2007 MAZDA CX-7 Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

I HAVE A 2007 MAZDA CX7, MY VEHICLE HAS 71,000 MILES I HAVE NOTICED A RATTLING NOISE FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS. I VISIT THREE MECHANICS AND ALL THREE MECHANICS ARE TELLING ME IT'S THE VVT TIMING CHAIN. THE COST THE REPAIR MY VEHICLE IS $3,000 TO $4,000 DOLLARS. I CONTACT THE MAZDA DEALER AND BECAUSE I HAVE NO WARRANTY I HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. SO I BEGIN TO DO MY RESEARCH ONLINE. I REALIZED THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF OTHER MAZDA CX7 OWNERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES AS I. WHAT A COINCIDENCE MAZDA HAS DISCONTINUED MANUFACTURING THE MAZDA CX7. THIS IS A MANUFACTURE ISSUE AND MAZDA NEEDS TO OWN UP FOR IT. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR VEHICLES DUE TO THIS VVT TIMING CHAIN ISSUE AND MAZDA NEEDS TO MAKE THIS A RE-CALL. I KNOW ONE THING I HOPE AND PRAY NOTHING HAPPENS TO...

VEHICLE STALLED IN SAMS CLUB PARKING LOT. IT DID RESTART BUT STARTED MAKING A RUBBING OR GRINDING NOISE. TURNS OUT THE AC COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP. ACCORDING TO INTERNET POSTINGS IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 2007/2008 MODELS. APPARENTLY IT WAS ADDRESSED FOR 2009 MODEL. I'VE RAN 7 OR 8 VEHICLES FOR 200,000 PLUS MILES AND HAVE YET TO HAVE A COMPRESSOR GO OUT UNTIL THIS KNOW ANOMALY. WHERE IS THE RESOLUTION FROM MAZDA? *TR

I WAS DRIVING 60 MPH IN THE FREEWAY SUDDENLY I SMELLED BURN RUBBER INSIDE THE CABIN AND I HEARD A LOUD NOISE CAME FROM THE ENGINE, AFTER A FEW MINUTES THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS BROKE. I FOUND OUT THE AC COMPRESSOR LOCK-UP. I WAS LUCKY THERE IS NO INCIDENT HAPPEN. HOPE THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS CONCERN. *TR

AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR FAILED AND STARTED SMOKING AND RATTLING WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE AC COMPRESSOR WAS CLOSE TO DETACHING COMPLETELY AND COULD HAVE CAUSED EVEN GREATER DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IF I CONTINUED DRIVING. *TR

CAR DID NOT WANT TO MOVE AND WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT TAIL PIPE WAS IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. *TR

TIMING CHAIN STRETCHED AND VARIABLE VALVE TIMING, AND THROTTLE WENT OUT. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAS BEEN STRETCHED OUT ON THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS AT AROUND 64000 MILES. THE 2ND INCIDENT WAS AT 124966 MILES. MAZDA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE TIMING TO 70,000 MILES ON JANUARY 12. HOWEVER, I DID NOT GET THAT LETTER AND IT HAPPENED AFTER I HAD ALREADY GOTTEN THE PROBLEM REPAIRED UNDER A SEPARATE WARRANTY. *TR

COMPRESSOR KIT WAS ALREADY HAVING ISSUES WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN STOPPED TO FUEL UP, THE CAR WOULD NOT START AS THE PULLEY ON THE COMPRESSOR KIT WAS CATCHING AND NOT TURNING CORRECTLY TO START THE IGNITION. THE CAR IS ONLY A 2007 AND ONLY HAD 60,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

STARTED SMELLING STRONG BURNING RUBBER ODOR EMANATING THROUGH VENTS OF CAR WHILE IN OPERATION, EXITED HIGHWAY UPON SEEING WHITE SMOKE FUMING FROM UNDER HOOD. LOSS CONTROL OF STEERING AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT CRANK AGAIN. MECHANIC DETERMINED AC COMPRESSOR HAS SEIZED AND SERPENTINE BELT WAS SNAPPED DUE TO FRICTION FROM PULLEYS. IF I HAD STAYED ON FREEWAY INSTEAD OF EXITING, WITH THE LOST OF STEERING I SURELY WOULD HAVE POSED A DANGER TO MYSELF AS WELL AS OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THIS COMPLAINT IS ONE OF NUMEROUS THOUSANDS THAT HAVE BEEN FILED ON BEHALF OF MAZDA AND ITS CX-7 MODEL. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUED FOR THE AC COMPRESSOR BEFORE IT CAUSES SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR FATALITY. *TR

IN NOVEMBER OF 2012 MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING HOME FROM SEATTLE, WA TO SAN DIEGO, CA. WHEN WE WERE DRIVING WE SMELLED BURNING RUBBER SO PULLED OVER TO SEE IF WE COULD SEE SOMETHING WRONG UNDER THE HOOD. SINCE IT WAS 10PM AND DARK OUTSIDE WE COULDN'T SEE ANYTHING AND DECIDED TO FIND THE NEAREST HOTEL TO STAY AT UNTIL WE COULD TAKE IT TO A SHOP. AFTER WE STARTED DRIVING WE SAW THERE WAS A FREEWAY EXIT 1/2 A MILE AWAY SO MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING REALLY SLOW(ABOUT 35MPH) HOPING WE COULD MAKE IT WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A HUGE JERKING MOTION THAT FELT LIKE WE RAN INTO SOMETHING EVEN THOUGH WE DIDN'T. WE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY AND GOT A TOW TRUCK. IT ENDED UP BEING THE AC COMPRESSOR AND SERPENTINE BELT THAT NEEDED REPLACED, ALTHOUGH MAZDA WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AS THEY...

I STARTED THE CAR, LIKE I REGULARLY DO AND THE ENGINE/TIMING CHAIN MADE A HORRIBLE SOUND THAT GOT ME VERY WORRIED SINCE THIS CAR IS TAKING CARE VERY GOOD SINCE ITS THE ONLY CAR IN THE HOUSEHOLD. I CONTACTED MAZDA AND THEY SAID THE CAR HAD A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR A L3T ENGINE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING NOISE AND TIMING CHAIN NOISE WHICH IS CAUSE BY " ACTUAL FAILURE DUE TO DEFECTS IN WORKMANSHIP OR MATERIALS IN ACCORDANCE WITH MAZDA WARRANTY POLICY AND PROCEDURES. THIS WARRANTY EXTENSION WAS FOR 70,000MILES OR 7 SEVEN YEARS WHICH EVER CAME FIRST, SO MY CAR WAS NOT COVER SINCE IT HAD 101,000. MY CONCERN AND DISAPPOINTMENT IS THAT AFTER SEARCHING AND TAKING TO OTHER CX-7 OWNERS THE (2007-08) MODELS ALL HAD ISSUES WITH THIS AND MAZDA DID NOT MADE A RECALL JUST EXTENDED THE WARRANTY. CARS WITH MILEAGE OF AS LOW AS 24,000 WERE AFFECTED...

I WANTED TO REPORT A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE 2007 MAZDA CX-7. THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE AC COMPRESSOR AND INSTEAD OF DOING A RECALL ON THE PRODUCT THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 5 YEARS OR 60,000 MILES (INSTEAD OF 32,000 MILES). I BOUGHT MY CAR RIGHT AROUND THE TIME THEY SENT THESE LETTERS OUT, SO WAS UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON. RECENTLY I WAS DRIVING THE MAZDA AND I SMELLED SMOKE. I SAW SOME SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND WHEN I PULLED OVER AND OPENED THE HOOD THE AC COMPRESSOR WAS ON FIRE. HAD I NOT BEEN PULLING INTO WORK AND ON THE HIGHWAY I WOULD?VE BEEN IN WORSE SHAPE. IT WAS SCARY CONSIDERING IT WAS NEXT TO THE ENGINE WHICH HAS OIL, FUEL, ETC...GOING THROUGH IT. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE AC COMPRESSOR UNTIL ALL OF...

MY 2007 CX-7 EXPERIENCED A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE A/C COMPRESSOR RESULTING IN SMOKE IN THE CABIN. AFTER PARKING TO ALLOW THE CAR TO CLEAR IT WOULD NOT RE-START AND I HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THIS OCCURRED LATE ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND SO THEY WERE CLOSED UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MONDAY. THE POTENTIAL FAILURE WAS KNOWN AND MAZDA HAD ISSUED A LETTER EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THIS ITEM BUT NOT A FULL RECALL. THE DEALER INSTALLED NEW PARTS BUT SINCE THEN IT HAS BEEN BACK SEVERAL TIMES BECAUSE OF LACK OF PERFORMANCE. I HAVE RECEIVED EXPLANATIONS OF TOO MUCH/TOO LITTLE REFRIGERANT BLOCK DLINES WITH PARTICLES FROM THE ORIGINAL FAILURE. AFTER THE THIRD RETURN VISIT IN JUNE 2012 THE PROBLEM APPEARED TO BE FIXED AND THE SYSTEM WORKED UNTIL LAST WEEK SO I SCHEDULED ANOTHER VISIT. THE PROBLEM HAS NOW BEING DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED HOSE FITTING...

