CarComplaints.com Notes: The 2007 Mazda CX-7 has numerous reports filed with the NHTSA about engine & A/C problems.
Owners report problems with the 2007 CX-7's Variable Valve Timing (VVT) & timing chain failing, causing major damage to the engine — Mazda uses an interference design so typically the valves are bent & the entire engine needs to be replaced. Mazda dealers typically quote $9,000 for an engine replacement.
There is also a trend of the turbo failing at low mileage.
Finally for the 2007 CX-7 there is a clear pattern of A/C compressor failure at relatively low mileage. Owners report smoke & occasionally the serpentine belt catches fire when the A/C compressor clutch seizes while driving. Mazda extended the A/C warranty to 60,000 miles, however many owners report their A/C compressor failed very soon after the 60k mark.
In 2011, Mazda began a "Special Service Program" that extended the warranty to 7 years/70,000 miles covering turbocharger oil leaks & excessive timing chain noise — an early sign of timing chain failure. However coverage under the program requires perfect documentation of all required maintenance with other stipulations. Buyer beware.
Car runs with the turbo being out but when you accelerate to a higher speed too quickly, it will putter and drive slowly before it catches up to speed.
I have a Mazda CX-7 with only 68k miles on it. Its garaged, been extremely taking care of. Not a scratch on it, and while driving it on the highway a few days ago it seized up and shut down. Steering wheel locked up and thank god I pulled over when I did! anyways I NEED A NEW ENGINE!! ARE YOU SERIOUS?!!! It only has 68k miles on the damn thing!! I paid 28 grand for it in 2007 and its paid off. now this! I'm a single mom who doesn't even have $20 in my pocket and now Mazda wants me to pay 10 grand for a new engine!! I CAN'T AFFORD THIS!!!!
I googled this and looks like more and more people are having the same issue on them! YOU SHOULD OF HAD A RECALL ON THESE!!! BAD REVIEWS OF PEOPLE BUYING A NEW ENGINE UNDER 70K MILES!!!!!! CX-7 SUCK AND I'M SO MAD!!! I'M A BROKE MOMMA AND NEED HELP OR ADVICE FROM ANYONE LISTENING!!! THANKS!!
Turbo started making a squealing noise... Then "poof" the car would start and speed to an amazing 20mph, smoke, sputter and die... then repeat. Took it to the dealer said it was a common issue with the 2007 model. took 3 days to replace... then more issues arose... VVT... Oil filter failure... won't buy another mazda.
How can a turbo run out of oil, and no one notice? I take my car to the dealership for maintenance and nobody ever noticed the turbo was out of oil, until I complained about performance. There was no noticeable oil dripping from my car, nor could you smell anything burning. There was no puff of blue smoke going out the exhaust... I don't get it! When they do 360 checkups on the car, don't they check for that too? Along with the vvt valve going out, this is becoming and expensive vehicle to maintain - even though it's paid for!
In 2009 the timing chain was changed. A few months later the turbo was changed. I changed the Synthetic oil offten. June 2016 I was traveling 75mph. Normal highway driving in Florida. Smoke from exhaust, then from under hood. I pulled over quickly. When I came to a stop the engine cut off. I opened the hood oil all over engine compartment. Car was towed to a Mazda dealer. They tested the motor's compression. Cylinder 1=- 100 2= 97 3= 138 4= 190. Now they tell me the engine is blown. Need a new engine. Mazda could of cared less. The cost is more than the value of the car. I am besides myself. I'm on disability. OMG.....Don't know what to do. I don't know who to believe. One mechanic told me to replace the turbo and the engine will clean itself out and it will be fine. I don't know? Any suggestions.
Update from Jun 23, 2016: We contacted corporate.
We explained the turbo was replaced at 44,000 miles. 40,000 miles is that all you get out of a turbo? They declined the fix.
- phil nofilter,
Winter Garden, FL, US
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Words cannot even express the frustration. Bought the car brand new, never missed a oil change. I will not even advised my worst enemy to buy the Mazda CX 7.
We had the auto since 2009, bought from Mazda dealer, always had serviced on time. In June of this year the turbo went, the belt tensioner went, the a/c went, then the starter went. The cost of repairs would have been too much to put into the auto. I went and bought another auto, not a Mazda. Never again
Ever since I bought my Mazda CX-7, the check engine light would come on periodically. At first the warranty covered most of the repairs so I really didn't complain. Now, I realize this car is just a total lemon! My friend asked me if she should buy a Mazda and I told her to save herself the hassle and purchase a Toyota.
