Head-to-head reliability
Mazda CX 7 vs Toyota Camry
How the Mazda CX 7 and Toyota Camry 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 Toyota Camry: The CX-7 averaged 188.3 complaints per year over 6 years, while the Camry averaged 214.3 over 10 years. The CX-7 had 29 recalls and 24 crash-related complaints; the Camry had 31 recalls and 181 crash-related complaints. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Mazda CX 7 or Toyota Camry 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 used crossover that demands careful attention to air bag recalls and front suspension wear. Over six years, owners filed 1,130 complaints, with air bags, engine cooling, and suspension as the most common trouble spots. Many complaints mention Takata air bag inflator recalls and lower control arm or ball joint failures that cause instability at speed. Living with a CX-7 means staying on top of recall repairs and budgeting for suspension and turbo-related engine work.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a mainstream sedan with a longer complaint history but a different set of issues. Over ten years, owners filed 2,143 complaints, with power train, engine, and brake problems leading the list. Reports include transmission grinding, sudden acceleration, and brake pedal failures, plus air conditioning odors and condenser damage. While the Camry has more complaints per year, many are not safety-critical, but some brake and acceleration reports are serious.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Mazda CX 7 | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1,130 Better | 2,143 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 29 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 24 Better | 181 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 188.3 Better | 214.3 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 20 Better | 163 |
| 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 air bag inflator recalls, often with parts unavailable for months. This matters because a recalled air bag may not deploy correctly in a crash, and buyers should confirm the recall was completed.
Complaints describe lower control arm and ball joint failures that make the vehicle feel unstable at high speeds. A buyer should have the front suspension inspected for play or noise, as worn parts can affect steering control.
Reports include turbo booster malfunction causing white smoke from the tailpipe and repairs as early as 60,000 miles. This indicates potential costly turbo or cooling system issues that a buyer should check for smoke or coolant leaks.
Some owners mention window regulator failures and tire pressure monitor lights, but the more serious engine complaints involve turbo problems. These can lead to poor performance and emissions issues, so a pre-purchase inspection should focus on turbo function.
“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…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN395
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER342
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES290
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM246
Owners report grinding noises from the front during acceleration, with dealers confirming transmission failure and recommending replacement. This is a major expense, and buyers should test drive for unusual noises and check for transmission recalls.
Complaints include uncontrollable sudden acceleration and coolant bypass valve codes (P268115) that may not be covered by recall for certain VINs. Sudden acceleration is a serious safety concern, so a buyer should verify any open recalls and have the engine checked.
Reports describe brake pedal going to the floor with no response, especially on hills or when braking gently. This is a critical safety issue, and a buyer should test brakes thoroughly and check for any brake-related recalls.
While not detailed in the sample, electrical system complaints rank high. Owners may face issues with sensors or infotainment, so a buyer should test all electrical features and look for warning lights.
“I turned into a restaurant’s parking lot, found a spot and slowly drove into the lot, I eased off the gas pedal and gently applying the brake as the lot has a slight downward slope. When I reach the chunk (the parking block), I added more force to the brake,…”
“Grinding noise coming from front end upon acceleration. Brought to dealership who confirmed noises coming from transmission. Transmission needs to be replaced per dealer recommendation. Recalls on 2021 Toyota Camry for same issue. Transmissions on backorder a…”
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…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Mazda CX 7 or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Mazda CX-7 has fewer complaints per year (about 188) than the Toyota Camry (about 214), but the CX-7's issues often involve safety-critical air bags and suspension. The Camry's higher yearly average includes more power train and brake complaints, some of which are severe. In practice, both need careful pre-purchase inspections, but the CX-7 may require more immediate recall attention.
Key differences
- The Mazda CX-7 has a high concentration of air bag and suspension complaints, including Takata recalls and ball joint failures, while the Camry's top issues are power train, engine, and brakes.
- The Camry has more crash-related complaints (181) and injuries (163) than the CX-7 (24 crashes, 20 injuries), though the CX-7 has zero deaths reported versus one for the Camry.
- CX-7 owners frequently mention turbo problems and white smoke, while Camry owners report transmission grinding and sudden acceleration.
- The CX-7 averages fewer complaints per year but has more recalls (29 over 6 years) than the Camry (31 over 10 years), meaning the CX-7 may have more frequent recall campaigns.
- Check for open Takata air bag recalls and confirm the passenger-side inflator has been replaced; incomplete recalls are a safety risk.
- Inspect front suspension for worn lower control arms and ball joints by listening for clunks and checking for play during a test drive.
- Test drive for transmission grinding or hesitation, especially during acceleration, as this may indicate a failing transmission.
- Check brake pedal feel for any sponginess or failure to respond, and verify if any brake-related recalls apply to the VIN.
Before you buy
- Run the VIN on NHTSA's recall website to see if all air bag, suspension, and brake recalls are completed.
- Take the vehicle to a trusted mechanic for a pre-purchase inspection focusing on the CX-7's suspension and turbo, or the Camry's transmission and brakes.
- During a test drive, listen for unusual noises from the engine, transmission, and suspension, and test brakes on a safe incline.
- Ask the seller for maintenance records, especially for turbo repairs on the CX-7 or transmission service on the Camry.
- Check for warning lights on the dashboard, including tire pressure, check engine, and air bag indicators.
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 Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Mazda CX 7 vs Toyota Camry
- Mazda CX 7 total complaints
- 1,130
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,143
- Mazda CX 7 total recalls
- 29
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Mazda CX 7 avg complaints/year
- 188.3
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 214.3
- More reliable overall
- Mazda CX 7
- Mazda CX 7 top complaint area
- AIR BAGS
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN