2012 Mazda CX-7 Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2012 Mazda CX-7.

20112013
Complaints
59
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Fatalities
Recalls
4

Worst 2012 Mazda CX-7 Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#114 complaints

Suspension Failures

Avg mileage:76,167 mi
#212 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:110,667 mi
Crash-related:1
#37 complaints

Headlight/Taillight Failures

Avg mileage:55,350 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2012 Mazda CX-7.

Suspension Failures
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
76,167
Airbags
12
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
110,667
Headlight/Taillight Failures
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
55,350
Electrical Faults
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
3
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Body Structure
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wipers & Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Wheel Issues
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Instrument Cluster
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Transmission / Drivetrain
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat-Related Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Brakes
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2012 Mazda CX-7. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2012 Mazda CX-7

4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~494,819 vehicles.

19V782000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~69,879 affected

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.

18V717000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~155,436 affected

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.

17V457000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~79,402 affected

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.

16V593000Suspension:front:control Arm:lower Ball Joint
~190,102 affected

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.

Other Mazda CX-7 Years

2012 Mazda CX-7 — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2012 Mazda CX-7 reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2012 Mazda CX-7 has 59 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash-related, and 4 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Suspension Failures with 14 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2012 Mazda CX-7?
Top reported problems: Suspension Failures (14 complaints, avg 76,167 mi); Airbags (12 complaints, avg 110,667 mi); Headlight/Taillight Failures (7 complaints, avg 55,350 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2012 Mazda CX-7?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 84,297 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2012 Mazda CX-7?
NHTSA complaints for the 2012 Mazda CX-7 include 4 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2012 Mazda CX-7 have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 494,819 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2012 Mazda CX-7?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Mazda CX-7 reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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