The ac had been getting less cool and completely went out 2 days ago. Yesterday it started making a ticking noise. Today it started smoking and smelled like burnt rubber. I took it in and was told the ac compressor had gone out. It is now getting a new compressor/filter/dryer/belt which I am paying for as it is out of warranty.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

I own a Mazda Cx-7 and was driving like a normally do and turned on the air conditioner. It started to blow hot air and I couldn't figure out why. Shortly after my engine started to make a loud squeaking sound and begin smoking, I tool it the mechanic and they informed me that it was the compressor. I read online that this is a common problem that Mazda Cx-7 owners have faced but they have also faced having their cars stall out because of it.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

My 2007 Mazda Cx-7 air conditioner compressor locked up causing minor accident from undriveability.

- St Petersburg, FL, USA

In April 2009 the air conditioner compressor failed on my 2007 Mazda Cx-7. there was approximately 49,000 miles on the car when this happened. We replaced the compressor with an aftermarket compressor because the dealer indicated it was not in warranty. Some time later we received a letter from Mazda extending the warranty on the compressor to 60,000 miles. In the letter Mazda explained that if the compressor had already been changed they would reimburse us for the charges. The paperwork had been misplaced at the time so we did not contact Mazda for reimbursement. In December 2010 my daughter was driving the car in dallas Texas when she heard a noise coming from under the hood. A burning smell started coming through the vents, then smoke started coming into the car, she had to cross three lanes of traffic to get off of the road. The car stopped running before she could get off of the road. A driver stopped and helped her get the car off of the road, luckily no one was injured. She called me and told me what happened, I called for a wrecker and had the car towed to a Mazda dealership nearby. The service manager called me and told me it would cost approximately $ $1,800 to repair the car. He also told me that the mileage had exceeded its limits for warranty. He later called and said that when the belt broke it had damaged the pulley on the crankshaft and that for the car to run properly it would also need to be replaced. I contacted the consumer division of Mazda and was basically told there was nothing they could do, they extended the warranty to 60,000 miles and that the car had exceeded its warranty. It is not normal for ac compressors to fail in such a short time unless there is a defect. Mazda knew this that is why they extended the warranty. Mazda needs to recall these defective compressors before someone is severely injured or killed in a wreck caused by the compressor locking up.

- San Angelo, TX, USA

I recently bought a used Mazda Cx-7 grand touring edition vehicle. I bought it on November 8, 2008 with 18,000 miles on it. After owning it for a year and a half I was driving to work one morning when I heard a pop and clanking sound. I continued to drive until my car started losing power however I managed to make it to work. No lights came on, nothing. My husband came that morning to drive the car to the mechanic and within 2 miles all the dash lights came on and the car lost all power. It was towed to grappone Mazda in concord nh for what I thought would be warranty work since we were still under the warranty. We were told to produce all service records which we did, and they found some gaps, however, never over the recommended 7500 miles that they recommend for an oil change. Our warranty coverage was denied twice. To this day, we still don't know what is wrong with our engine. There have been suggestions and also we've been told that the turbo definitely went. We obtained a carfax to see what was done to the car before we owned it and found out the turbo had been replaced before we bought the car when it was only a year old with 18,000 miles on it. Mazda is refusing to work with us on this and have left us without a car now for 2 months.

- Ashland, NH, USA

Driving home from work during rush hour. Smoke began pouring out of engine compartment outside vehicle and into the cabin. Fearing an engine fire, pulled off to left shoulder of highway and shut off engine. Opened hood (with much trepidation) to observe problem. Smoke continued to emanate from passenger side of engine compartment near serpentine belts - no obvious fire. Let vehicle sit for 5 minutes and restarted - same problem. Shut off A/C, and smoke and noise discontinued. Idled for 5 minutes - no more apparent problems with A/C off. Pulled back on to highway and continued trip home. Did some online investigation and deduced that A/C compressor had seized. Anecdotal evidence of widespread problem, including catastrophic failures for other Mazda CX7 owners. Anecdotal evidence of a complete component redesign for 2008 model year. Brought car to dealer following Monday - A/C compressor had seized and required replacement to the tune of $1300 at my cost (12,000 km over warranty). No help from the dealer, and no help from Mazda. Zoom-zoom appears to represent how quickly Mazda retreats from customer support.

- Carleton Place, 00, USA

The SUV began to smoke from under the hood. When stopped to look at it the belt had began to melt due to the ac compressor locking up. When went to dealer to purchase new compressor parts rep stated that this was a common problem. Upon further research online found several reports of similar incidents. Changed A/C compressor, dryer receiver, and belt. Yes the parts are available the replacement parts cost $420 and it was $90 to recharge the system (Mazda quoted $450 for labor, husband is mechanic so he done the work). Had the belt broke this could have easily caused me to be stranded on the side of the road with my toddler in 100 degree weather. The vehicle has only about 50,000 on it and A/C compressors should last way longer than that. When called Mazda they said I would have to drive the car 45 miles to the dealer pay for an inspection and the dealer would send them a report. I was not comfortable driving this far so we bought the parts from Mazda and done the work.

- Fort White , FL, USA

A/C condenser for air condition just went on Friday morning went next day Saturday to Mazda dealer they had no inventory no back order date but wanted me to give them $800. To hold and item with no acknowledge to when it will come in they said since it went out yesterday morning I haven't really heard anything bad and you should be able to drive for about 2 weeks, lifted there about 30 min heading to make some errands with my 2 boys, front hood starting smoking very which smoke and smelt burning pulled over waited I called them they said oh, this means that you engine belt broke and your engine is frozen. $1400. To repair 2007 CX07 (nothing but issues).

- Spring, TX, USA

Airconditioning caused strong burning-rubber smell. Being aware of numerous problems leading to engine shutdown with potential for crash, shut down A/C to enable 500-mile drive home, then to dealer, who confirmed failure and replaced compressor and serpentine belt at cost of $552.47. Mileage at time of replacement was only 52,132.

- Ontario, NY, USA

About a year(8/21/08) after purchase (new) my '07 Cx-7 A/C went out(the compressor) 49,000mi and of course it was out of warranty. It would be a little easier too swallow if it was just one part but no it usually ends in most of the system being replaced! the Mazda tech told us that the compressor clutch assembly failed/imploded and was in fact glowing red/burning inside the housing. The failed fragments entered the A/C's system and basically ruined the other parts. After going round and round with Mazda Corp. They covered some (compessor and a $500 gift card) without mention of fault (go figure!). I really had to stay on them to do anything. They were very reluctant, even then it cost me $700! I payed my half and had it repaired at tim marburger Mazda(out of business now). My wife does a lot of travel to/from work and what do you know, on 9/25/09 at @87,000 the same thing happened again!!!!! now, I'm truely pissed! not sure even if I have options at this point. I'm ready to take the hit on a trade in value of my car. I feel this may be a yearly occurence and I can not afford it! in the two years we've had the car/SUV I have had now 2 A/C complete failures, 1 bad idler pulley, just waiting for the next thing before I can get rid of it. You know I traded in a '01 Chevy Tahoe w/ 225,000 and never had any kind of problems like this just minor up keep that I expected! we will never buy another Mazda again.

- Salisbury, NC, USA

I drive a 2007 Mazda Cx-7. driving down the interstate, I noticed my air conditioning was not as cold as it has always been. I pulled off the interstate and came to a stop where I noticed white smoke from the right side of my hood, I heard a loud and unpleasant noise as well as a horrible smell coming from my car. I was able to get the car back to my residence; however, after turning my car off it would no longer start. I had to tow my car to the Mazda dealership for repair. Turns out the air compressor locked up and the replacement of the air compressor is $900+. my car has not yet turned 40,000 miles. After a couple internet searches (www.edmunds.com) it seems as though this instance of the air compressor locking up and making the automobile unusable is a very common problem with my particular model and year car. All of the situations I read about were also on cars with low mileage.

- Saint Louis, MO, USA

A/C stopped working - instead of cold, it blowing hot air - while returning from the trip (~4hhs). After that, on ~45M/H road - I felt a smell and saw smoke came from under the hood. Had to call fire department, luckily car/engine did not flame up. Car is in repair shop now. It was not only a fire hazard, but also probably health too: I have been driving and breathing whatever is burning ?!

- East Brunswick, NJ, USA

I bought a brand new 2007 Mazda CX7. In Jan. Of 2008, my A/C stopped working and smoke was pouring out of the engine compartment. After having it towed to the Mazda dealership, we were told the A/C compressor was fried. It was still under warranty at that point with approx. 25,000 miles. Around this time we had to have all four tires replaced because they were bald. Now it is May 2009, and once again, the A/C stopped working, the car is no longer under warranty, we took it to the dealership, they told us it was the compressor again, that the part had to be ordered. They disconnected the compressor and said it was safe to drive. The next day while driving the car smoke was pouring out of the engine compartment, after pulling off of the road we tried to re start the car, that is when the belt snapped, and the car is no longer drivable. And the tires are bald again one year later.

- Spring Valley, CA, USA

I own a 2007 Mazda Cx-7 with 41000 miles. While driving the other day the vehicle started to make a loud grinding noise. I turned off the air conditioner and it stopped. I took the vehicle in for repair the next day and to my surprise ended up spending $1500 dollars to replace the ac compressor and clutch unit. At his time Mazda has not issued any recalls for this particular problem. In searching the web I discovered that I am not the only person that is reporting this problem and it seems to be happening around the same mileage. Living in central Florida I have used my air conditioning quite often, but feel that this problem is being ignored by Mazda.

- Orlando, FL, USA

My A/C compressor gave out suddenly at about 40K. A few seconds before it happened there was a loud belt noise from my engine, and a burning smell. I had to pull over quickly to find where the sound was coming from. It wasn't until I turned off my A/C that I discovered that it was the source. I can not run the A/C without further damaging other components in my car. This is only a two year old car. Mazda says they will not completely cover it, since it happened outside of the 36K bumper to bumper warranty. It has not yet been replaced. After plenty of research on forums, I observed that this is happening on most Mazda Cx-7's between 25K-40K miles. It happened to my friend who has the same model and year 4 days after her bumper to bumper warranty expired. She was driving down the freeway when the car started to smoke and left her stranded on the side of the freeway. Serpentine belt burned all over. This could have been a very dangerous incident for me if I had not pulled over in time. I have contacted Mazda about this issue and they deny that there is a problem in this model car. They say they handle it on a case by case issue. Yet I have found postings in which people have had Mazda cover the entire cost of this issue outside of the 36K mile warranty. Mazda is only willing to cover half of the cost. Yet after all my research, and all the other owners that I have discovered to have the same issue with the 2007 Mazda Cx-7 model, I have come to the conclusion that this is a quality control issue, not warranty. For the past two years my car has been to the dealership for multiple tsb's and recalls.

- Houston, TX, USA