2011 Mazda CX-7 Exterior lighting Problems

The low beam wiring gets hot and melts the connectors to the bulb connection. The low beam headlights have been replaced 8 times in a year due to low visibility. It's like turning off the headlights but they are still on. It's been going on for years. I've taken it to Mazda and the mechanic told me they had a vehicle there now with the same problem and have not figured out the problem yet. Wiring harness has been replaced to the low beam, the connectors and bulbs replaced fuzes and nothing seems to fix it, the battery keeps needing to be replaced as well, alternator has been replaced. This is a safety issue due to the fact that the low beams are so dim the driver can't see to drive without using high beam headlights to drive and they are just like having regular low beams on.. I've used halogen as well as led trying to fix it nothing has worked

NHTSA ID

11754388

Incident

May 7, 2021

Mazda has messed up headlights and it is very dangerous. I have to drive with high beams on continuously! The low beams point straight down to the road, looks like even with the bumper, you cannot see anything. It looks like you don’t have lights on. Took it to dealer and they say it’s the housing and it’s a Mazda thing and don’t do anything to fix it. I have tried every bulb available for Mazda and nothing helps. They need to fix this. I see SEVERAL owners with the same complaints! Please don’t overlook this as it is very dangerous and may cause deaths.

NHTSA ID

11708962

Incident

Dec 31, 2019

I can not see at night. I have replaced the bulbs several times, and tried the most expensive bulbs. Nothing helps. You can only see with the high beams on, and that’s not safe for other drivers

NHTSA ID

11617337

Incident

Sep 28, 2024

The headlights are UNSAFE! Extremely dim. We have replaced the bulbs and gotten great LED lights but the issue is still there. Sometimes I feel like my lights aren’t even on but they are, I cannot see. Please can you fix this. They just keep getting worse. I would have to drive with high beams on just to be safe. I don’t drive at night in my car if I don’t absolutely need to because of this issue.

NHTSA ID

11582921

Incident

Jan 1, 2023

During a rainy evening I could not see with the wipers on max speed and the headlights on low beam. I couldn't see the road unless a car was in front of me or I turn on my high beams. My son was in the car with me and several times I had to go at a crawling speed and still barely stayed on the road because of low visibilty. This has happened more than once and I feel unsafe driving now because I feel like I'm driving with no lights on at all these days without rain and rain makes it 10x worse.

NHTSA ID

11571776

Incident

Feb 8, 2024

Just bought this car used and the very first night I realized that the headlights are very very very dim. After online research, it seems this is a common issue with make model&year.

NHTSA ID

11508615

Incident

Feb 22, 2023

Low beam headlights are so poor that they barely illuminate the roadway when driving at night. I've replaced them with Sylvania Silverstar Max bulbs as well as tried LED bulbs and neither help. Makes the car almost worthless to drive at night due to the limited visibility. It has slowly gotten worse since my purchase of the vehicle in 2016.

NHTSA ID

11507587

Incident

Feb 1, 2017

We purchased a set of headlights and taillights via Amazon from Perde on 12/8/20 after verifying they would fit the vehicle-confirmed with the description provided online. The product that was delivered is defective and presents a fire/electrical safety concern. We installed them, which we had issues initially with the turn signals. While we worked to figure that piece out, we left in the new ones as the ones we had to replace were in worse shape. About a month after they were installed we noticed the headlights weren't working so replaced the bulbs-one of which appeared to be burned/melted. We thought this was a fluke, replaced the bulbs and this worked for a little while. Then about another month passes, my son was pulled over by the police due to both taillights being out. This also presents a safety issue with other drivers on the road not being able to see the vehicle at night. When we inspected the taillights, we found that both taillights bulbs had also burned/melted and the socket appeared to have burn marks on them. We believe this is a major safety issue given it could have caused an electrical fire in the vehicle. I have photos of this, and we still have the headlights and taillights we have since replaced with a different manufacturer. There were no warning lights on the vehicle, this was discovered after we pulled them off to inspect after having numerous issues replacing bulbs. When I contacted the company today their responses do not seem to indicate any concern on their part about this issue. They offered to replace them, however, there is no way I am going to put their parts on any of my vehicles ever again.

NHTSA ID

11441742

Incident

Sep 18, 2021

Low beam headlights burn out every 6 months, no matter the quality of bulb. Casings are discolored on the inside and light doesn't project beyond about 4 feet, doesn't reach the car bumper in front of me. Cannot be corrected with lens cleaning kits or improved with brighter bulbs. Very dangerous. I cannot see in low light or dark at all. I've had this car since 2013 and it gets progressively worse. Many forums online with same issue reported.

NHTSA ID

11439822

Incident

Sep 18, 2013

EVERY SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED MY CAR, MY DOOR HANDLES ARE VERY LOOSE, I'VE HAD TO GET THE DRIVER ONE FIXED AND IT'S LOOSE AGAIN. IT CAUSES ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO USE THAT DOOR. ALL MY WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP ONCE I PUT THEM DOWN AND THEY ARE ALSO MAKING NOISES. MY HEADLIGHTS ARE DIMMER FROM WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR, AND I HAVE TO KEEP REPLACING THEM BECAUSE THEY KEEP GOING OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

11330621

Incident

Aug 31, 2018

DIM LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT ALL OTHER LIGHTS WORK FINE

NHTSA ID

11292180

Incident

Dec 30, 2019

Mileage

68,000 mi

THE HEADLIGHT BULBS BURN OUT MULTIPLE TIMES A YEAR AND ON TOP OF THAT, THE LENS HAVE FOGGED UP TO THE POINT THAT I WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS. THE CAR WAS NOT DRIVABLE DURING DUSK, NIGHT AND DAWN HOURS. THE FOG SEEMS TO BE FROM THE INSIDE, SINCE NO AMOUNT OF EXTERIOR CLEANING WOULD HELP. THE REAR BREAK LIGHTS ARE ALSO FOGGED UP AND THE INSIDE RED PLASTIC IS ALSO MELTED. THESE ARE SOME MAJOR SAFETY ISSUES. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLAMPS, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE NEW ONES WILL HAVE THE SAME ISSUE IN THE YEARS TO COME.

NHTSA ID

11291802

Incident

Dec 25, 2019

Mileage

109,000 mi

THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS ARE VERY DIM, REPLACED BULBS SEVERAL TIMES AND CAN NOT SEE 10 FEET IN-FRONT OF CAR. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED A PART ON BOTH LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS BUT I STILL CANNOT SEE 10 FEET IN-FRONT OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11205875

Incident

Jan 5, 2018

MY HEADLIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT. I HAVE TO PUT IN NEW HEAD LIGHT BULBS EVERY FEW MONTHS. I HAVE CHANGED THE HEAD LIGHT BULB ON BOTH SIDES FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR. CURRENTLY MY RIGHT HEAD LIGHT IS OUT AGAIN. I PURCHASED ANOTHER BULB AND HAVE TO PAY FOR A MECHANIC TO FIX MY HEAD LIGHT THIS WEEK.

NHTSA ID

11180674

Incident

Feb 9, 2019

THE HEADLIGHT LENSES ON BOTH SIDES ARE FADED AND DULL; VISIBILITY IS LIMITED THE TAIL LIGHT LENSES ON BOTH SIDES ARE FADED AND DULL

NHTSA ID

11154330

Incident

Jun 2, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 MAZDA CX-7. WHEN THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED, THEY DID NOT ILLUMINATE BRIGHTLY ENOUGH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO G&G CAR AND TRUCK SUPERCENTERS (308 S 2ND AVE, DODGE CITY, KS 67801, (866) 692-7707), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. *TT *JB

NHTSA ID

11141835

Incident

Jan 1, 2012

Mileage

53,000 mi

HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOGGED UP ON THE INSIDE CAUSING BAD ILLUMINATION AT NIGHT. ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS TO BE SEALED PROPERLY, MOISTURE IS STILL ENTERING ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ID

11089304

Incident

Jan 1, 2018

Mileage

98,000 mi

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FREQUENTLY, EVERY THREE TO FOUR MONTHS, GO OUT. LIGHTING IS SO POOR WHEN THEY DO WORK THAT WE DO NOT USE THE VEHICLE AFTER DARK IF AT ALL POSSIBLE AND THEN USE THE HIGH BEAMS TO OPERATE SAFELY.

NHTSA ID

11089197

Incident

Dec 15, 2011

Mileage

8,000 mi

CAR WAS PURCHASED MAY 2011. I CANNOT REMEMBER WHEN IT ALL STARTED. ALL REPAIRS WERE MADE AT JIM ELLIS MAZDA, COBB PKWY, MARIETTA, GA FROM PURCHASE UNTIL SEPT. 2017 WHEN I BECAME FED UP. MY HEADLAMPS FOGGED UP AFTER A YEAR OR SO, THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. MY HEADLAMP BULBS HAD TO BE REPLACED EVERY 3 TO 6 MONTHS AND, NOW THEY ARE REPLACED EVERY 2-3 MONTHS. ALL BULBS WERE PURCHASED FROM MAZDA YET ALL BULBS DIED OUT WITHIN 3-6 MONTHS. IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS, HEADLAMP BULBS WERE REPLACED FOUR TIMES. 4 NIGHTS AGO, I WAS STOPPED BY THE POLICE DUE TO NO HEADLIGHTS. THE POLICE WATCHED WHILE I CHECKED DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS, HIGH BEAMS, LOW BEAMS AND, AT 9 P.M. LATE EVENING GEORGIA/EST, I HAD NO RUNNING LIGHTS. I TOOK THE CAR TO MAZDA ROSWELL THE NEXT MORNING. WHEN I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM, STEPHANIE JOHNSON, SERVICE ADVISOR MANAGER IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM BY INQUIRING HOW OFTEN I HAD TO CHANGE MY BULBS IN THE CAR. NO SERVICE ADVISOR HAD PREVIOUSLY ASKED THAT QUESTION AT THE MARIETTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT & NOONE HAS EVER ADVISED TO USE ONLY MAZDA PARTS. UNFORTUNATELY, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MAZDA 3 DAYS LATER ALLEGING THAT MY HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS FRIED BECAUSE I DID NOT USE MAZDA MANUFACTURED BULBS. MAZDA IS BILLING ME $130 FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC THOUGH THEY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE CAR, & IS CHARGING ME $313 TO REPLACE AND REPAIR THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS HAVE HAD A SHORTAGE FOR 6 OF THE 7 YEARS THAT I OWNED THE CAR. I STOPPED USING MAZDA SERVICE AFTER 6 YEARS BECAUSE NOT ONLY COULD THEY NOT FIND OR FIX THE CONSISTENT HEADLAMP PROBLEM BUT MAZDA SERVICE WOULD FIND A REPAIR THAT I HAD NOT COMPLAINED OF. IN FACT, I ONCE TOOK THE CAR IN & BROUGHT MY OWN HIGHER QUALITY HEADLAMPS & MAZDA RETURNED MY CAR W/O REPLACING THE BURNED OUT BULBS. THIS CAR WAS DEFECTIVE WHEN SOLD BUT NOT RISING TO THE LEVEL OF LEMON LAW COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA ID

