The Mazda CX-7 is a perfect case study of the perils of introducing a car to one market that's clearly been designed for another. When it was first sold in this country, it was only offered with a thirsty 2.3-litre petrol engine and sales suffered as a result. Mazda cars are considered good and reliable, with good safety ratings and a lower cost of ownership. There's also a variety of options for every lifestyle. However, the upfront cost of a Mazda can be slightly higher than the competition. In this guide, we examine how reliable Mazdas are. Overall the [MAKE] [MODEL] reliability is {compound_rating} and that makes it {comp} reliable. The chart below illustrates exactly how this ranks compared to some other cars, but the average overall rating is 57 as some comparison. Mazda CX-7 also has a good reliability rating of 3 stars out of 5 by J.D Power. Safety. In terms of safety measurements, Mazda has had some respectable evaluations all through the past. The vehicles are likewise routinely crash tried. Mazda CX-7 also has been crash-tested by both IIHS and NHTSA and received great points. Since the CX-7 has been manufactured, the car has always been highly rated on US News. The Mazda CX-7, in general, is a great small-sized SUV that should be considered if you are in the market to purchase a used vehicle that is both sporty and great for small families. Every Rating for Mazda CX-7 Models Key Takeaways. The Mazda CX-7 years you should avoid are the 2007, 2008, 2010, and 2011 models. Common problems that the Mazda CX-7 is known for are turbocharger failures, A/C compressor failures, engine noise, CV joint problems, faulty ECM (electronic control module), and unexpected engine shutoffs. The best Mazda CX-7 years are 2009 and 2012. The most reliable Mazda CX-7 years include: 2012 Mazda CX-7, which is known for its steering, handling, cargo space, and all-wheel-drive capability; 2009 Mazda CX-7, which was universally praised for safety ratings, good build quality, and excellent engine power; 2011 Mazda CX-7, which was also commended for reliability, performance, safety Recall Look-up. Get reliability information for the 2009 Mazda CX-7 from Consumer Reports, which combines extensive survey data and expert technical knowledge. The Mazda CX-7 with a 2.3L turbocharged engine will have more expensive-to-repair problems and should be avoided. On the other hand, the 2010-2012 front-wheel drive Mazda CX-7 with the 2.5L non-turbo engine is reliable and can last long with good care. I found a 2010 Mazda CX-7 with 110k miles on it, which is about what my Accord had. I've never had a Mazda and am assuming it's not considered as reliable as Honda, but still pretty decent. There are apparently other parties interested, but I was able to squeeze in first because I wrote the seller immediately after the ad went up. IizW.