Cx-7 "unreliable" says Consumer Reports

[dozing4dollars]

Apparently Consumer Reports doesn't think too highly of our beloved Cx-7's, nor the Cx-9.

The December 2007 issue, page 6, states:
NO LONGER RECOMMENDED:
Enough data to say they're unreliable:

Mazda Cx-7
Mazda Cx-9

I bet "roskoekole" would not disagree with that assessment about now...

Hey, as long as my wifey continues to love her Cx-7, that's all that matters. She won't let me drive it anyway. (lol2)

 

[erhayes]

I have had zero problems with my CX7. However; Mazda gas cap & shuttle valve caused issues from day one and it took two or three redesigns to correct. This kind of response from Mazda caused some owners to need to return their cars to the dealer three or more times in addition to needing to wait for the new parts. Another issue was the constant need to re-flash the ECM & TCM modules. It seems that most all of these problems/issues were corrected after the first build models i.e. built before December 2006. I do expect that as more data is generated, that the reliability will improve dramatically as historically Mazda vehicles have proven to be quite reliable. I have 5,600 miles on mine (built date March 2007) and have had zero problems. Now that I've said it oh oh. Ed

 

[Killer]

CX9 got motor trend suv of the year! (rofl2)

 

[SuperStretch18]

Seems weird that Consumer Reports would cast such a wide net in their recommendations and not offer any reasoning for back-up. The CX-7 & CX-9 are truly not even related, as far as drivetrain, chassis, suspension, etc., etc. They are different vehicles that share the first two letters of their name, so not sure why they would be lumped together. Additional info would be appreciated...

 

[erhayes]

I think CU has viewed the CX 7 negatively from day one because their CX 7 had a severe hesitation issue. CU did not pursue why and get the updated re-flash Mazda recommended. Once you get a CU senior editor thinking "bad", all other subordinates fall in line. It may take years and many 1000s of good owners reports for CU to change. JMO. Ed

 

[cruzdreamer]

I have had mine for over a year and 17,500 miles with no real problems except for dirt in the doors and a radio that would go out for a second every so often.... pretty minor in my mind....I am pretty darn happy! All cars have issues and it's just a matter of how many I suppose!

 

[j007w]

mine too

I have had mine for over a year and 17,500 miles with no real problems except for dirt in the doors and a radio that would go out for a second every so often.... pretty minor in my mind....I am pretty darn happy! All cars have issues and it's just a matter of how many I suppose!

Hi Cruzdreamer, just thought I'd say that I, too, had the problem with the dirt getting past the doors but found a TSB about it. Told the dealer and they replaced the rubber seal below the doors (same ones in the 2008). You might have known this already but just in case.

 

[altspace]

Consumer Reports....bleh!

 

[CX-7owner]

Consumer Reports is such a joke, looking the CX-7 ratings now it looks like this is all because of the gas cap, the fuel system is rated at poor.

 

[vbbuilt01]

Hey don't go trashing CU just because they put out a report you don't like! They have TONS of useful information and I've learned a lot about different products from them. I use CR to gain perspective about the different vehicles I'm interested in. They're just one voice. I also look at Motor Trend, Road & Track, JD Power, etc. Yeah, I'm scratching my head about their ratings of CX-7, but like you and I, we know differently. Obviously, Motor Trend has a different perspective about the CX-9, as they just gave it their coveted award. There's not much CR can do to dampen that recommendation.

I subscribe to their website, too.

Vince.

 

[CX-7owner]

No, I hate CR all around, this doesn't change my perception of these biased morons.
People that give reviews on Kenmore appliances shouldn't be giving reviews on cars.

 

[erhayes]

I think one needs to be careful about CUs opinion such as seat comfort , door handles and such. They do however generate real data from vehicle owners and I do think 500 owners' opinions on problems is much much better than talking with one or two neighbors or a sales person. I thing CU provides us with good meaningful data. I have filled out CU reviews before and they ask for ONLY the experience I have had with my vehicle or appliance.

 

[bazooka joe]

cu has their hands in everything.....i'd be more inclined to trust a true motorsport groups opinon.....they didn't even explain themselfs??

 

[CX-7owner]

I think one needs to be careful about CUs opinion such as seat comfort , door handles and such. They do however generate real data from vehicle owners and I do think 500 owners' opinions on problems is much much better than talking with one or two neighbors or a sales person. I thing CU provides us with good meaningful data. I have filled out CU reviews before and they ask for ONLY the experience I have had with my vehicle or appliance.

They're surveys are terrible(not standardized), and since when did surveying ONLY subscribers of one magazine predict the reliability of the entire line up.

Some of those sample sizes are 250 people, not enough to predict the reliability of a car that has sold in the masses of what 32K units now.

You don't even know who these people are, you don't know what the survey looked like, and you don't know what the questions asked we're, just a simple, unreliable. And the people that took the surveys, subscribe to such horrible publication, thats enough for me not even to consider whatever BS score they got from out of the sky, those people don't think like me, and ALL have variations of what a "Serious Problem" is(SOME thing an unscheduled dealer visit is, I DON'T).

CONSUMER REPORTS IS EFFING GARBAGE.

 

[warrusty]

I'm one of those guys who fills out the survey every year. It's a good place to start when trying to compare cars. If owners report no problems, then chances are pretty good that the car is generally reliable. However, it won't show the severity of the problems, only the frequency. It also won't show if the manufacturer responded promptly to the problem.

For instance, my RX-8 had a bunch of recalls to re-flash the ECU to improve the car, not to fix a fatal issue. I consider that to be a positive response from Mazda, but for many people filling out the CU survey, they would put a black circle under electrical problems because they received a recall notice and had to bring the car to the dealer.

I do believe that the CU car tests are accurate and give a good feel for how the car will perform under real world conditions, not car magazine 7,000 rpm clutch dumps. They may not have the same priorities in their evaluations as car enthusiasts might have (0-60 is more important to me than the ease of installing a car seat) but they are generally accurate and truthful.

 

[CX-7owner]

So you agree with CR's 9.1 0-60?
If the CX-7 was that slow lots of people would have looked elsewhere.

 

[warrusty]

I don't think they faked the time. But you and I would drive it differently to get a BETTER time. I have a 2008, so I don't know if the car they tested WAS slower than mine. When they tested the new 6 cylinder Camry and 6 cylinder Nissans they got great times. I think the best indicator is a 5-60 test anyway.

 

[CX-7owner]

IMO reading up on how they do things, I would not take one of their reviews or surveys seriously, they have been proven wrong many of times.
Their crash avoidance tests are so highly inaccurate.

 

[warrusty]

Their vacuum reviews are excellent. (headbang)

Many years ago the old 300Z was downgraded in the surveys for electrical problems. The problem was a bad power antennae that failed in almost every Z.
So the problem was minor, but did result in a lowered reliability ratings.

I put my trust in Edmunds reviews. Almost always on the money.

 

[erhayes]

Unfortunate CU is the only one who generates and documents vehicle data based on long-term ownership. While I always look to Edmund's and Auto magazines for their opinion it is still only a snapshot of a new vehicle. I keep my vehicles for 120,000 + miles so, after-the-new-wears-off is important to me and CU provides my only source. This subject has now been beat-to-death so I move on. Ed