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICAL STARTED TO MAKE NOISE TOOK IT TO FIRST MECHANIC SHOP NEAR BYE AND THEY TOLD USE THE AC COMPRESSOR WAS FAILING BUT IT WOULD BE OK THEN ON THE WAY BACK HOME THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE FROM THE COMPRESSOR BECAUSE THE CLUTCH HAD SEIZED UP WE PULLED OVER OTHERWISE IM SURE WE WOULD HAVE BROKEN THE BELT CAUSEING MORE DAMAGE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK 8/23/12, MY HUSBAND NOTICED THAT THE A/C WAS NOT COOLING AND THAT THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A SQUEALING NOISE. HE STATED THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR WAS FAILING. FORTUNATELY FOR US, HE MADE IT HOME SAFELY. IF IT FAILED COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR (OR HE) COULD HAVE DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE.WE HAD RECEIVED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICE FOR THE A/C COMPRESSOR. SO, WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP/SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR REPAIR. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT WE HAD JUST EXCEEDED OUR WARRANTY COVERAGE. OUR VEHICLE TURNED 5 YEARS OLD ON 6/30/12 AND HAS 60,598 MILES. HE STATED THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO CONTACT THE MAZDA CORPORATE OFFICE TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE. THE CORPORATE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT OUR DEALERSHIP AND TAKE THE MATTER UNDER REVIEW. SHE STATED THAT IF THEY DENIED THE CLAIM THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE AT MAZDA...

I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY HOME ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AC WAS NOT COLD. WHEN WE GOT HOME THE BELT WAS SMOKING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WE RECENTLY BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A GMC DEALERSHIP AT JUST UNDER 39K MILES. ONLY OWNED THE CAR FOR MAYBE 4 MONTHS. TURNS OUT THE CAR NEEDED A WHOLE NEW COMPRESSOR FOR OVER $800. THE COMPRESSOR HAD LOCKED UP. I FIND THIS VERY CRAZY THAT A CAR WITH SUCH LITTLE MILEAGE WOULD HAVE SUCH A BIG PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. READING UP ONLINE I HAVE NOTICED THE 2007 MODELS HAVE HAD AC COMPRESSOR ISSUES. *TR

AFTER OWNING OUR 2007 MAZDA CX-7 FOR OVER 5 YEARS, WE RECEIVED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY NOTICE THAT THE TIMING CHAIN WAS DEFECTIVE AND AT RISK OF BREAKING. HAVING NOTICED A SLIGHT TICKING NOISE ALREADY, WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. THEY EXAMINED IT AND NOTIFIED US THAT EVEN THOUGH OUR CAR WAS 5 YEARS OLD AND AT RISK OF FAILURE DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECTIVE PART, THE WARRANTY WAS ONLY EXTENDED TO 70,000 MILES AND MAZDA WOULD NOT COVER ANY COSTS SINCE OUR ODOMETER WAS AT 80,000. I WENT HOME, DID SOME ONLINE RESEARCH, AND DISCOVERED THAT OUR YEAR AND MAKE OF VEHICLE ALSO HAD A TSB FROM MAZDA FOR A DEFECTIVE TIMING VVT ACTUATOR THAT COULD CAUSE THE SAME CLICKING SOUND. WE HAD NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS BY MAZDA OR THE DEALERSHIP. I CALLED MAZDA CUSTOMER CARE IMMEDIATELY AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT...

WE HAVE A MAZDA CX7, 2007, THAT WE PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN APRIL 2007. WE HAVE HAD ALL OIL, FILTER AND OTHER SERVICES BY OUR LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP IN ACCORDANCE TO MAZDA GUIDELINES. RECENTLY WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH DOWN INTERSTATE 81 WITH OUR 10 YEAR OLD SON IN THE CAR, OUR MAZDA STOPPED WORKING. LUCKY FOR US WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF OF THE ROAD AND CALL A TOW TRUCK, WHO TOOK US TO A LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP WHERE WE HAD TO LEAVE THE CAR UNTIL MONDAY (IT WAS A SATURDAY AFTERNOON) AND FIND OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION HOME (70 MILES AWAY) ON MONDAY MORNING MY HUSBAND RECEIVED A CALL FROM MAZDA STATING THAT OUR VVT PLUG CAME APART CAUSING THE ENGINE TO JUMP TIME AND THAT WE COULD PAY TO HAVE A VVA KIT ORDERED AND INSTALLED TO SEE IF IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM, AT A COST...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA CX7. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FAULTY VARIABLE VALVE TIMING WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER MAILED A NOTIFICATION, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT OF THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING WOULD BE FREE OF CHARGE; HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS INELIGIBLE BECAUSE IT EXCEEDED THE 70,000 MILEAGE REQUIREMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

I WAS HEADING WEST OUT OF DENVER ON INTERSTATE 70 WHEN MY CAR COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE ENGINE SHUT OFF. I WAS IN THE LEFT (PASSING) LANE AND WAS FORTUNATELY ABLE TO PULL INTO THE MEDIAN TO AVOID A CRASH AT HIGH SPEEDS. MY FOUR-MONTH OLD SON WAS IN THE BACK SEAT SO I WAS SHAKEN AND FRIGHTENED FOR HIS SAFETY, AND UNABLE TO RE-START THE VEHICLE. WE WERE STRANDED THERE FOR AN HOUR WAITING FOR A TOW-TRUCK WITH OTHER CARS PUSHING PAST US AT VERY HIGH SPEEDS. TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF MAZDA. THE COMPANY DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR VEHICLES--INSTEAD THEY ARE DISCONTINUING THE CX-7 B/C OF IT'S POOR ENGINEERING. THEY ALSO OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS ISSUE (UP TO 70,000 MILES SO MY CAR IS NOT COVERED.) IF THEY WERE A RESPONSIBLE COMPANY THEY SHOULD...

I OWN A 2007 MAZDA CX-7, WHICH I PURCHASED IN NOV. 2006, BRAND NEW. OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS, I HAVE HEARD A TAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. TWICE IN THE PAST 9 MONTHS, THE VEHICLE LOST COMPLETE POWER. I ASKED MAZDA TO CHECK THE VEHICLE AND THEY STATED THAT IT WAS COMMON, NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. IN JANUARY OF 2012, I RECEIVED A SAFETY NOTICE FROM MAZDA IN REGARDS TO A POSSIBLE DEFECT PART, V.V.T. COMPONENT AND A LOOSE TIMING CHAIN. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE MAZDA DEALERSHIP, WHO ADVISED ME THAT MY VEHICLE CONTAINED THIS DEFECTIVE PART, BUT STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENT DUE TO THE LACK OF RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES AND OTHER MAINTENANCE RECORDS. THE REASON FOR THE LACK OF RECEIPTS IS BECAUSE MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, WHO IS A MECHANIC, PERFORMED THE OIL CHANGES AND...

VEHICLE HAS A DEFECTIVE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING ACTUATOR (AS PER THE MANUFACTURERS CAMPAIGN LETTER) THAT CAUSES A NOISE AT START UP AND A LOOSE TIMING CHAIN. THAT FIRST PHASE OF THE FAILURE HAS ALREADY OCCURRED. THE NEXT STAGE OF THE FAILURE WHICH HASN'T HAPPENED TO ME YET (BUT HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED BY OTHERS) IS THAT THE VVT ACTUATOR EVENTUALLY BECOMES DISLODGED FROM ITS PIN AND AS A RESULT, THE TIMING CHAIN BREAKS, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SEIZE INSTANTLY, CAUSING AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE FROM THE DRIVER TO ATTEMPT TO GET OUT OF THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, WITHOUT WARNING, WITHIN SECONDS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON THE NJ TURNPIKE, RT. 295, RT 195, ETC IN CENTRAL NJ AND WHEN THE FAILURE AS DESCRIBED ABOVE OCCURS WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON BUSY ROADWAYS, THERE IS A HIGH PROBABILITY OF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE, OR...

MAZDA SENT INFORMATION REGARDING AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE VVT ACTUATOR/TIMING CHAIN FOR 70,000 MILES OR 7 YEARS OF AGE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, LITERALLY DAYS AFTER RECEIVING THIS MAILING, AND WAS INFORMED THAT I NEEDED THIS REPAIRED ON MY VEHICLE. MY CAR WAS AROUND 15,000 MILES OVER THE LIMIT BUT WITHIN THE 7 YEAR TIME FRAME. AFTER CALLING THE CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE, MAZDA INSISTED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO SINCE I WAS OVER THE MILEAGE CAP. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT NO MATTER HOW MANY MILES ARE ON THE VEHICLE. TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, I WILL HAVE TO PAY OVER $1,500. WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS? A REPUTABLE COMPANY WOULD FIX THIS DEFECT ON ALL VEHICLES AFFECTED. *TR

I HAVE ONLY OWNED MY MAZDA CX-7 FOR 6 MONTHS BEFORE THE TURBO WENT ON MY CAR. THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE MAZDA DEALER REPORTED SLUDGE BUILD UP AND AS A RESULT THE TURBO FAILED. NO ONE WILL COVER THE WORK AS I LACK APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE RECORDS ON THE CAR (SINCE I'VE ONLY OWNED IT LONG ENOUGH TO MAKE 5 MAPYMENTS). *TR

ENGINE RATTLING DUE TO STRETCHED TIMING CHAIN NHTSA# 10039251. *TR

THE TIMING CHAIN IN THIS VEHICLE BROKE WHILE UNDER POWER. WE RECENTLY RECEIVED A VOLUNTARY WARRANTY EXTENSION NOTICE (MAZDA CALLS IT A SPECIAL SERVICE PROGRAM) THAT INDICATED THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE IN THE VEHICLE, SPECIFICALLY ELEMENTS RELATED TO THE TIMING CHAIN AND VARIABLE VALVE TIMING. OUR CAR ALWAYS RATTLED AT STARTUP FROM THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT, THAT WAS OUR NORMAL EXPERIENCE AND EXPECTATION FOR WHAT THE CAR WAS SUPPOSED TO SOUND LIKE. WE NEVER KNEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM UNTIL A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, AND COME TO FIND OUT, OUR CAR HAD PASSED THE EXTENDED COVERAGE PERIOD PROVIDED BY MAZDA ANYWAY. IT IS AND WILL BE OUR CONTENTION THAT THERE IS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW IN THE MOTOR OF THIS VEHICLE. WHILE OUR EXPERIENCE IS THAT THE CAR FAILED AT 83K MILES, MANY HAVE FAILED SOONER, AND OTHER MAZDA PRODUCTS USING THE SAME MOTOR...

OUR 2007 MAZDA CX7 SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND I WAS FORCED TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN THE CENTER MEDIAN OF THE HIGHWAY, AS I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT DUE TO OTHER TRAFFIC. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A BROKEN PIN ON THE VARIABLE VALVE TIME ACTUATOR (VVT). THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE (NO WARNING LIGHTS) PRIOR TO THE ENGINE STOPPING. DEALERSHIP HAS INDICATED THAT COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS RECOMMENDED BY MAZDA. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE IS AWAITING ARRIVAL OF AN ADJUSTER FROM EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY TO SEE IF REPAIRS/REPLACEMENT WILL BE COVERED. ADDITIONAL ONLINE RESEARCH HAS INDICATED THAT THIS IS A WELL-DOCUMENT AND FREQUENTLY OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE, YET MANUFACTURER HAS NEGLECTED TO INITIATE A FULL RECALL. RATHER THEY ISSUED A "SERVICE BULLETIN" (#01-002/08) THAT ADDRESSES A VVT NOISE WHEN STARTING ENGINE....

ON 2/11/2012 WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 70 MILES PER HOUR MY MAZDA CX-7'S ENGINE LOST ALL POWER. LUCKILY WE WERE ABLE TO AVOID HAVING AN ACCIDENT AND MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH FAILURE OF THE TURBO SYSTEM AND TIMING CHAIN (A VERY SERIOUS AND RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL). MAZDA HAS EXTENDED THEIR WARRANTIES BUT IS DENYING CLAIM CITING OIL SLUDGE BUILDUP EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED PER THE OWNER'S MANUAL. MAZDA IS DENYING FAULT WITH THE ENGINE AND SADDLING ME WITH A BILL OF OVER THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX IT. THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN SIX YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000 MILES ON IT. MAZDA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODELS ENGINE AND THE FACT THAT IT COOKS THE ENGINE OIL LONG AFTER PARKING. *TR

RECEIVED WARRANTY EXTENSION PROGRAM SSP87 LETTER TO HANDLE VARIABLE VALUE TIMING ACTUATOR FIX. EXTENDS WARRANTY TO 84 MONTHS OR 70000 MILES. MY CAR HAS 74,000 MILES AND HAS SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN SSP. WAS TOLD BY BOTH THE DEALER ( TURNERSVILLE MAZDA IN TURNERSVILLE NJ ) AND MAZDA NORTH AMERICA THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO HELP ME. I OFFERED TO PAY PART OF THE REPAIR IF THEY WOULD WORK WITH ME, BOTH DEALER AND MAZDA NA HAD NO INTEREST. CARE DOES FUNCTION OK NOW BUT I WILL NOT DRIVE IT ANYMORE UNTIL I CAN GET IT FIXED. I WILL ALSO BE LOGGING A COMPLAINT WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND CONTACTING THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND POSSIBLY A SMALL CLAIMS COURT CASE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A COMMON PROBLEM AND MAZDA NA SEEMS TO SHOW NO INTEREST IN STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 MAZDA CX7 THAT HAS A BROKEN VVT TIMING SYSTEM. THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE AND THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CAR CURRENTLY HAS 74,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH MAZDA AND THEY ARE NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. THIS IS DEVASTATING AS A CONSUMER TO NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT OF MAZDA ON A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THEIR VEHICLE. I AM REQUESTING THAT SOMETHING BE DONE SO THAT MAZDA TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DEFECT AND COMPENSATES MAZDA CX7 OWNERS FOR THESE EXPENSIVE REPAIRS! *TR

VVT ACTUATOR BROKE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. AFTER INSPECTING WE REALIZED THE BROKEN PART CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE MOTOR CAUSING A COMPLETE MOTOR REPLACEMENT NECESSARY. WE CONTACTED THE MAZDA DEALER IN OUR AREA WHO TOLD US MAZDA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH 2007 CX-7 AND ARE IGNORING THE PROBLEM, THEY TOLD US IT WASN'T WORTH FIXING. WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE A YEAR AGO AND STILL OWE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF MONEY, NOW WE CAN'T TRADE IT OFF AND ARE HAVING TO PAY PAYMENTS ON A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. MAZDA RECENTLY VOLUNTARILY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO COVER THIS DEFECTIVE PART BUT PUT THE CUTOFF AT 70,000 MILES, THE THING DOESN'T BREAK UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 80,000 OR MORE. I CONTACTED MAZDA AND ASKED FOR HELP AND WAS TOLD TOO BAD. *TR

