Ball joints , control arms , wheel barrings broke into pieces. Tire was angled in grinding on the brakes and rotor. It was bought at a auction from a previous auction buyer. I bought a new frame for the back due to it being bent. I also replaced the exhaust pipe it was cut into pieces. I was very concerned with the lower control arm parts being warn out. The dangers of the ball joints or the barring falling apart would have left me in a dier tragedy. I did have a mechanic replace the parts. He did damage to them so I had to uninstall parts and assemble them as precise as should be. I also had to leave my car there was no way I was able to move it without a part busting off. It is being maintained part by part . Its a hassle . I do believe parts were being swapped without me knowing. That is very concerning . I also replaced the tire .
The worst 2008 Mazda CX-7 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine84
- Airbags53
- Suspension41
- Lights14
- Transmission14
- Electrical12
- Steering8
- Fuel system7
- Tires4
- Wheels4
- Visibility3
- Body2
- Brakes2
- Acceleration1
- Driver assistance1
- Locks1
- Seat belts1
- Seats1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2008 Mazda CX-7
Check engine light 21Fire or smoke 16Engine failure 13Airbag light 12Ball joint 12Stalling 9Headlights 8Loss of power 8Grinding brakes 6Knocking 5Whining noise 5
Recalls 4
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 19V782000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 17V457000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module
- What is wrong
- Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2011 Mazda6, and 2007-2011 CX-7 and CX-9 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
- Risk
- 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 passenger frontal air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began on August 30, 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 16V356 and all vehicles that were not remedied under that campaign are now covered by this one.
Recall number 17V429000 · Recall details
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 16V593000 · Recall details
Technical service bulletins for the 2008 Mazda CX-7 244
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This bulletin supersedes the previously issued bulletin(s) listed below
- Description
- Product Quality Information (PQI) DESCRIPTION Service Information MT-041/12 is no longer valid
- This SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below
- This Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are noted in Red....
- If you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start, DTC(s) stored...),...
- A musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system is operating
- Exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.) when parked near a glass building or Low-E windows
- When replacing the SiriusXM satellite radio unit, a call must be made to inform SiriusXM of the existing...
- Some customers may complain about a noisy HVAC blower motor or odor after a cabin air filter replacement
2008 Mazda CX-7 fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L 4‑cyl | FWD | 17 | 23 | 19 |
| 2.3L 4‑cyl | 4WD | 16 | 22 | 18 |
What 2008 Mazda CX-7 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The federal safety agency campaign id : 09e011000 mfg's report date : mar 31, 2009 component : equipment potential number of units affected : 2323 summary : thule, inc. Is recalling 2,323 owner-installed roof-mounted fit kits, models 3068 and 3069, manufactured between january 1, 2008 and february 28, 2009 that are used with thule podium foot packs, models 460 and 460r. These fit kits were sold as aftermarket equipment for use on the vehicles listed above. The bolt(s) used to secure the foot to the vehicle was manufactured to a hardness that may cause the bolt(s) to be brittle and potentially break under stress. Consequence : this may result in the bolt(s) snapping off during use or without a load. The unsecured rack and load can then come loose while driving creating a potential road hazard, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash. Remedy : thule will mail a retro fit kit along with repair instructions to owners free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before april 13, 2009. Owners may contact thule toll-free at 1‑800‑238‑2388. Notes : this recall only pertains to thule aftermarket roof mounted load carriers and has no relation to any original equipment installed on the listed passenger vehicles. Owners may also contact the federal safety agency's vehicle safety hotline at 1‑888‑327‑4236 (tty 1‑800‑424‑9153), or go to
Car had been sitting in the driveway for 2 full days with no use. I walked outside to place trash in trash bin and noticed smoke coming from the drivers door. I quickly ran inside, grabbed fire extinguisher and put out the fire.it looks like the fire originated at the window motor or the window switch panel on the drivers side door.
I already have a complaint but I forgot to add that my airbag light is on and won't come off along with my engine light it won't even crank since we broke down in the middle of highway because idh the money to get it fixed and trying to ask for a ride everyday! Thank you so much
I was driving down the highway and suddenly I hear a loud noise sounded like I was in a big rig truck then all of a sudden it started to overheat b4 I could pull off of highway it cut off right in the highway I had my grandson with me and thank goodness there was not a lot of traffic or we probably would've been dead
I did receive 2 airbag recalls ,I did visit mazda dealers for repair , they did fixed ,and when I checked :result 0 unrepaired recalls.but I received still many recall letters.please review and stop those letters which bother me.I 'm so grateful for your help. Have a good day
These headlights and taillights and even inside the car dome lights are dangerously dim. Even with lights on bright it is difficult to see
Timing chain is rattling
When driving with cruise control on. The highway at 65 MPH, I try to turn it off by depressing the brake, the brake is stiff and will not disengage. The only way to disengage is by pushing the on off button on steering wheel.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 mazda cx7. The contact stated while driving at an unknown speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact stated that her spouse diagnosed the failure as a mass air flow sensor failure. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer for repairs nor was it diagnosed by a dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, there was no assistance provided. The approximate failure mileage was 154,000.
Compare the 2008 Mazda CX-7
Other model years
Questions about the 2008 Mazda CX-7
Is the 2008 Mazda CX-7 reliable?
Owners have filed 192 complaints about the 2008 Mazda CX-7, 1.2 times a typical CX-7 model year.
What is the 2008 Mazda CX-7 year score?
The 2008 Mazda CX-7 scores 65 out of 100 (average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Mazda CX-7: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2008 Mazda CX-7?
Engine and cooling, with 84 complaints, typically around 59,600 miles. Next is airbags (53).
How many recalls does the 2008 Mazda CX-7 have?
4 recalls, covering air bags and suspension.
What year does the Mazda CX-7 have bad engine?
The Mazda CX-7 model years with the most engine complaints are 2007 (316 complaints), 2008 (84 complaints) and 2010 (22 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2008 Mazda CX-7 get?
Official estimates for the 2008 Mazda CX-7 range from 18 to 19 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.3L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 17 city and 23 highway.
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