RoadVitals

2007 Mazda CX-7 Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Apr 3, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
2%
of 528 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2007 Mazda CX-7 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 3, 2025

The headlights are horrible for night time driving. The low beam lights are nearly invisible, which leaves you no choice but to drive with high beam lights and still poses a serious safety risk. Vehicle was taken to dealership and asked if there had been any recalls on the headlights because they’re very dangerous, can’t see anything at night.

NHTSA ID
11652659
Incident
Jul 10, 2024
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 27, 2021

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE COMPLETELY INADEQUATE FOR NIGHT DRIVING. THEY DO NOT PROJECT ANY WHERE NEAR ENOUGH LIGHT TO SEE IN UNLIT AREAS WHERE YOU CANNOT USE HIGH BEAMS. THE LIGHT IS YELLOW NO MATTER WHAT BULB YOU USE AND DOES NOT PROJECT DOWN ROAD AT ALL.

NHTSA ID
11405150
Incident
Jun 23, 2018
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 15, 2019

HAPPEN 2 DAYS AGO WHILE DRIVING I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL OF PLASTIC INSIDE THE CABIN AND UPON INSPECTION I TRACED IT AT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS. THE BULBS GETS TO HOT AND MELTING THE PLASTIC INSIDE THE HOUSING OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THIS CAR HAS A CLEAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND SINCE IT'S BURNING THE LENS IS BECOMING SMOKY. I THINK IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT THIS BULB CAN CAUSE A FIRE IN THE FUTURE.

NHTSA ID
11268667
Incident
Oct 13, 2019
Mileage
100,000 mi
ElectricalEngineExterior lighting+2 more
Filed Mar 20, 2017
Fire reported

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE REPLACED TIMING, TURBO, EXAUST, BALL JOINTS, TIE ROD ENDS & MUCH MORE. TIMING WAS FIRST, THEN DRIVING AND TURBO WENT OUT. 2 DAYS AGO CAR SITTING IN DRIVEWAY, NOT RUNNING, STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDER HOOD, BUTST INTO FLAMES AND BURNT UP. MAZDA SAID NO RECALLS, CLEARLY NOT TRUE ACCORDING TO WEBSITE. ALMOST BURNT MY HOUSE ALSO AS IT WAS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY AND COULDNT BE MOVED. IF WE WOULD HAVE BEEN INSIDE THE CAR, I DOUBT WE WOULD OF HAD TIME TO GET PULLED OVER & OUT AS THATS HOW QUICK IT BURNT!

NHTSA ID
10967126
Incident
Mar 17, 2017
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 16, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT FOUND EXCESSIVE MOISTURE IN THE EXTERIOR HEADLAMPS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE HEADLAMPS EXPERIENCED EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 134,000.

NHTSA ID
10955003
Incident
Feb 9, 2017
Mileage
134,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 21, 2015

PURCHASED USED IN JANUARY OF 2014. NOTICED RED PLASTIC HOUSING FOR BRAKE LIGHTS MELTING ABOVE ACTUAL LIGHTBULB. BRAKE LIGHTS NOW SHINE CLEAR/WHITE ON TOP (WHERE MELTED), INSTEAD OF JUST RED. SEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. CHECKED OTHER MAZDA CX-7'S AND CAN SEE THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. I REPLACED LIGHTBULBS TO MAKE SURE THEY MATCH MANUFACTURES REQUIREMENTS, THEY WERE CORRECT AND HAD MELTED PLASTIC ALL OVER THE BULB. TOOK TO LOCAL MECHANIC WHO SAID IT'S PROBABLY A WIRING ISSUE. TOOK IT TO MAZDA DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS ISSUE BEFORE. I ASKED THEM TO CONTACT MAZDA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPLACE LIGHT ASSEMBLIES WITH UNMELTED UNITS, THEY CLAIMED THEY WERE TOLD THAT MAZDA WOULD NOT REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10712007
Incident
Feb 1, 2014
Mileage
67,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 5, 2015

EXTERIOR HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY GETS CRACKED DUE TO POOR CONSTRUCTION AND WHOLE ASSEMBLY REQUIRES REPLACING IN LIEU OF SIMPLY REPLACING THE HEADLAMP. THIS IS QUITE PRICEY AT APPROX $700 EACH FOR BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE RESPECTIVELY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10670332
Incident
Dec 17, 2014
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jun 11, 2014