THE ENGINE HAS TWO FAULTY PARTS. V.V.T. ACTUATOR AND TURBO. THEY ADMIT BAD DESIGN, BUT ONLY WARRANTY IT TO 70K. THEY ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO GET OUT OF THIS REPAIR WHEN THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT PART OF THEIR DESIGN IS FAILING. TOTAL ENGINE DAMAGE WHEN PARTS FAIL. THIS NEEDS ATTENTION AS CONSUMERS ARE BEING RIPPED OFF AND PUT IN DANGER. SAME ENGINE IN MAZDA 3 AND 6. *TR

THIS VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PURCHASED USED BY ME DAUGHTER, SINCE THE FAILURE MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT IT, I REPLACED THE FAULTY TURBO CHARGER AND IT IS NOW BACK IN SERVICE. THOUGH MY WIFE HAS VERY LIMITED FAITH IN THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE ISSUE IS THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MAZDA, THE DEALERSHIP MECHANICS/SERVICE MGR STATED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF OVER $8000.00. BEING A MECHANIC MYSELF I KNEW THAT THE ENGINE RAN EXCEPTIONALLY WELL BUT THAT THE TURBO HAD A BURNED UP CARTRIDGE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IN DOING THE WORK I REALIZED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE ROUTING OF OIL TUBING CREATED THE FAILURE OF THE TURBO. ALSO, THE FACT THAT MAZDA DOES NOT INDICATE THAT THEIR (ANY) TURBO CHARGED GASOLINE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE IDLED TO COOL THE TURBO ASSEMBLY AFTER DRIVING BEFORE SHUTTING OFF THE...

TURBO PROBLEMS IN MY MAZDA CX-7. REPLACED FIRST TURBO IN OCTOBER 2010 TOTAL $$ 4500.00. NOW MY TURBO HAS FAILED FOR THE 2ND TIME IN JANUARY 2012. I HAVE ALL MY RECEIPTS FOR OIL CHANGES, BUT JUST LIKE ALL THE OTHER POSTS THAT YOU READ FROM OTHER MAZDA CX-7 OWNERS, MAZDA FINDS A REASON TO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY THAT THEY ACTUALLY BUILT A CAR THAT HAS A MAJOR DEFECT. I'VE READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THE CX-7 TURBO'S THAT I CAN'T EVEN KEEP UP WITH THEM ALL. MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY HAVE REPLACED AT LEAST 50 TURBOS IN THE CX-7'S IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE. ALSO SAID IT IS SOMETHING WITH A DEFECT IN THE LINES THAT CLOG. SAD THAT A CORPORATION LIKE THAT GETS AWAY WITH RIPPING OFF THE HARD WORKING CONSUMER. I WILL NEVER BUY A MAZDA AGAIN. *TR

THE 2.3 LITER 4 CYLINDER L3T ENGINE THAT IS IN MY WIFE'S 2007 MAZDA CX-7 HAS A BAD VARIABLE VALVE TIMING ACTUATOR WHICH WAS VERIFIED TODAY BY DUAL MAZDA OF JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA. A WARRANTY EXTENSION WAS ISSUED BY MAZDA AROUND THE 14TH OF JANUARY 2012 FOLLOWING THE INITIAL TSB (TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN) DATE 23 FEBRUARY 2011. MY CONCERN IS NOT THAT MAZDA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED AN INTERNAL ENGINE PART AS BEING FAULTY, BUT THAT THE PART STATED IN THE WARRANTY EXTENSION COULD POSSIBLY MAKE THE TIMING CHAIN GO BAD. MAZDA DID NOT COVER HOW, WHEN, WHAT RPM RANGE, ENGINE LOAD, OR MOST IMPORTANTLY WHAT SPEED THIS MIGHT HAPPEN IF THE ACTUATOR IS NOT REPLACED. THE LAST THING ANYONE WANTS IS THEIR ENGINE TIMING GOING OUT...AT ANY SPEED OR AT ANYTIME WHILE MOVING IN A MOTOR VEHICLE, CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WILL SURELY FOLLOW. I FEEL THAT THESE FAULTY VARIABLE VALVE TIMING ACTUATORS...

COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE AT 75,287 MILES. ENTIRE ENGINE IS BURNED UP, OIL CHANGED REGULARLY, NO OIL LEAKS, TURBO SENSOR REPLACED IN APRIL 2011 BY DEALER UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, ENGINE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY IN DECEMBER 2011, CITED LACK OF MAINTENANCE EVEN WITH RECEIPTS OF OIL CHANGES. AFTER RESEARCHING ISSUE, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN MAZDA CX7'S, AND ENGINE FAILURE HAS BEEN REPORTED IN OVER 2000 CASES. NOT ONLY IS THE CONDITION DANGEROUS, AS THE VEHICLE JUST STOPS RUNNING WITHOUT APPROPRIATE WARNING LIGHTS, MODERN CARS DO NOT USUALLY NEED A NEW ENGINE AT LOWER MILEAGE. MAZDA HAS SENT NO NOTICES OR LETTERS STATING THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL, AND HAS NOT RECOMMENDED USING SYNTHETIC OIL OR MORE FREQUENT OIL CHANGES. *TR

FAILURE OF AC CLUTCH INTERFERENCE WITH BELTS CREATING SMOKE AND BURNING OF BELTS AND INTERNAL SYSTEMS. *KB

ON 12/19/11, I WAS DRIVING APPX. 60 - 65 MPH ON I-81 WHEN MY 2007 MAZDA CX-7 JUST SHUT OFF. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE, WITH A LARGE TRACTOR TRAILER BEHIND ME, BUT I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER MY CAR ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE. MY CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I DID QUITE A BIT OF RESEARCH ON LINE REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE AND FOUND A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF CLAIMS FROM OTHER PEOPLE THAT HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN TO THEIR 2007 MAZDA CX7. THE FINAL DIAGNOSIS IS TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE WITH A PRICE TAG OF $7200 TO FIX. THAT WOULD BE FOR A WHOLE NEW ENGINE. I FOUND A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM JANUARY OF 2008 THAT CORPORATE MAZDA SENT OUT TO THEIR DEALERS RE: A PROBLEM WITH THE TIMING CHAIN. THE BULLETIN SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIES A SERIES OF VIN#'S AFFECTED, AND MINE...

DEALERSHIP MAINTAINED CX-7 EXPERIENCED MAJOR FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE DIED AND MAJOR OIL LEAK WAS NOTICED. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP FIRST INDICATED THAT THERE WAS SOME TYPE OF FAILURE REGARDING THE #3 CYLINDER. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DUE TO TURBO OVERHEATING. LATER THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE #4 PISTON FAILED AND CAUSED CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS NEVER DETERMINED. THE ENGINE, TURBOCHARGER, THERMOSTAT, EGR VALVE, INTAKE MANIFOLD, STARTER AND O2 SENSOR WERE REPLACED. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS (LABOR, PARTS, AND MISC CHARGES) PRIOR TO TAX WAS $10,557.49. PRIOR TO ENGINE FAILURE WE INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS CONSTANTLY ON BUT STATED THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE GAS CAP NOT BEING PROPERLY PUT ON. THEY NEVER SCANNED THE COMPUTER DESPITE THE CAR BEING UNDER WARRANTY. ADDITIONALLY A TICKING NOISE HAS...

ENGINE CEASED ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. MAZDA SAYS IT IS MY FAULT FOR GOING 2000 MILES OVER THE OIL CHANGE. HOWEVER, OIL LIGHT NEVER CAME ON; CAR WAS NOT DRIVING ANY DIFFERENTLY THAN NORMAL; AND NO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. EVEN THOUGH CAR IS UNDER WARRANTY, MAZDA IS REFUSING TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE. IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT A WELL-MAINTAINED CARD WITH A LITTLE OVER 50K MILES WILL CEASE IT ENGINE BECAUSE OF 2000 MILES OVER AN OIL CHANGE. *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS CAUSED ME NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS! I HAVE HAD IT FOR 3 YEARS AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES AND THIS LAST TIME IS THE TRANSMISSION AT 70,000 MILES! THIS IS RIDICULOUS...MAZDA NEEDS TO CLEAN UP IT'S ACT. CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE CHARGES LIKE THIS EARLY ON IN THE LIFE OF A VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS GORGEOUS BUT PERHAPS THEY SHOULD HAVE SPENT A LITTLE MORE TIME PUTTING IT TOGETHER AS IT DOESN'T MATTER FOR EYE APPEALING IT IS WHEN IT DOESN'T RUN! *TR

JUST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FOR MY MOM AS A PRESENT BECAUSE SHE HAS WANTED ONE SINCE THEY CAME OUT. IT HAS 81,000 MILES ON IT. THE VVT HAS GONE OUT, THE TIMING CHAIN NEEDS REPLACED AND NOW THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT THE ENGINE IS SHOT BECAUSE OF THE SLUDGE AND THE NEGLECTED CARE TO THE VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED SO I DO NOT KNOW HOW IT WAS CARED FOR PREVIOUSLY, BUT SINCE WE HAVE HAD IT, IT HAS BEEN CARED FOR MAGNIFICENTLY. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS CONSUMER REPORTS WHICH STATED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS IM HAVING. I'M GETTING QUOTED OVER $7,500 TO FIX THE VEHICLE THAT I PURCHASED NOT EVEN 2 MONTHS AGO. MAZDA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS. *TR

TIMING VALVE REPLACED AT 34,951 MILES, THEN ENGINE REPLACED AT 41,060 MILES ON JULY 24, 2008. *TR

MY CAR (WHICH I BOUGHT IN AUG. OF 2010) STARTED MAKING A LOUD TAPPING NOISE AND 2 DAYS LATER IT JUST QUIT ON ME, I WAS PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT WERE I WORK SO THANK GOD I WASN'T ON A MAJOR STREET OR ANYTHING BECAUSE IT JUST TURNED OFF OUT OF THE BLUE. I HAD TO GET HELP TO PUSH IT IN A PARKING SPACE AND IT'S BEEN SITTING THERE FOR THE LAST WEEK BECAUSE I HAVE NO MONEY TO GO FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED NOW SO I'M NOT SURE OF WHAT TO DO SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING THING WITH THESE CARS, NOT JUST MINE. *TR

BOUGHT MY 2007 MAZDA CX7 WITH 76000 MILES NOT EVEN KIDDING BUT 12HRS LATER MY MOTOR MOUNT AND THE VVT WENT OUT. A MONTH LATER RADIATOR CRACKED AND NOW IT HAD A BAD OIL LEAK AND LOUD KNOCKIN NOISE IT SOUNDS LIKE AN OLD TRUCK VERY BUMPED OUT I HAVE ONLY HAD IT FOR FIVE MONTHS. *TR

BOUGHT CAR 4 MONTHS AGO, 61K MILES, AT 64K MILES CAR TURNED OFF ON HIGHWAY, HAD THE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED AND THE TIMING CHAIN BROKE, AND NOW CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE AT 64K MILES AND MAZDA WILL NOT COVER DUE TO OUT OF WARRANTY. *KB

THE POWER TRAIN (TIMING CHAIN) FAILED IN LESS THAN 4 YEARS , 47,000 MILES --ONE OWNER WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE. *TR

DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN IT MAKES A LOUD SQUEALING SOUND AND SHORTLY THEREAFTER BEGINS TO SMOKE. AIR CONDITIONING HAD QUIT WORKING THE DAY BEFORE. HAVE BEEN TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THE A/C COMPRESSOR "TOOK A CRAP" AND THE CLUTCH LOCKED UP, FURTHERMORE THIS CAUSED ALL OF THE FLUIDS TO LEAK OUT OF THE BEARINGS. BASICALLY, A WORST CASE SCENARIO. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN MAY OF 2010 AT 24,000 MILES AND AFTER SEEING THESE COMPLAINTS, I WONDER IF THE DEALERSHIP I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM KNEW ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS WHEN I MADE THE PURCHASE. THE MECHANIC IS WORKING HARD TO FIND THE BEST PRICED COMPRESSOR KIT FOR REPLACEMENT AND OFFERED TO RUN MY VIN THRU A LOCAL MAZDA DEALERSHIP TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL I WASN'T TOLD ABOUT. EITHER WAY, I AM OUT ALOT OF MONEY UP FRONT; THANK GOODNESS THERE ARE STILL GOOD INDEPENDENT MECHANICS OUT THERE....

SMOKE AND RATTLING AND LOW OIL PROMPTED ME TO MAKE AN APT AT MY LOCAL MAZDA DEALER ONLY TO FIND THAT MY TURBO HAS BLOWN AND MY VVT VALVE AND TIMING CHAIN. (THE TRUCK IS A 2007) I WAS TOLD THAT I SHOULD NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK AS IT WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH 2 KIDS. SO AFTER MY QUOTE OF 7000.00 TO FIX THE TRUCK I THOUGHT I WOULD DO SOME RESEARCH ONLINE ONLY TO FIND THAT THERE ARE AS MANY AS 50 PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE SAME TRUCK WITH THE SAME YEAR~!! WHY WONT MAZDA STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCT AND PUT OUT A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS ISSUE? I WAS TOLD TO FIND THIS SITE AND LODGE MY COMPLAINT. HOPE THIS WILL DO SOME GOOD !! *TR

THE AC COMPRESSOR ON THE VEHICLE SEIZED CAUSING SMOKE AND SPARKS TO COME OFF OF THE BELT. THE AC COMPRESSOR AND THE BELT BOTH NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

PURCHASED MY VEHICLE 15 MONTHS AGO AT 38,000 MILES. IN OCTOBER, I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND THE CAR STOPPED RUNNING. NO WARNING, NOTHING ON THE DASH LIGHTING UP, THE VEHICLE JUST STARTED LOOSING SPEED. THE STEERING WAS GOING AS WELL. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO TRY AND GET THE STEERING BACK AND IT WAS A HARD STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TRIED STARTING THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD TURN BUT NOT START. TWO TOWS LATER, I FIND, TO MY SURPRISE AT 62,000, THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE. MY TIMING CHAIN EITHER BROKE OR HAS DERAILED. THIS ALL HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 22ND. IT IS NOW NOVEMBER 10TH AND I STILL DO NOT HAVE AN EXACT DIAGNOSIS NOR A VEHICLE. YES, WARRANTY IS DONE AT 60,000 MILES, BUT WHAT VEHICLES LOOSE AND ENGINE AT 62,000 IN THIS DECADE? AND, THANKFULLY, I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY...