No matter the bulbs I use, the headlights are always dim. This is incredibly unsafe for night driving.
The worst 2012 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.
- Suspension14
- Airbags12
- Lights7
- Electrical5
- Acceleration3
- Steering3
- Body2
- Fuel system2
- Visibility2
- Wheels2
- Brakes1
- Engine1
- Seats1
- Transmission1
Specific symptoms reported on the 2012 Mazda CX-7
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 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.
- Risk
- 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.
Recall number 18V717000 · 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
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 2012 Mazda CX-7 234
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
- Some vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.) when parked near a...
- 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
2012 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5L 4‑cyl | FWD | 20 | 27 | 22 |
| 2.3L 4‑cyl | FWD | 18 | 24 | 20 |
| 2.3L 4‑cyl | 4WD | 17 | 21 | 19 |
What 2012 Mazda CX-7 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
There is excessive rust on this MAZDA. We drive in NYC, and i believe due to the close proximity to the ocean this Mazda was not properly prepared.
The headlights are too dim for safe night driving. Bulbs also fail yearly. This is a common problem reported with 2012 MAZDA CX7
The vehicle would not start, would stall out and turn off while driving. The driver's side window will not move up or down. The car would start with jumper cables, idle for a few minutes, then go completely dead, no lights, no buzz, no nothing as soon as it was put into reverse. The car has a new battery, new coils, new spark plugs and continues to misfire. Mazda has been unresponsive to messages due to open recalls.
No accidents has happened, but the low beam headlights keep blowing out. I have to have them replaced every 3-6 months. Obviously there is a problem. Upon doing search on internet, I notice several complaints on this problem. Lights are not cheap and very frustrating when you are driving at night and this happens.
Opened the driver side door to get into vehicle this morning all was fine. When I got to work and tried to open the driver door, it would not open. I got out of the car by climbing over the center console and opening the side door. I checked the other doors (and trunk) and they all opened. I checked the driver side door from outside the vehicle then and it still would not open. It's a safety hazard if you need to get out of the car quickly. Also I am a senior citizen so it's no longer easy to climb over the seats to open the passenger door instead.
Airbag sensor stays on
The dim lights are so dangerous and do not provide any visibility at night at all. It is very dangerous to drive and I have had so many near misses while passing other vehicles or trying to not run off the road due to not being able to see. Plus the bulbs burn out several times throughout the year and I'm constantly having to replace them. But to drive at night is so scary because I cannot see the roadway due to poor lighting from the cars headlights. And also the motors that roll down the windows are constantly going out and I have to replace those as well otherwise my window gets stuck and I can't get it to roll back up.
Check engine light came on shortly after I purchased my brand new mazda cx7. Dealership just simply resetted it without further inspection and now after warranty light is back on. Had already replaced gas cap and l reset was done again but it is back on. I read a lot of complaints online about the check egine light. I seems like a common problem with mazda cars but mazda does not seem to concerned about it. My car cant pass inspection because code p0442-evaporative emission system leak detected (small leak) keeps coming up. I want mazda to correct this problem because it appears to be a common problem among mazda owners. Emailed mazda and no answer so I called 800 number and was told that there are no recalls on this problem. Please help. Not sure of the date it initially happened. But check engine light came on again last summer 2018 thanks.
Headlights blow numerous times in a year. When 'operational''the headlights are very dim at night. I researched and this seems to be a reoccurring issue on many mazda vehicles. I have tried to reach out to mazda, with no response. This is very dangerous and my turn signals are brighter than my lights. Everyone on the forum suggests the projector lenses that come equipped are faulty. I spent $400 on aftermarket headlights (full housing) to try and rectify this problem or make it better to be able to see at night, since I have heard nothing from mazda and they seem not willing to look inside the issue with many of their vehicles.this has been a repccuing issue since purchase in 2012.
Compare the 2012 Mazda CX-7
Other model years
Questions about the 2012 Mazda CX-7
Is the 2012 Mazda CX-7 reliable?
Owners have filed 39 complaints about the 2012 Mazda CX-7, fewer than a typical CX-7 model year.
What is the 2012 Mazda CX-7 year score?
The 2012 Mazda CX-7 scores 84 out of 100 (good). 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 2012 Mazda CX-7?
Suspension, with 14 complaints. Next is airbags (12).
How many recalls does the 2012 Mazda CX-7 have?
4 recalls, covering air bags and suspension.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Mazda CX-7 suspension?
Yes, 1 recall: 16V593000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Mazda CX-7 have bad suspension?
The Mazda CX-7 model years with the most suspension complaints are 2007 (59 complaints), 2010 (52 complaints) and 2011 (51 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 2012 Mazda CX-7 get?
Official estimates for the 2012 Mazda CX-7 range from 19 to 22 mpg combined. The most efficient version (2.5L 4-cyl, FWD) gets 20 city and 27 highway.
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