Mazda CX-7

Registered from 2007 to 2012.

About this model

The Mazda CX-7 is a mid-size crossover SUV from Mazda, and is the production version of the MX-Crossport concept car. It was shown publicly for the first time at the 2006 LA Auto Show in January. Production officially began on February 20, 2006 in Mazda's Ujina #2 factory in Hiroshima, and went on sale in April 2006 as a 2007 model. The CX-7 was Mazda's first mid-size SUV since the Navajo was discontinued in 1994, although the CX-7 is considered more of a 'Soft Roader'.

From the Wikipedia article Mazda CX-7, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

What fails its inspection

Great Britain's MOT record for the 2010 2.2 diesel. 140 of 493 tests failed, 28%.

Better than 18% of 2010 cars. The typical one fails 24%, across 955 models with enough tests behind them to say.

Where	Share of failures	Failed tests
Lights and electrics	39%	55
Steering	36%	51
Brakes	35%	49
Suspension	34%	48
Tyres and wheels	23%	32
Exhaust and emissions	15%	21

The defects inspectors cite

A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

Where it stands out against its peers

Steering: failed more often than 98% of 2010 cars — 36% of its 140 failed tests, where an ordinary 2010 car has 5%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

Steering — 36% of its failures
- A steering ball joint with excessive wear or free play
Brakes — 35% of its failures
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- Parking brake inoperative on one side
Suspension — 34% of its failures
- A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn
Tyres and wheels — 23% of its failures
- Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
Exhaust and emissions — 15% of its failures
Lights and electrics — 39% of its failures
- A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning

When it starts failing

At 120–140k miles this one fails 31% of its inspections, against the 28% an ordinary car of the same age fails.

Odometer	Rate	Its age	Tests
60–80k miles	24%	22%	45
80–100k miles	30%	25%	153
100–120k miles	29%	27%	137
120–140k miles	31%	28%	86

421 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.

Half of these have more than 100k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.

Specification

Year	Measured
2011	2.2 diesel · 170 hp · 1922 kg · 2627 mm wheelbase · 7.5 L/100km (NEDC)
2010	2.2 diesel · 1921 kg · 2750 mm wheelbase · 7.5 L/100km (NEDC)

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

A12/00282/22
Water entering into the ball joint could lead to corrosion, causing the joint to block, so the articulated arm can separate from the lower arm. This may lead to loss of control over the vehicle, increasing the risk of an accident. The product does not comply with the requirements of the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users