Problems with 2011 Mazda CX-7 EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

My headlights keep going out. i have to put in new head light bulbs every few months. i have changed the head light bulb on both sides for an entire year. currently my right head light is out again. i purchased another bulb and have to pay for a mechanic to fix my head light this week.

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. the police watched while i checked day time running lights, high beams, low beams and, at 9 p.m. late evening georgia/est, i had no running lights. i took the car to mazda roswell the next morning. when i described the problem, stephanie johnson, service advisor manager immediately recognized the problem by inquiring how often i had to change my bulbs in the car. no service advisor had previously asked that question at the marietta service department & noone has ever advised to use only mazda parts. unfortunately, i received a call from mazda 3 days later alleging that my headlight assembly was fried because i did not use mazda manufactured bulbs. mazda is billing me $130 for the diagnostic though they knew what the problem was without looking at the car, & is charging me $313 to replace and repair the headlight assembly when my headlights have had a shortage for 6 of the 7 years that i owned the car. i stopped using mazda service after 6 years because not only could they not find or fix the consistent headlamp problem but mazda service would find a repair that i had not complained of. in fact, i once took the car in & brought my own higher quality headlamps & mazda returned my car w/o replacing the burned out bulbs. this car was defective when sold but not rising to the level of lemon law complaints.

The low beam head lights are very dim, replaced bulbs several times and can not see 10 feet in-front of car. took to dealer and they replaced a part on both low beam head lights but i still cannot see 10 feet in-front of vehicle.

Headlight assembly fogged up on the inside causing bad illumination at night. although it seems to be sealed properly, moisture is still entering assembly.

Defective taillight assembly. they are both "melting" from the inside and have reported to the dealer and warranty carriers to no avail. they responded that i must have changed the bulbs for aftermarket ones and that could have possibly overheated and melted the assembly. i have not changed the bulbs until today (i bought the car new from the dealer). 8 out of 10 cx-7's i see have the same issue, both tail lights melting. looks like snow inside the assembly. this is a huge safety concern that could lead to potential accidents. dealer does not want to take responsibility but i feel they should be replaced at no cost.

Low beam and high beam headlights burn out multiple times each year.

Low beam and high beam headlights burn out multiple times through out the year. the low beam on either side burn out and have to be replaced more frequently than the high beams.

Headlights on the car go out frequently while driving at night. i have to change them 3-4 times a year on both sides. this is becoming a serious problem and a huge expense as the headlights cost $30 a piece.

I had to replace the lower headlight several time on the passenger side since purchase in 2013. two time after the bulb was replace the light went out while i was driving home at night. again as of may 4, 2016 the headlight us not working.

The head lights and tail lights have been replaced over three times in least than two years. the condensation on the covers makes it difficult seeing where one is driving. this i believe is a safety issue. this condensation has also caused my radio to lose its sound. the battery will not start if it rains or its cold.

Defective taillight assembly: both brake light taillight assembly have melted inside the taillight assembly. since reporting this to my mazda dealer i have seen the same problem in other mazda cx-7's. this is a huge safety concern: title 49: transportation part 571'federal motor vehicle safety standards subpart b'federal motor vehicle safety standards 571.108 standard no. 108; lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment. s14.4.1.4.1.3 where the sample device does not have uniform spectral characteristics in all useful directions, color measurements must be made at as many directions of view as are required to evaluate the color for those directions that apply to the end use of the device. s14.4.1.4.2.1 red. the color of light emitted must fall within the following boundaries: y = 0.33 (yellow boundary); y = 0.98 − x (purple boundary). the 2017 florida statutes title xxiii motor vehicles; chapter 316 state uniform traffic control; 316.221 taillamps ' (1) every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer, and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a combination of vehicles, shall be equipped with at least two taillamps mounted on the rear, which, when lighted as required in s. 316.217, shall emit a red light plainly visible from a distance of 1,000 feet to the rear, except that passenger cars and pickup trucks manufactured or assembled prior to january 1, 1972, which were originally equipped with only one taillamp shall have at least one tail lamp... it seems that either the mazda does not want to fix the problem, or my mazda dealer does not want to take responsibility by replacing the defective taillight assembly. the taillight assembly should either be replaced at no cost or redesigned in a way to stop the melting from occurring. i have reported to this defect to our local mazda dealer.

1. warning illuminator light on indicating driver/passenger airbags may require repair and/or immediate attention. 2. rear tail light: bulb has become so hot the bulb is literally burning through the red casing of the break light - condensation or wiring is causing the bulb to overheat.

The headlight lenses on both sides are faded and dull; visibility is limited the tail light lenses on both sides are faded and dull

For the last 2 years i have been trying to get our headlights to work properly with no success. even when both dim headlights are working they are so dimm we can't drive with them and if one of them goes out we might as well not have a headlight. i have a vw and if one of it's low beam lights is out it is 100 times brighter than the mazda with both low beams. this is very dangerous because if we are out at night we have to use the high beams which blinds on coming traffic. i have taken it to jim ellis mazda twice and the first time i didn't even get home with out the light falling out. took it back and they assured me if was fixed but it wasn't and now the service rep nor the service manager will even return my call. i have had it to 3 different local shops and they can't fix it either. one of them finally got the light from falling out and replaced them both with the brighest light we could find and they are still very very dimm. i have also spent hundreds of dollars on this issue so it is not only dangerous but very disappointing not to mention very dangerous. thanks, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 mazda cx-7. the contact stated that the front head lamps would not project more than 10 feet in front of the vehicle. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer and new bulbs were installed, however, the failure persisted. the contact stated that the lens cover was foggy and stated that the high beams had to be engaged while driving at night. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 44,000. updated 11/18/15*lj

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. *tr

My front headlights are so dim i can hardly see when driving after dusk. even with the high beams on i can only see about two car lengths in front of me. they look fogged up. i was getting gas last week and a gentleman came over and asked if he could clean my headlights...free of charge but he felt it was too dangerous for me to drive. i told him i agreed but that they couldn't be cleaned. he did give it a try but it was futile. the film that seems to be covering the lens is on the inside...or i think it is because it cannot be scrubbed off. it is really scary driving home from work and new light bulbs did not make any difference. i believe it is a manufacturer's defect that if just being ignored.

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.

Low beam headlights continuously need replacing...averaging a set every six months. the bulbs are blown when first turned on or while driving on the highway. extremely dangerous at night in rural areas. do not use lights during the day unless raining.

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. *tr

Takata recall. low beam headlights are always blowing out. have to replace every 6 months or sooner

Tl* the contact owns a 2011 mazda cx-7. when the low beam headlights were activated, they did not illuminate brightly enough. the vehicle was taken to g&g car and truck supercenters (308 s 2nd ave, dodge city, ks 67801, (866) 692-7707), but the cause of the failure could not be determined. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 53,000. *tt *jb

Purchased vehicle on 2/27/2011. 1) dec 27 2011 replaced drivers headlamp. 2) 4/18/12 battery issue. car would need jump starts randomly 3) 8/18/12 passenger headlamp replaced 4) 11/5/12 battery replaced 5) 12/21/12 drivers headlamp replaced 6) 7/1/13 drivers headlamp replaced. went to 2 different dealers to replace items. both dealers assured me there is nothing wrong with electrical and it was just one of those things. unfortunately 4 headlamps and a battery within 2 years of owning the vehicle is just right. *tr

Low beam headlights frequently, every three to four months, go out. lighting is so poor when they do work that we do not use the vehicle after dark if at all possible and then use the high beams to operate safely.

From the time i purchased this vehicle the plastic lens on the xenon headlights has been cloudy. the vehicle is garaged and presently has just 15,000 miles. the cloudy headlight lens reduce visibility. the dealer from the date of delivery states cloudiness is normal. *tr

The controls essential for vehicle operation (speedometer, tachometer, transmission gear placement), otherwise known as the center "cluster" controls are illuminated regardless if headlights are on or off. this vehicle is not equipped with automatic headlights, thus making this issue more pressing. when the dash controls are illuminated, you forget to turn on your head lamps to make yourself visible to other vehicles. mazda stated that the dash controls are illuminated in order to make gauges more visible. my whole argument has been that if i am having even the slightest difficulty seeing my dashboard due to poor lighting (whether it be cloudy, dark, dusk, etc.) my head lamps should be on. if the dash is illuminated, you will forget to turn on your head lamps. this has already caused one accident, and i am afraid that it may lead to more in the future.