MazdaCX-72011Overview/mazda/cx-7/2011/base/

2011 Mazda CX-7

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2011 CX-7.

Body SUV

The 2011 Mazda CX-7 is an SUV situated in the latter half of the model’s 2007–2013 generation, a period that saw owner-reported issues taper from their earliest peak. It accumulated 152 total complaints across four recalls, with suspension emerging as the top reported problem area. Within that broader arc—from 528 complaints in 2007 down to a single complaint in 2013—the 2011 model lands between the extremes, signaling to researchers a model year that escaped the worst reliability data of the launch period yet still generated enough documented concern, particularly around suspension, to merit careful scrutiny.

Model year201220112010200920082007

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Lug nut torque65-87 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 35 U.S. · 525 U.S. CCA battery, OE oil filter LF0514302B. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 35 U.S. · 525 U.S. CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP215-70R17OEM · verified
Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filterLF0514302B alt LF0214342
Engine air filterAJ5713Z40A9U
Fuel filterL33L13ZE0 alt L55513ZE0
Spark plugL3YD18110
Battery000080124FWB alt F22118520E
Front wiper bladesTD1167330 alt GS1E67330
Serpentine beltL3BR15909
ThermostatLF0315165A alt L33615170
Cabin air filterEG2161P11

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length184.3 in
Overall width73.6 in
Overall height65 in
Wheelbase108.3 in
Curb weight4008 lb
Track (front / rear)63.4 / 63.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the CX-7 of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.5–10.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.50 sec — 2007 Sport
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2010i Sport 2.5L I-410.00 sec17.60 sec161 hpFWD
2009Grand Touring 2.3L Turbo I-47.80 sec16.00 sec244 hpAWD
2008Grand Touring 2.3L Turbo I-47.70 sec15.80 sec244 hpAWD
2007Sport 2.3L Turbo I-47.50 sec15.50 sec244 hpAWD
2007Sport 2.3L Turbo I-47.70 sec15.80 sec244 hpFWD
2007Grand Touring 2.3L Turbo I-47.80 sec15.90 sec244 hpAWD
2007Sport 2.3L Turbo I-47.90 sec16.10 sec244 hpAWD
2007Touring 2.3L Turbo I-47.90 sec16.00 sec244 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 · SAE J1703 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 65-87 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity5.3
Brake FluidDOT 3 · SAE J1703
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2 Pints
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Connecting Rod (Large End) BearingsSOHC: 30-36 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel BoltsSOHC: 14-22 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts80-85 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts13-16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts32-47 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts12-14 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts32-47 ft-lbs
Main BearingsSOHC: 75-85 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts65-87 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug29.0-43.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug29.0-43.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub174-202 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub174-202 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 Turbo rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)650 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition TimingTurbo: 10, Non-Turbo: 8 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity.98-1.08 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.06 oz
Standard BCI Group Number35 U.S.
Standard BCI Cranking Performance525 U.S. cca
Optional BCI Group Number24F Canada

Service checks

Pressure Test18 - MAXIMUM PRESSURE psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief14-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature176-183 °F
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)33.0 Turbo psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)33.0 Turbo psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)29.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)29.0 psi
Injector Primary Resistance11.4

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket61-68 ft-lbs / 16-23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle79-93 ft-lbs / 58-75 ft-lbs
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Minimum Machining1.06 in / 0.66 in
Rotor Discard at or Under1.03 in / 0.63 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
145-79 inch lbs., Step 2: 10-1245–79 in
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
120-23 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9020–23 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
171-77 ft. lbs., step 2: 87-9371–77 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
171-76 ft. lbs., step 2: 87-9371–76 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
16-9 ft. lbs., Step 2: 21-23 ft. lbs, Step 3: 906–9 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 75,000 mi; coolant at 60,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 60,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miBody Fasteners (torque) · Brake Line (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Steering System (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 37,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace)
Every 45,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
At 60,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miFuel Evaporative Emission Control System Lines (inspect)
Every 75,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Belt (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2011 Mazda CX-7 sits in an awkward position within its federal record arc: after a heavily criticized 2007 launch (528 complaints, 5 recalls) and a quiet 2009 (64 complaints, 6 recalls), complaint volume rebounded to 155 in 2010 and held at 152 for 2011 — roughly two-and-a-half times the 2009 low — before collapsing to 39 in the final 2012 model year and just 1 in 2013. Within that context, 2011 represents the latter peak of mid-cycle issues rather than a return to early-model trouble, paired with 4 recalls, 0 investigations, and 241 technical service bulletins that suggest persistent manufacturer service activity. The top complaint clusters — Suspension (32), Exterior Lighting (28), and Air Bags (24) — are notable for safety relevance, and the 8 crash-related complaints add weight to the air bag concern, even though no fire complaints were filed. The data does not specify a single root cause, but the combination of elevated complaints, recurring safety-system grievances, and a high TSB count indicates the 2011 model had not fully shaken the generation's early reliability reputation. **Takeaway: 2011 is a defensible but not ideal used buy — it is cheaper than the troublesome early years yet carries materially more complaint and recall burden than the cleaner 2009, so a pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, lighting, and airbag system functionality is strongly advised.**

4
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
241
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
152
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 152 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Suspension32
Exterior Lighting28
Air Bags24
Suspension,Air Bags11
Steering7
Power Train5
Steering,Suspension5
Exterior Lighting,Visibility/Wiper3

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18V717000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 12/10/2018

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… Remedy: 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…

19V782000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 31/10/2019

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… Remedy: 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…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 241 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SA-041-262026-06-18Electrical SystemThis SA supersedes the previously issued SA(s) listed below. The changes are noted in…
SA-029-262026-04-21Power TrainThis Service Alert supersedes the previously issued SA listed below: The changes are…
SA-061-252025-12-17Electrical SystemIf you encounter any type of electrical concern (e.g, dead battery, engine no start…
07-004-25a2025-12-10Unknown Or OtherA musty/mildew type odor may come from the vents when the air conditioning (A/C) system…
SA-039/252025-08-21StructureSome vehicles may experience exterior trim heat damage such (melted, separating, etc.)…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific CX-7. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 2011 CX-7 have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.