The initial problem with the car was the oil leaking out of it. I am pretty sure that the oil had been leaking since I purchased the car. I say this because my mechanic would comment that my car didn't have any oil in it. Later, the oil literally poured out of my car onto my driveway. When I finally got that fixed at the dealer, they fixed the dripping from one area only. I didn't realize that the oil was now leaking internally into various parts of the engine.
On my daughter's birthday in June, the car started simply dying out while turning or at a light! It would stall at lights and make this rhythmic sound. It did this continuously. My mechanic told me that I had sludge inside my turbo thing (whatever the language), and I got that replaced. Second, oil had leaked all over the engine, so I had to have that cleaned and fixed! The damage was very expensive! I only have 100,000 miles on my car.
Since I have owned the car, I would say that I have spent about $6000 fixing things here and there. I will NEVER purchase another car from Mazda EVER. If you are smart, you will do the same. Save yourself the hassle. The body of the car is beautiful, but the money and time you will spend feeling unsafe is not worth the hassle.
I am a mom, and when the car started to lose all power while I was driving it, I thought a terrible accident would occur, and I would get rear-ended so hard that my life would be in danger.
After dealing with the stress of the previous complaint, I managed to leave the military and attain a position at my dream job. The only problem: the dream job was 1.5 hours away. I drove my other car back and forth to work just fine and left the Mazda with my wife and child as intended. Unfortunately, the clutch burned out on my 2002 Honda Civic. I had to drive the Mazda to work until I can replace the clutch. It has been hard trusting the Mazda on long distance drives. That lack of trust proved to be justified, when only a month of driving the Mazda back and forth to work, I am having the same problem as before.
Now, on 18 May 2015, only 19 months after the first repair, the turbo has died again. Since this is an after market turbo, it is no longer under warranty. It will be a total of 2,702.95 for the repairs. This is money that I do not have. I am extremely disappointed, stressed and worried as I am now in a position that I am unable to get to work due to this vehicle's inability to perform when it is needed. The current mileage is 100,586. In 22,170 miles, this vehicle has had two major break downs due to the same part.
I called Mazda's customer service. The representative said upfront that they wont be able to assist with the repairs because it is too outside of the warranty by time and mileage. Mazda is aware that their vehicles have trouble with the turbo so they extended the original warranty to 70,000 miles, which means I was doomed from the beginning. I leased it at 78,000 miles.
This Mazda was the worst decision of my car-buying experience. Now my job is in jeopardy. Never again will I associate with another Mazda.
On 19 November 2012, I leased a 2007 Mazda CX-7 (VIN:JM3ER293670130175)
at Phil Long Ford 1212 Motor City Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80905. The CX-7 had a total of 78,416 miles.
Unfortunately, this vehicle has not performed well because the Turbo continues to malfunction and serve as a costly liability to my family.
I leased this Mazda in 2012 to serve as a safe, reliable and comfortable vehicle for my wife and child to have just before I deployed to Afghanistan that same month. When I returned home, 11 months later, we took the Mazda on its first road trip from Colorado to Michigan, to visit my family. On our return, from Michigan, on 23 October of 2013, the turbo died in Iowa. I took the Mazda to a Mazda dealer at Carousel Motors 809 Highway 1 West, in Iowa, City, IA where the lead technician saw my vehicle and predicted the trouble was with the turbo because "the turbo is a known issue with the CX-7's". The mileage on the vehicle was 84,833 (only 6,417 miles from the time the vehicle was leased). The mechanics at Carousel replaced the Original Equipment Manufactured turbo, with an after market turbo. Luckily, this repair was under warranty. I only paid the cost for 3 days (24 Oct - 29 Oct) of food and hotel, 3 days with a rental car and 216.60 for oil, a filter and miscellaneous charges.
[note Carousel Motors had to order the turbo for delivery. Since it was the end of the week, we had to wait until the following Wednesday for the parts to arrive. That Saturday, there was home game for the Iowa State University football team. Every decent hotel, including mine, was booked. The Hotel gave us notice that the room belonged to a party who had already booked the room in advance. I had no choice but to rent a car and drive my family home to Colorado, for their safety.note]
Took my car to the Mazda dealership. They informed me that the Turbo in my engine was gone and that they were going to take pictures and send it to Mazda Corporate to see if they could get it covered. Luckily Mazda covered it because my car wasn't 7 years old and didn't have 70,000 miles on it. The part alone was $1,200. This happened the day after Thanksgiving. I didn't get my car back until December 22nd! Yes I did all of my Christmas shopping in 2 days!
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Car runs with the turbo being out but when you accelerate to a higher speed too quickly, it will putter and drive slowly before it catches up to speed.
- michelleb87, North Highlands, US