I PULLED FROM MY DRIVEWAY ONTO A HIGHWAY DECIDED TO TURN ON HEADLIGHTS BECAUSE OF HEAVY TREE COVER COMING UP, IT WAS ALMOST FULL DARK TURNED KNOB ON LEVER NO LIGHTS HIT BREAKS THANK GOD THOSE WERE STILL WHERE I REMEMBERED THEM HIT FOG LIGHTS THEY CAME ON. WENT TO HIGH BEAM FOGS SHUT OFF (CORRECT) HIGH BEAMS AT LEAST WORKED MUCH TO OTHER DRIVERS SLOWING SWERVING AN JUST ALL AN ALL PISSED OFF. MY HIGH BEAMS SEEM TO TURN THE CLOCK BACK TO ABOUT MID DAY. SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME THOUGH AN COST ME A SHIFT SO I'M INTO THIS OFF THE GET GO 735.00$ LETS SEE HOW MUCH MORE ITS GOING TO COST. SO MUCH FOR GIVING THIS RIG FOR MY 16YEAROLD IN TWO MONTHS SHOULD HAVE STAYED WITH CHEVY OR NISSAN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10597544
Incident
Jun 10, 2014
Mileage
78,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 3, 2013

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT AND HEADLIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE WENT OUT DUE TO CONDENSATION SEE SB-09-003-13 MAZDA IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I ORDERED OEM PARTS AT A COST OF $1400 FROM MAZDA AND HAD THEM INSTALLED AT CERTIFIED BODY SHOP AND WITHIN TWO WEEKS LIGHT BLEW OUT AGAIN, HAD TO REPLACE JUST THE BULB THIS TIME, THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T COVER THIS COST BECAUSE A MAZDA DEALER DIDN'T INSTALL LIGHT. MAZDA SAID THE ONLY WAY THEY WOULD DO ANYTHING IS IF THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL. WHAT DOES A RECALL CONSIST OF WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT NIGHT AND BOTH HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME AND HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR HIT SOMEONE ELSE HEAD ON CAUSING FATALITIES. THIS IS ABOUT AS UNSAFE AS ANYTHING I CAN THINK OF. AGAIN I REFERENCE SB-09-003-13. I HATE TO KNOW THERE MIGHT BE FATALITIES WITH THIS PROBLEM AND EVERYONE IGNORES IT. I TOLD MAZDA I WOULD DO EVERYTHING IN MY POWER TO TRY AND MAKE THEM RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS DEFECT, I GUESS THEY HAVE NO CONCERN FOR HUMAN LIFE, THIS IS WHY I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT. JUST THINK OF ALL THE LAWSUITS THAT WILL HAPPEN AND THE MONETARY COST INVOLVED WHEN THIS DOES HAPPEN AND I THINK IT WILL SINCE IT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED ONCE, ALSO LOSE OF LIFE, I DON'T THINK THERE IS A PRICE TO PUT ON THIS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10554589
Incident
Nov 1, 2013
Mileage
80,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningEngineExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Dec 3, 2010

2007 MAZDA CX-7. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHORTLY AFTER SHE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THE HEADLIGHTS POINTING TOWARD THE GROUND AND IT TOOK 3-5 TRIPS TO THE DEALER BEFORE IT WAS PROPERLY FIXED. IN JUNE 2010, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS AN EVAP SYSTEM LEAK WHICH COST $461.80. IN OCTOBER 2010, DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED AN OUTER TIE ROD END, IN ADDITION TO THAT AN ALIGNMENT WAS ALSO NEEDED. ONE WEEK LATER, THE AC COMPRESSOR FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10368963
Incident
Nov 4, 2010
Mileage
69,700 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 20, 2008

ALGAE FORMS BETWEEN THE REAR TAILLIGHT CLEAR LENS AND MOULDED GRAY INNER HOUSING. BECAUSE THE 2 PIECES ARE GLUED TOGETHER A PERSON CANNOT GET TO THE ALGAE TO CLEAN IT . THE ALGAE FORMS WHERE THERE IS MISSING ADHESIVE TO BOND THE 2 PIECES TOGETHER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10231724
Incident
Jan 1, 2008
Mileage
16,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .