Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Mazda CX-7 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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.
TAKATA RECALL AND HORN AND PASSENGER DOOR LOCK. I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR THE SUSPENSION RECALL AND AIR BAGS TO GALPIN IN VAN NUYS CA. I GOT THE CAR BACK AND THE SUSPENSION WAS DONE BUT NOT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. THE REASON FROM THE MAZDA SERVICE MGR WAS SINCE MY PASSENGER DOOR IS BROKEN ( THE LOCK) HE COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR SO HE DID NOT WORK ON THE AIR BAG. I CAN NOT AFFORD THE 200.00 THAT IT WILL TAKE TO FIX AND REPLACE MY PASSENGER DOOR LOCK. I FEEL THAT I SHOULD HAVE MY DOOR FIXED BY MAZDA AND THEN DO THE REPAIR WORK ON THE RECALLED AIR BAG. THE DOOR LOCK JUST BROKE ON ITS OWN AND I PAID CASH FOR MY CAR BRAND BMW FROM GALPIN. ALSO I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY MAZDA EMBLEM IN THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL BLEW OFF AND LANDED IN NY LAP!! I WAS NOT USING THE HORN. I NOW HAVE NO HORN AND HAVE LOOKED AT THE FUSE AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT HAPPEN HERE. YOU CAN SEE THAT MY MAZDA EMBLEM IS BROKEN ALL THE WAY AROUND THIS PIECE?? SOMEONE SAID THAT SINCE THERE IS AN AIR BAG IN THE STEERING WHEEL I NEED TO BUY A NEW STEERING WHEEL? REALLY? I AM A SENIOR ON MY SOCIAL SECURITY RETIREMENT ..I AM NOT ABLE TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS FIXED AT HUNDREDS AN HUNDEDS OF DOLLARS. HOWEVER IF MY AIR BAG HAS A RECALL AND THEY DIDN'T FIX IT SINCE MY DOOR LOCK IS BROKEN AND THEY COULDN'T OPEN THE DOOR. WHAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST I DO? PLEASE CONTACT ME WITH ANY INFO YOU HAVE AT [XXX] OR EMAIL AT: [ XXX] THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).?*JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EACH TIME THE VEHICLE DROVE OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE RADIO INDEPENDENTLY TURNED ON OR OFF. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO REMAIN LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V429000 (AIR BAGS) AND 16V593000 (SUSPENSION); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED AN UNKNOWN MAZDA DEALER IN COLUMBUS, OH AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REMEDY PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND DID NOT OFFER FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
TOOK CAR TO MAZDA FOR AIRBAG RECALL, REPLACED AIRBAG BUT MAZDA TELLS ME THE ACTUAL SENSOR THAT TELLS THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY DOES NOT WORK AND ITS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO FIX IT. PRIOR TO THE RECALL THE SENSOR DID NOT COME UP ON THE DASH AFTER THE RECALL I NOW HAVE A LIGHT ON MY DASH AND MAZDA IS TELLING ME ITS 700.00 TO REPLACE FIX AND PART AND LABOR. ELECTRICAL CAR SHORTS OUT ALL THE TIME, WINDOWS, ENGINE, LIGHTS WORK ONE DAY NOT THE NEXT WHEN DOORS OPEN. CAR STALLS OUT WHEN DRIVING AND SYSTEM REBOOTS. OTHER ISSUE IS I HAVE SPENT 7 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN REPAIRS ON THIS CAR. I HAVE BLACK SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPES, IVE REPLACED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN PARTS. ENGINE LIGHT WONT GO OFF. I TOOK IT FINALLY TO AUTO ZONE FOR A FREE ENGINE DIAGNOSIS TO GET A PRINT OUT AND NOW THE EMISSIONS VALVES ARE SHOWING FAULTY. ITS BURNING 2 QUARTS OF OIL ABOUT EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS/MONTHLY BASIS. IVE REPLACED MOTOR MOUNTS, COOLANT/OIL PARTS, AIR COMPRESSOR, HEADLIGHTS, BUMBER, WIPER BLADES, ELECTRICAL CONTROL PANELS, ROCKER ARMS, SPOILERS THAT HAVE CRACKED WITH WEATHER, THE CAR STILL NEEDS ANOTHER MOTOR MOUNT, I NOW HAVE A KNOCK IN THE ENGINE LIKE ITS THE LIFTERS AND I STILL HAVE ANOTHER YEAR ON THIS 5 YEAR LOAN ON THIS CAR. I HAVE TO KEEP ROLLING PAYMENTS TO THE BACK OF THE LOAN TO KEEP UP WITH THE REPAIRS. ITS VERY FRUSTRATING. IVE NEVER HAD THIS MANY PROBLEMS WITH ANY CAR I HAVE PURCHASED EVER!!! EVEN THE PARTS DEPARTMENT AT MAZDA HAS SAID WHAT DO YOU EXPECT YOU PURCHASED A PLASTIC CAR ON WHEELS. IS THERE ANY OTHER PEOPLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS BESIDES MYSELF?
