The Mazda CX-7 Years To Avoid
These days, consumers want the best of both worlds in their vehicles: the spaciousness and versatility of traditional SUVs with smaller cars’ handling and fuel efficiency. As such, crossovers remain popular among American car buyers. True enough, it’s hard to go wrong with a crossover SUV when it comes to practicality, comfort, and fuel efficiency.
The CX-7’s performance was powered by a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which provided a spirited drive. Its handling was also praised for being more akin to a sporty sedan than a bulky SUV. Also, the interior was well-appointed, offering a comfortable and stylish environment for the driver and passengers.
With that said, if you’re looking for a solid crossover SUV with a more lightfoot profile and spacious interior, the Mazda CX-7 is worth checking out. However, the Mazda CX-7 doesn’t have the best track record in reliability. While many owners have reported satisfaction with their vehicles, certain model years have shown a higher likelihood of encountering problems.
So for today, we highlight the worst Mazda CX-7 years to avoid as a used car buyer. Plus, we offer insights into why these models aren’t worth your time and money.
Which Mazda CX-7 Years To Avoid?
To answer your questions, here’s a quick list of the worst CX-7 years to avoid:
- 2007 Mazda CX-7
- 2008 Mazda CX-7
- 2009 Mazda CX-7
- 2010 Mazda CX-7
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2007 Mazda CX-7
The 2007 Mazda CX-7, despite its appealing design and sporty performance, has unfortunately earned a reputation for being less reliable than its counterparts. CarComplaints collected a staggering 786 complaints and five recalls for the 2007 CX-7, earning the “Avoid Like the Plague” award in the process.
With about 20 written reports from CarComplaints, the main issue with the 2007 CX-7 is its timing chain that’s prone to stretching. A frustrated owner complained that the CX-7’s timing chain stretched and caused all the valves in the engine to fail. The repair for this issue, which included 60+ man hours, a new timing chain, new valves, and an unrelated oil leak fix, cost them $8,000.
Despite the widespread nature of this problem, as of the time these complaints were made, Mazda had not issued a recall or service advisory for the timing chain issue.
Another factor why the 2007 CX-7 is one of the worst CX-7 years to avoid is the faulty turbo system. The turbocharger, responsible for boosting engine power, was reportedly prone to failure, causing reduced performance and potentially severe engine damage. One owner reported that their turbo started making a squealing noise, and then the car would only accelerate to a maximum of 20 mph before sputtering and dying.
Given the severity and cost of these issues, potential used car buyers should be wary when considering the 2007 Mazda CX-7.
2008 Mazda CX-7
Another year, another problematic model for the Mazda CX-7. CarComplaints has documented 296 complaints and five recalls for the 2008 CX-7 and also received the “Avoid Like the Plague” badge from the website.
The 2008 Mazda CX-7 struggled with significant engine issues, making it an easy skip for used car buyers. These engine problems have been linked to various issues, including problems with the timing chain and the Variable Valve Timing (VVT) system.
An owner of a Mazda CX-7 reported a ticking noise from their vehicle, which was later traced back to a faulty timing chain. However, during the chain’s replacement, the mechanic discovered sludge-like oil, indicating further engine damage, which led to a hefty quote of $5,000 for a replacement engine.
Unfortunately, the turbocharger problem from the previous year has persisted in the 2008 CX-7. Per the reports, the turbocharger tends to fail, with some people reporting that it died within six months of driving it off the lot. Again, Mazda hasn’t issued a recall for this widespread issue.
As such, you would save yourself from many headaches due to expensive repairs by avoiding the 2008 Mazda CX-7.
THE MOST RELIABLE YEAR FOR THE MAZDA CX-7
If you’re in the market for a used car, you might wonder what the most reliable Mazda CX-7 year is and whether you can acquire it. Let’s take a closer look.
2009 Mazda CX-7
The 2009 model year is much less problematic than the previous years. But unfortunately, this model year wasn’t spared from significant mechanical issues, including the stretched timing chain problem and turbocharger issues. CarComplaints has received fewer complaints for the 2009 CX-7, but it still received the “Avoid Like the Plague” seal of disapproval.
A CX-7 owner reported that their vehicle lost power while driving and started making a loud whining noise. The car was towed to a dealership, where it was discovered that the timing chain was stretched and the Variable Valve Timing (VVT) valve needed to be replaced. The owner was quoted a repair cost of $8,900.
In addition, this model year also struggled with turbocharger issues, with many owners complaining that the turbo just died, with no prior indication of a problem. One report detailed how the failure occurred while the owner was driving on a major highway, resulting in loud siren and rattle-type noises and the vehicle producing smoke as if it was on fire.
Although the 2009 CX-7 doesn’t have as many complaints as the previous years, it’s still a model worth avoiding due to major mechanical issues that may result in expensive repairs.
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2010 Mazda CX-7
Sadly, it’s the same ongoing story for the 2010 Mazda CX-7. This model year was plagued with the same dreaded issues as previous years, including engine problems, turbocharger failure, and faulty VVT.
CarComplaints documented 244 complaints and five recalls for this model. It’s like the Deja vu because the feared turbocharger is very much alive in the 2010 CX-7. Like many of the complaints about this problem, One owner reported that while driving on the highway, they suddenly lost all power, and the vehicle began to emit a large amount of smoke. This led to a near accident due to the sudden decrease in speed and the blinding smoke.
As usual, this familiar problem eventually led to thousands of dollars in repair. With that said, we highly recommend passing on the 2010 CX-7.
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