Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA about the 2012 Mazda CX-7, and it carries 4 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 9 | 23% |
| Air bags | 5 | 13% |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 10% |
| Suspension | 3 | 8% |
| Steering | 2 | 5% |
| Structure | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
| Air bags | 1 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
No matter the bulbs I use, the headlights are always dim. This is incredibly unsafe for night driving.
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
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.
NHTSA complaint: Structure
The headlights are too dim for safe night driving. Bulbs also fail yearly. This is a common problem reported with 2012 MAZDA CX7
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
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 LIGH
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
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
NHTSA complaint: Exterior lighting
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
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
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 NO
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
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
NHTSA complaint: Fuel/propulsion system
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2012 Mazda CX-7. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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),
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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 custome
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 deg
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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
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 (Sa
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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,
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
Risk: A loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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
| Reliability raw | 74 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 80 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 69 | good |
| Performance | 50 | average |
| Efficiency | 41 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and suspension is the most reported area with 9 of them (23%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 74/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2012 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.