JOLT BACKWARDS (WHEN PUT IN REVERSE) OR FORWARD (IN DRIVE) WHEN I WOULD BE READY TO LEAVE. SOON AFTER IT WOULD STALL TO GO UP HILLS OR TO PICK UP SPEED WHEN GETTING ON THE INTERSTATE. LATER I WOULD FUEL THE CAR TOA "FULL TANK" AND THE GASOLINE WOULD SPILL ALL BACK OUT. I CALLED AND FILED A COMPLAINT @ 2 DIFFERENT TIMES AT WHICH THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING. LATER CALLING ME BACK STATING THAT THE O2 WAS MESSED UP AND FIXED ABO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10326235 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11300056 · 2020-01-17 (January 17, 2020)
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 DECELE…
Owner-reported narrative. 98,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11300056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10259175 · 2009-02-18 (February 18, 2009)
I PURCHASED A NEW VEHICLE AND NOTICED SQUEAKING IN THE REAR WHEELS WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. I TOOK THIS INTO THE DEALER AND WAS FIRST TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. THEN THE DEALER SANDED DOWN THE ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS AND SAID IT WAS OKAY. THE SQUEAKING PERSISTED AND I WENT BACK TO THE DEALER. THEY REPLACED ROTORS AND SAID IT WAS FIXED. THE SQUEAKING STILL CONTINUED. I CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND THEY DIDNT RESPOND FOR WEEKS. I CONTACTED DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULDNT DO ANYTHING FURTHER. I WENT BACK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD SAND DOWN BRA…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10259175 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11631870 · 2024-12-20 (December 20, 2024)
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" $…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11631870 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10455551 · 2012-04-17 (April 17, 2012)
WE LEASED A 2009 MAZDA CX-7 (GARAGED AND HIGHWAY DRIVEN ONLY). THERE WAS NEVER A PROBLEM. THE BATTERY DIED. WE CHANGED THE BATTERY. CAR STARTED AND THEN DIED. AFTER ONE MONTH, IT AGAIN HAD BEEN FLAT BEDDED BY MAZDA. THEY DID A CHECK AND TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, BUT THEY FOUND SLUDGE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THEY HAD A RECALL ON A VALVE WHICH I NEVER RECEIVED IN THE MAIL. THE CAR ONLY HAD 17,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER 3 YEARS, MAZDA CAME BACK AND SAID THEY WOULD COVER UNDER LEASE OR EXTENDED WARRANTY, …
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455551 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10457732 · 2012-05-07 (May 7, 2012)
IN JANUARY 2012, I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM MAZDA INC THAT THE COMPANY WAS EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE TIMING CHAIN TO 70,000 MILES. IN THE LETTER, IT STATED THAT A CERTIFIED MAZDA DEALER COULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE IF THE TIMING CHAIN HAS A PROBLEM. ON FEB 24 THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A CERTIFIED MAZDA GARAGE AND WHEN MY HUSBAND WENT TO PICK IT UP, THEY SAID "IT HAS A SLIGHT NOISE BUT NOTHING BIG.THEN THEY ASKED FOR ALL THE RECEIPTS FROM THE OIL CHANGES. NOW, WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN MARCH 2009, THEREFORE WE WOULD HAVE NO RECEIPTS …
Owner-reported narrative. 67,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457732 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10252161 · 2008-12-18 (December 18, 2008)
I JUST BOUGHT A 2009 MAZDA CX-7 THREE WEEKS AGO, WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON THE THIRD WEEK, MY CAR STOPPED SHIFTING GEARS. AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IT JUST STOPPED. I HAD THE CARE TOWED INTO THE SAME DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR AT, AND COME TO FIND OUT THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ON THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2008. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD RECEIVE A CALL FROM SOMEONE ON MONDAY, I WAITED AND FINALLY WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP MY SELF AND THEY HAD NO ANSWERS ABOUT THE CAR. I THEN CALLED MAZDA'S CUSTOMER SER…
Owner-reported narrative. 758 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252161 at NHTSA ↗