2010 Mazda CX-7 Reliability
The 2010 Mazda CX-7 has 155 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about suspension and air bags. Compared with nearby CX-7 model years (2008–2012), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the CX-7's typical year, while the 2012 has a cleaner record.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-04 · Source: NHTSA
155
NHTSA owner complaints
5
Recall campaigns
2
Complaints citing a crash
2
Complaints citing a fire
2010 Mazda CX-7 complaints by component
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2010 model year, filed between 2010 and 2024. A complaint can name more than one component.
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 52 | 34% |
| Air bags | 46 | 30% |
| Exterior lighting | 22 | 14% |
| Engine | 20 | 13% |
| Electrical system | 12 | 8% |
| Steering | 10 | 6% |
| Unknown or other | 9 | 6% |
| Speed control / throttle | 7 | 5% |
2010 Mazda CX-7 recalls
5 recall campaigns on NHTSA record for the 2010 model year, by the date NHTSA received the manufacturer's report. Recall repairs are free at a dealer.
| NHTSA campaign | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16V593000 | Aug 11, 2016 | Suspension — front / control arm / lower ball joint | Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2007-2012 Mazda CX-7 vehicles manufactured February 14, 2006, to May 9, 2012. In the affected vehicles, water may enter the front suspension ball joint fittings. If the water is… |
| 17V429000 | Jun 29, 2017 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2009-2011 Mazda6, and 2007-2011 CX-7 and CX-9 vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 18V018000 | Jan 9, 2018 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2013 Mazda6 and CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa,…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 18V717000 | Oct 12, 2018 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2014-2015 Mazda CX-9 vehicles sold, or ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa,…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
| 19V782000 | Oct 31, 2019 | Air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module | Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2007-2012 CX-7, CX-9, and 2009-2012 Maza6 vehicles. These vehicles had their passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The…NHTSA park-it advisory: do not drive until repaired. |
How the 2010 compares with nearby CX-7 years
Verdicts compare these CX-7 model years with each other.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 192 | 5 | Air bags | Avoid |
| 2009 | 65 | 6 | Suspension | Solid |
| 2010 (this page) | 155 | 5 | Suspension | Caution |
| 2011 | 154 | 4 | Suspension | Caution |
| 2012 | 39 | 4 | Suspension | Solid |
Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA and are not adjusted for how many of each year were sold, so they compare years of the same model rather than different models.
What to check on a used 2010 Mazda CX-7
- Suspension: listen for clunks over bumps, look for leaking struts and uneven tire wear.
- Air bags: make sure the air bag warning light goes out after start-up and that any air bag recall was completed on this VIN.
- Lights: check headlights (low and high), brake lights and turn signals; condensation inside the housings is worth noting.
- Engine: cold-start it yourself, listen for ticking or knocking, check for oil leaks and oil consumption, and ask for oil-change records.
- Recalls: confirm each of the 5 campaigns above was completed on this VIN; open recalls are repaired free at a dealer.
- History: run the VIN for salvage, theft and odometer records, and have an independent mechanic inspect the car before you pay.
Check this exact car
Any 2010 Mazda CX-7 can be better or worse than its model year. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015. Free preview first; the full report is $12.99, one time.
2010 Mazda CX-7 reliability FAQ
Is the 2010 Mazda CX-7 reliable?
The 2010 Mazda CX-7 has 155 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on file with NHTSA, most often about suspension and air bags. Compared with nearby CX-7 model years (2008–2012), it rates as a caution year: complaints run above the CX-7's typical year, while the 2012 has a cleaner record.
What are the most common 2010 Mazda CX-7 problems?
The most-reported problem areas in NHTSA owner complaints for the 2010 Mazda CX-7 are suspension (52), air bags (46), exterior lighting (22), engine (20). One complaint can name more than one component.
Does the 2010 Mazda CX-7 have recalls?
NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2010 Mazda CX-7, including 16V593000 (suspension — front / control arm / lower ball joint) and 17V429000 (air bags — frontal / passenger side / inflator module). Recall repairs are free at a dealer, and whether one was done is tracked by VIN.
How does the 2010 Mazda CX-7 compare with the 2009 and 2011 models?
By NHTSA records, the 2009 has 65 complaints and 6 recalls (solid); the 2011 has 154 complaints and 4 recalls (caution). The 2010 has 155 complaints and 5 recalls.
How do I check a specific used 2010 Mazda CX-7?
Run its VIN. The CarWhere Used Car Report checks one VIN for salvage records, salvage-auction records (with damage photos when the auction published them), stolen-vehicle records, the odometer trail and its listing and price history since 2015, with a free preview first and the full report at $12.99, one time. Pair it with an independent pre-purchase inspection.
More Mazda CX-7 research
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation owner complaints (all body-style listings for the 2010 CX-7, de-duplicated by complaint number) and NHTSA recall campaigns, retrieved 2026-11-04.