2012 Mazda CX-7: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
39 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
76,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 39 complaints (35.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 7.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 2.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.6% |
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 | 14 |
| Air Bags | 12 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
Suspension: 14; Air Bags: 12; Exterior Lighting: 7; Electrical System: 4; Steering: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Fuel/Propulsion 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 23 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 19 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2023 | 2 |
2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2016: 3; 2017: 19; 2018: 6; 2019: 2; 2020: 3; 2021: 2; 2023: 2
Pattern summary
Suspension leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10454787 · 2012-04-10 (April 10, 2012)
INSTRUMENTS ARE RECESSED AND ARE DIFFICULT TO SEE IN THE DAYLIGHT. WITH THE HEADLIGHTS ON THEY ARE POORLY LIGHTED AND ARE HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10454787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10522903 · 2013-07-02 (July 2, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WHILE ENTERING TRAFFIC AND SURGED WHEN BEING DRIVEN ON AN INCLINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED; WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AS THE BRAKE OVER DRIVE SYSTEM. THE BRAKE OVER DRIVE SYSTEM WAS INSPECTED AND WAS DETERMINED TO HAVE BEEN OPERATING NORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE AS 15,000. 8/26/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10522903 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10846251 · 2016-03-12 (March 12, 2016)
THREE DOOR LATCH SCREWS ON THE DRIVER'S FRONT DOOR CAME COMPLETELY OUT AND WERE MISSING WHEN I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM. THE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE TIGHTLY AND WIND NOISE COULD BE HEARD WHEN DRIVING. THERE WAS A RECALL ON MAZDA 6 VEHICLES WITH EXACTLY THIS SAME PROBLEM. ALSO, THE SCREWS ON THE OTHER 3 DOORS WERE NOT TIGHT AND I HAD TO TIGHTEN THEM. THE PROBLEM WAS DISCOVERED WHILE THE CX7 WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10846251 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10883441 · 2016-07-07 (July 7, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 MAZDA CX-7. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE NECK AND BACK PAINS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 119,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 119,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10883441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10920295 · 2016-10-31 (October 31, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2012 MAZDA CX-7. WHILE ADJUSTING THE HEAT AND DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED INADVERTENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LOWER BACK, NECK, AND CHEST AREA. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM WAS DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WOULD NOT SEND A REPRESENTATIVE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10920295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10947542 · 2017-01-25 (January 25, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 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 MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10947542 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10957677 · 2017-02-28 (February 28, 2017)
GOT A RECALL ALERT IN THE MAIL IN OCT 2016 BUT STATES THEY WILL REACH OUT WHEN PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. IT'S ALMOST MARCH 2017 AND THEY ARE STILL SAYING THEY DON'T HAVE THE PARTS. THE DESCRIPTION IN THE RECALL REFERENCES SALT IN THE WINTER ULTIMATELY CORRODING THE BALL JOINT. SOUNDS LIKE A SIGNIFICANT RISK TO ME.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10957677 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10969482 · 2017-03-30 (March 30, 2017)
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, IT ACCELERATED WITHOUT THE CONTACT DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V012000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V593000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVA…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10969482 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V593000 · Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint
Reported: 2016-08-11 (August 11, 2016)
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 snowy roads that have been treated, the ball joint may corrode and separate from the lower control arm, resulting in a loss of steering control.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V457000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2017-07-18 (July 18, 2017)
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 (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Mazda is recalling certain 2009 CX-7, CX-9 and Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" or "Zone B" above, Mazda is recalling certain 2007-2008 CX-7 and CX-9 sold, or ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: 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 front passenger side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began October 4, 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 17V-012.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V717000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2018-10-12 (October 12, 2018)
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), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, unless covered in "Zone A," Mazda is recalling certain 2011-2013 Mazda6, 2011-2012 CX-7, and 2011-2015 CX-9 sold, or ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia, or "Zone B." Additionally, unless covered in Zone A or Zone B, Mazda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Mazda6, 2010-2012 CX-7, and 2010-2015 CX-9 vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V782000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2019-10-31 (October 31, 2019)
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 degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