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Exterior lightingPart report

2011 Mazda CX-7 Exterior lighting Problems

Complaints
38about this part
Share
25%of 154 total for the year
Median mileage
53,000miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 38 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 2011 Mazda CX-7, 25% of the 154 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 53,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“From the time I purchased this vehicle the headlights would retain moisture and fog up. This has supposedly been repaired by Mazda, but recurs and results with poor headlight illumination. The illumination provided by my headlights is reduced considerably due to this defect. I have 17,000 miles on this vehicle now and have repeatedly tried to have this problem corrected. I believe this defect to impose a danger.”

NHTSA complaint #10712574, filed 2015-04, 8,000 miles

“I bought this car november of 2013 I have had to replace both headlights once and the right headlight twice. The headlight covers either retain moisture or heat up to the point that it is burning the lights out or melting the cover. The covers are so fogged up that I have to have the lights on bright all the time to have enough light to see. There is an obvious defect most people don't have to replace headlight every 4 to 6 months.”

NHTSA complaint #10748611, filed 2015-08, 43,000 miles

“The headlight bulbs burn out multiple times a year and on top of that, the lens have fogged up to the point that I was forced to replace the headlamps. The car was not drivable during dusk, night and dawn hours. The fog seems to be from the inside, since no amount of exterior cleaning would help. The rear break lights are also fogged up and the inside red plastic is also melted. These are some major safety issues. I have replaced the headlamps, but it seems like the new ones will have the same issue in the years to come.”

NHTSA complaint #11291802, filed 2019-12, 109,000 miles

“I purchased the vehicle used in may of 2013 I only had the vehicle 2 days and had to replace the drivers head light. On december 17th the drivers headlight went out again and on the 19th of december the passenger headlight has gone out.”

NHTSA complaint #10667700, filed 2014-12, 49,646 miles

“Car was purchased may 2011. I cannot remember when it all started. All repairs were made at jim ellis Mazda, cobb pkwy, marietta, ga from purchase until sept. 2017 when I became fed up. My headlamps fogged up after a year or so, they said it was normal. My headlamp bulbs had to be replaced every 3 to 6 months and, now they are replaced every 2-3 months. All bulbs were purchased from Mazda yet all bulbs died out within 3-6 months. In the past 6 months, headlamp bulbs were replaced four times. 4 nights ago, I was stopped by the police due to no headlights. …”

NHTSA complaint #11075141, filed 2018-02, 145,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Exterior lighting: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2012718%
20113825%
20102214%
200946%
2008147%
2007112%

Other parts of the 2011 Mazda CX-7

Suspension
51 complaintsAir bags
42 complaintsSteering
16 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsElectrical system
7 complaintsOther or unknown
7 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
6 complaintsBrakes
5 complaintsEngine
5 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2011 Mazda CX-7

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology