Mazda CX-7 problems (2006–2012)

All 2 engines of the Mazda CX-7 that we have documented have high or critical severity faults: the MZR-CD and the 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo. None has a «Buy» verdict; the safest option is the 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo, with a «With caution» verdict. Outside the engine, the Mazda CX-7 has two recalls with Safety Gate alerts (lower front suspension ball joint and the Takata passenger airbag) and, according to the DEKRA report covered by Autofácil, a 13.4% rate of serious faults after 100,000 km, with brakes, steering ball joints and tyre pressure sensors as weak points.

Among the 2 engines we have documented, none has a «Buy» verdict; the safest option is the 2.3 MZR DISI Turbo, with a «With caution» verdict. This is the series most affected by chain problems according to Wikipedia; it is only worth considering with an oil service history and a timing check.^[1][2]

Outside the engine, the Mazda CX-7 has two recalls with Safety Gate alerts (lower front suspension ball joint and the Takata passenger airbag) and, according to the DEKRA report covered by Autofácil, a 13.4% rate of serious faults after 100,000 km, with brakes, steering ball joints and tyre pressure sensors as weak points. The most important documented faults are: lower front suspension ball joint that can seize or break through corrosion (suspension, critical severity), takata recall: the passenger airbag inflator can rupture on deployment (airbags and safety, critical severity), premature wear of the brake discs and pads (brakes, medium severity) and play in the steering ball joints (steering, medium severity).^{[3][4][5][6][7]}

The most important by severity and frequency, on the engines we have documented, are: timing chain stretch on the 2.2 MZR-CD (MZR-CD, critical severity), timing chain stretch and VVT actuator failure on the 2.3 DISI Turbo (2.3 MZR DISI Turbo, critical severity), oil dilution from leaking injector seals and DPF regenerations (MZR-CD, high severity), premature turbocharger wear from poor lubrication on the 2.3 DISI Turbo (2.3 MZR DISI Turbo, high severity) and turbocharger wear or failure (MZR-CD, high severity).

According to our rating by year, the best is 2012 (5.3/10); the worst rated is 2009 (4.7/10). Each year's rating counts only the engines sold that year and the faults that affect those units: open each year to see what changes.

Yes: we have documented 2 campaigns for the Mazda CX-7, such as mazda CX-7 (2007-2012): lower front suspension ball joint (2022). Check with your VIN at the official service centre whether yours has been done.^[4][6][7]