* ENGINE ISSUES WHEN THE A/C COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THIS HAPPENED AROUND 36K MILES WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON A FREEWAY. WE HAD TO COAST INTO THE NEXT EXIT. * ENGINE KNOCKING ISSUES. THEY STILL PERSIST AND STARTED AROUND 50K MILES. * ENGINE RESISTANCE. ALONGSIDE THE KNOCKING THERE SEEMS TO BE A GOOD AMOUNT OF RESISTANCE WHEN TAKING YOUR FOOT OFF OF THE PEDAL FOR ACCELERATION. * THEY ADDED A FACTORY EXTENSION TO THE RADIO FOR THE IPOD. EVER SINCE THEY INSTALLED THIS, THE REST OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN OVERLOADED. - HEADLIGHTS GO OUT FREQUENTLY. THIS CONCERNS ME AS MY WIFE DRIVES THE CAR AND I WOULDN'T WANT BOTH TO GO OUT AT THE SAME TIME. - THE BATTERY WON'T HOLD A CHARGE IF NOT DRIVEN FOR A FEW DAYS. THE DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE RADIO HAS A 'PARASITIC DRAW' ON THE BATTERY CAUSING THESE ISSUES, BUT REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR INSTALLATION. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO CHARGE $800+ FOR A NEW HEAD UNIT, WHICH IS OUTRAGEOUS SINCE I NEVER DID ANYTHING TO THE FACTORY HEAD UNIT.
I PURCHASED THE 2008 MAZDA CX7 ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO AND ALREADY REPLACED THE COMPRESSOR I FIRST HAD WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT THE TAIL PIPE WELL I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT UNTIL SOMEONE TOLD ME THAT IS NOT NORMAL SO A WEEK LATER I STARTED HEARING NOISES LIKE A DIESEL TRUCK AND A KNOCKING NOISE SO THE NEXT DAY I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT SOLD ME THE VEHICLE AND WE DROVE THE VEHICLE AND HE STATED IT WAS FINE HE THEN DROVE AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP AND THEY TOLD ME THE COMPRESSOR LOCKED UP NOW I'M HEARING A TICKING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE AND THEY STATED IT WAS NORMAL BUT IT STILL CONCERNS ME CAUSE READING OTHER STATEMENT HAVE ME WORRIED THAT THE ENGINE VALVE WILL BE NEXT AND I DON'T HAVE MONEY TO REPAIR A VEHICLE I'M A SINGLE PARENT OF 4 KIDS. *TR
MAZDA CX-7 2008; I PURCHASED THE CAR IN SEPTEMBER 2007 AND IT CURRENTLY HAS 19,908 MILES. THE AC IS BREAKING DOWN. WHILE I'M DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65MPH, THE PRESSURE OR HIGH AC AIR PRESSURE DROPS AND HOT AIR COMES OUT. I ALSO EXPERIENCED BURNING SMOKE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. I HAD THE CAR INSPECTED BY THE DEALER BACK ON AUGUST 3, 2012 AND THEY REPLACED THE VALVE COVER. ON SEPTEMBER 1, 2012 I WAS DRIVING AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY AND WE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE AC PRESSURE DROPPED, HOT AIR WAS FLOWING OUT OF THE AC AND WE SMELLED BURNING SMOKE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER THIS MORNING AND THEY ARE NOW ADVISING ME THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE THE BLOWER FAN WHICH IS OUT OF WARRANTY (3 YEARS/36K MILES) AND WILL COST $500. I HAVE NO PROBLEMS PAYING FOR A PART, BUT THE VALVE COVER, BLOWER FAN, OR AC ITEMS SHOULDN'T BE BREAKING DOWN AT 19K ORIGINAL MILES. I ASKED WAYNE MAZDA SERVICE CONSULTANT: ANTHONY CUNHA IF THE BLOWER FAN WAS PART OF THE AC COMPRESSOR AND HE SAID, "NO". I STRONGLY FEEL THAT MAZDA INSTALLED FAULTY AC COMPRESSOR/UNITS ON THE 2008 CX-7. THIS ISSUE HAS TO BE INVESTIGATED BEFORE A CAR CATCHES ON FIRE AND PEOPLE GET BURNED ALIVE OR WORSE, A MULTIPLE CAR CRASH ON THE ROAD RESULTING IN DEATHS. *TR
THIS MAZDA CX-7 IS AT A MAZDA DEALER'S SERVICE CENTER RIGHT NOW GETTING THE TIMING CHAIN REPLACED, VVT ISSUE CORRECTED, A NEW TURBO SYSTEM TO KEEP IT FROM DUMPING TONS OF BLUE SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST, A/C SYSTEM FIXED, AND THERE IS AN INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUE AS WELL. NOT HAPPY OBVIOUSLY, AS THESE ARE ALL KNOW ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE. MAZDA HAS AGREED TO PAY FOR THE TIMING CHAIN, BUT THE REST COMES OUT OF MY POCKET. *TR
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR CLOSE TO HOME AND I WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 30 MPH. I HEARD A FEW TAPS AND THEN TURNED OFF THE HEATING/AIR CONDITIONING. AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY, THE NOISE RESUMED AND A BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL STARTED AND ACTUALLY THE SMELL REMAINED THE ENTIRE NIGHT. I HAD IT TOWED THE NEXT DAY TO MY LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR PLACE AND AS IT CURRENTLY STANDS THE CLUTCH BURNED UP IN THE COMPRESSOR AND THE CAR IS NOT DRIVABLE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, RUSSEL, IN BALTIMORE AND ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN THESE PROBLEMS AND I WAS TOLD NO. I HAVE SINCE READ MANY STORIES THAT ARE ABOUT THE SAME. *TR
THE OIL LIGHT AND ENGINE LIGHT ON MY CAR CAME ON THE EVENING OF JUNE 8, 2010, AND STALLED IMMEDIATELY. THAT NIGHT I POURED 5 QUARTS OF OIL INTO MY ENGINE. THE FAULT WAS EVENTUALLY DISCOVERED TO BE A MISSING GASKET AT THE OIL FILTER CAP WHICH ALLOWED OIL TO SEEP OUT OF THE CAR NONSTOP SINCE MY LAST OIL CHANGE. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE OIL LIGHT ONLY CAME ON AFTER THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO OIL LEFT IN THE CAR. IF I HAD BEEN ON A HIGHWAY AT THE TIME, I WOULD HAVE HAD ALMOST NO WARNING BEFORE MY ENGINE DIED OUT ON ME. NOW, THE ENTIRE ENGINE HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT RAN FOR 2 MILES WITH OIL. *TR
ON THE MAZDA CX7 THE DASH INSTRUMENTS ARE ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IF ANYONE IS WEARING SUNGLASSES. MAZDA APPARENTLY IS ALERT TO THIS AS ON THE MOST EXPENSIVE CX7 ALL THE INSTRUMENT LIGHTS ARE ILLUMINATED. THIS CREATES AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION IN TRYING TO GAUGE EVEN YOUR SPEED. I OWN A CX7 , IN FLORIDA WHERE YOU MUST WEAR SUN GLASSES, AND HAVE BEEN WARNED ABOUT SPEED. MAZDA SEEMS TO HOLD THIS AS AN UPGRADE, WHICH IS NOT RIGHT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN HE PLACED THE GEAR INTO PARK, IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE. THE DEALER STATED THAT ALL OF THE VEHICLES DO NOT LOCK IN PARK AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE GEAR SHIFT MOVES WHILE THE ENGINE IS ON AND THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. THE CONTACT HAS OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR THREE WEEKS. ANOTHER DRIVER EXITED THEIR VEHICLE AND THOUGHT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AFTER SHE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE GEAR FAILED TO LOCK INTO PLACE AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS ABNORMAL, BUT ALL OF THE VEHICLES OPERATE IN THAT MANNER AND THERE MAY BE A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE CONTACT AND SERVICE MANAGER ALSO OBSERVED SEVERAL VEHICLES THAT WERE DESIGNED IN THAT MANNER. THE CONTACT IS ALSO WAITING ON A DISTRICT SERVICE MANAGER TO CALL HIM BACK. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE OWNER'S MANUAL DID NOT INDICATE THAT THERE MAY BE DIFFICULTY WITH THE GEAR SHIFT. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE REAR END BUMPER AND TAILGATE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 700 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 760. UPDATED 09/10/08. *LJ UPDATED 09/11/08.*JB
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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