Head-to-head reliability
Mazda CX 7 vs FORD F 150
How the Mazda CX 7 and FORD F 150 compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Mazda CX 7 vs FORD F 150: The Mazda CX-7 averaged 188 complaints per year over 6 years, while the Ford F-150 averaged 1,131 per year over 10 years. The F-150 also had 145 recalls versus 29 for the CX-7. Both have reported safety issues, so inspect carefully. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda CX 7 or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Mazda CX 7
The Mazda CX-7 is a compact SUV that averaged about 188 complaints per year over six years, with 29 recalls. Owner reports frequently mention airbag inflator recalls, suspension problems like lower control arm and ball joint wear, and engine issues such as turbo failure and window malfunctions. Living with one means staying on top of recall repairs and budgeting for potential suspension and engine work.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup that averaged roughly 1,131 complaints per year over ten years, with 145 recalls. The most common owner complaints involve transmission problems—hard shifts, delayed engagement, and sudden loss of power—along with electrical glitches and lighting issues. It's a high-volume vehicle with a wide range of reported problems, so a thorough pre-purchase inspection is crucial.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda CX 7 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,130 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 29 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 24 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 188.3 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 20 Better | 287 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Mazda CX 7
- 01AIR BAGS271
- 02ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING257
- 03SUSPENSION235
- 04ENGINE194
- 05EXTERIOR LIGHTING96
Owners report Takata airbag inflator recalls, with some waiting long periods for parts. This matters because an unrepaired airbag may not deploy correctly in a crash.
Complaints describe a lack of stability at high speeds, diagnosed as worn lower control arms and ball joints. This can affect steering and handling, so inspect these parts closely.
Reports include turbo booster malfunction causing white smoke from the tailpipe and window regulator failures. Turbo issues can lead to costly repairs and emissions problems.
Some owners mention multiple engine-related problems, including turbo issues and electrical glitches like tire pressure monitor lights staying on. These can be annoying and expensive to fix.
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LACKED STABILITY WHEN BEING OPERATED AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND BALL JOINTS…”
“TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 MAZDA CX-7. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 17V012000 (AIR BAGS), 16V593000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIRS…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
Owners report hard or delayed shifts, jerking, clunking, and even sudden loss of power with the 10-speed automatic transmission. This is a safety concern as it can happen while driving.
Complaints include loud bangs from the transmission during downshifts and warnings like 'Front Camera Malfunction' and 'Pre Collision Assist Not Available.' These can indicate underlying electrical or transmission issues.
There are recalls and complaints about headlights, which can reduce visibility and increase crash risk. Check that all lighting functions work properly.
Engine-related recalls and complaints exist, though fewer than power train issues. Some owners report engine problems that may require costly repairs.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Mazda CX 7 — 29 recalls
The defect: 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, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan)…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Mazda customer service at 1-800-222-5500, Option 4. M…
The defect: 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 inflators may explode due to propellant degr…
The risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. The recall began December 3,…
The defect: Mazda North America Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain 2012 CX-7, CX-9 and Mazda6 vehicles sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (S…
The risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began October…
The defect: 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 contaminated with salt, such as from driving on s…
The risk: A loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Mazda will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front lower control arms, free of charge. As a priority, Mazda will first address all affected 2007-2008 vehicles as well as 2009-2011 vehicles currently registered in Connecticut, De…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Mazda CX 7 or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Mazda CX-7 has far fewer complaints per year (about 188) compared to the Ford F-150 (about 1,131). This means the CX-7 may have fewer reported issues overall, but the F-150's higher volume means more data. In practice, the CX-7 might be simpler to own, but both have significant reported problems.
Key differences
- The Ford F-150 has a much higher complaint rate per year (1,131 vs. 188 for the Mazda CX-7), largely due to transmission and electrical issues.
- Mazda CX-7 complaints often involve airbag recalls and suspension wear, while F-150 complaints center on power train and electrical problems.
- The F-150 has more crash-related complaints (328 vs. 24) and injuries (287 vs. 20), though these numbers don't account for vehicle sales volume.
- Both have Takata airbag recalls, but the CX-7's suspension issues (lower control arms, ball joints) are a recurring owner-reported concern.
- Check for open Takata airbag recalls and confirm the inflator has been replaced; unrepaired airbags can be dangerous.
- Inspect the front suspension, especially lower control arms and ball joints, for wear or looseness that could cause instability at high speeds.
- Test-drive the truck and pay attention to transmission shifts; hard jerks, clunks, or delayed engagement are common complaints.
- Look for electrical warnings on the dashboard, such as front camera or pre-collision assist errors, which may indicate costly repairs.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA's recall website to see if any open recalls exist for the specific vehicle.
- For the Mazda CX-7, have a mechanic inspect the suspension and turbo system for wear or failure.
- For the Ford F-150, test the transmission thoroughly and check for any stored error codes related to the power train or electrical system.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes on the F-150 and turbo upkeep on the CX-7.
- Take a test drive that includes highway speeds to check for stability (CX-7) and transmission behavior (F-150).
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Mazda CX 7 or FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda CX 7 vs FORD F 150
- Mazda CX 7 total complaints
- 1,130
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Mazda CX 7 total recalls
- 29
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Mazda CX 7 avg complaints/year
- 188.3
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Mazda CX 7
- Mazda CX 7 top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN