NHTSA Complaint #10043639 — 2004 MAZDA RX-8

IN THE NEW MAZDA RX8, THE REAR SEAT DESIGN WITH THE HIGH CENTER CONSOLE MAKES IT VERY HARD TO LATCH THE SEAT BELT WITH A CHILD BOOSTER SEAT, AND IMPOSSIBLE TO DO SO FOR AN OLDER PERSON OR A PERSON WITHOUT GOOD MANUAL DEXTERITY AND A STRONG BACK. IT IS COMPLETELY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CHILD TO LATCH THEMSELVES IN. NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM FOR ATTACHING INFANT OR CHILD SEATS WITH SEAT BELTS INSTALLED IN THE SEAT ITSELF - IT'S A PROBLEM FOR OLDER CHILDREN (30-80 LBS) THAT SIT IN A BOOSTER AND USE THE 3 POINT SEAT BELT INSTALLED IN THE CAR. I HAVE CONTACTED MAZDA AND RECOMMENDED THAT THEY CREATE A SEAT BELT EXTENDER SO THAT THE BELT LATCH CAN BE RAISED UP HIGH ENOUGH TO REACH AROUND THE SIDE OF THE CAR SEAT, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD INVESTIGATE, BUT THERE WAS NO REMEDY IN THE FORSEEN FUTURE. I HAVE ALSO SHOPPED AROUND FOR BOOSTER SEATS, AND HAVE YET TO FIND A MODEL THAT WORKS IN THIS CAR.*AK