11075141

Incident

Feb 22, 2018

Mileage

145,000 mi

DEFECTIVE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY: BOTH BRAKE LIGHT TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY HAVE MELTED INSIDE THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY. SINCE REPORTING THIS TO MY MAZDA DEALER I HAVE SEEN THE SAME PROBLEM IN OTHER MAZDA CX-7'S. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN: TITLE 49: TRANSPORTATION PART 571'FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS SUBPART B'FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS 571.108 STANDARD NO. 108; LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT. S14.4.1.4.1.3 WHERE THE SAMPLE DEVICE DOES NOT HAVE UNIFORM SPECTRAL CHARACTERISTICS IN ALL USEFUL DIRECTIONS, COLOR MEASUREMENTS MUST BE MADE AT AS MANY DIRECTIONS OF VIEW AS ARE REQUIRED TO EVALUATE THE COLOR FOR THOSE DIRECTIONS THAT APPLY TO THE END USE OF THE DEVICE. S14.4.1.4.2.1 RED. THE COLOR OF LIGHT EMITTED MUST FALL WITHIN THE FOLLOWING BOUNDARIES: Y = 0.33 (YELLOW BOUNDARY); Y = 0.98 − X (PURPLE BOUNDARY). THE 2017 FLORIDA STATUTES TITLE XXIII MOTOR VEHICLES; CHAPTER 316 STATE UNIFORM TRAFFIC CONTROL; 316.221 TAILLAMPS ' (1) EVERY MOTOR VEHICLE, TRAILER, SEMITRAILER, AND POLE TRAILER, AND ANY OTHER VEHICLE WHICH IS BEING DRAWN AT THE END OF A COMBINATION OF VEHICLES, SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH AT LEAST TWO TAILLAMPS MOUNTED ON THE REAR, WHICH, WHEN LIGHTED AS REQUIRED IN S. 316.217, SHALL EMIT A RED LIGHT PLAINLY VISIBLE FROM A DISTANCE OF 1,000 FEET TO THE REAR, EXCEPT THAT PASSENGER CARS AND PICKUP TRUCKS MANUFACTURED OR ASSEMBLED PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 1972, WHICH WERE ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH ONLY ONE TAILLAMP SHALL HAVE AT LEAST ONE TAIL LAMP... IT SEEMS THAT EITHER THE MAZDA DOES NOT WANT TO FIX THE PROBLEM, OR MY MAZDA DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY BY REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY SHOULD EITHER BE REPLACED AT NO COST OR REDESIGNED IN A WAY TO STOP THE MELTING FROM OCCURRING. I HAVE REPORTED TO THIS DEFECT TO OUR LOCAL MAZDA DEALER.

NHTSA ID

11024781

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

DEFECTIVE TAILLIGHT ASSEMBLY. THEY ARE BOTH "MELTING" FROM THE INSIDE AND HAVE REPORTED TO THE DEALER AND WARRANTY CARRIERS TO NO AVAIL. THEY RESPONDED THAT I MUST HAVE CHANGED THE BULBS FOR AFTERMARKET ONES AND THAT COULD HAVE POSSIBLY OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE ASSEMBLY. I HAVE NOT CHANGED THE BULBS UNTIL TODAY (I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW FROM THE DEALER). 8 OUT OF 10 CX-7'S I SEE HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, BOTH TAIL LIGHTS MELTING. LOOKS LIKE SNOW INSIDE THE ASSEMBLY. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN THAT COULD LEAD TO POTENTIAL ACCIDENTS. DEALER DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY BUT I FEEL THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED AT NO COST.

NHTSA ID

11020959

Incident

Aug 31, 2017

TAKATA RECALL. LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE ALWAYS BLOWING OUT. HAVE TO REPLACE EVERY 6 MONTHS OR SOONER

NHTSA ID

11013974

Incident

Jan 30, 2012

Mileage

26,000 mi

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY NEED REPLACING...AVERAGING A SET EVERY SIX MONTHS. THE BULBS ARE BLOWN WHEN FIRST TURNED ON OR WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AT NIGHT IN RURAL AREAS. DO NOT USE LIGHTS DURING THE DAY UNLESS RAINING.

NHTSA ID

10981392

Incident

Aug 25, 2012

Mileage

5,000 mi

LOW BEAM AND HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT MULTIPLE TIMES THROUGH OUT THE YEAR. THE LOW BEAM ON EITHER SIDE BURN OUT AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED MORE FREQUENTLY THAN THE HIGH BEAMS.

NHTSA ID

10947793

Incident

Dec 15, 2016

Mileage

71,000 mi

LOW BEAM AND HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHTS BURN OUT MULTIPLE TIMES EACH YEAR.

NHTSA ID

10945308

Incident

Jan 10, 2017

Mileage

55,000 mi