NHTSA Complaint #10067862 — 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE

I AM 6'0" WITH A TEMPERMENTAL BACK AND A 30" PANT INSEAM. IN PRACTICAL TERMS, I MUST HAVE THE SEAT CUSHION AT ITS LOWEST POSITION (FOR HEADROOM); THE SEAT BACK VERTICAL (TO PREVENT BACKACHE); AND THE SEAT MOVED RELATIVELY FORWARD (TO REACH THE PEDALS). MY 2003 MAZDA PROTEGE 5 IS ONE OF THE FEW CARS I CAN DRIVE COMFORTABLY. THAT'S HIGH PRAISE FOR SUCH A MODEST CAR. >>>>> MY PROBLEM WITH THE PROTEGE IS THE LEVER FOR THE FORE/AFT MOVEMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE LEVER IS BELOW THE FRONT EDGE OF THE SEAT CUSHION (INSTEAD OF ALONG THE LEFT SIDE); IT IS SHAPED ROUGHLY LIKE A CAPITAL LETTER "L" LAID HORIZONTALLY; THE INSIDE ANGLE IS ABOUT 120 DEGREES (SO THAT THE LONG SIDE POINTS FORWARD TOWARD THE ACCELERATOR); AND THE LEVER TIP IS "POINTY". >>>>> IF I WEAR "LONG" PANTS WITH BOTTOM CUFFS, THE CUFFS ARE PRONE TO CATCH ON THE SEAT LEVER AS I GET OUT OF THE CAR. BELIEVE ME, IT'S NOT EASY TO STOP 235 POUNDS WHEN I'VE BEEN THROWN OFF BALANCE. I'VE REPEATEDLY GOTTEN BRUISED AND/OR SCRAPED HANDS DURING UNGRACEFUL LANDINGS. >>>>> THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT IS SIMILAR. THESE LEVERS ARE A SAFETY HAZARD. I BELIEVE THAT THE 2003 PROTEGE (AND ANY OTHER RECENT VEHICLE USING THIS DESIGN) SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE SEAT LEVERS.*AK >>>>> A REPLACEMENT LEVER SHOULD BE SHAPED SO THAT ITS TIP TUCKS FAR ENOUGH UNDER THE SEAT CUSHION (A COUPLE OF INCHES) TO PREVENT IT FROM CATCHING A PANT CUFF OR PURSE STRAP. FOR AN EXAMPLE OF THE JOB DONE RIGHT, PLEASE SEE THE 2004 MAZDA 626. >>>>> THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. YOUR STUPID WEB SITE DESIGN INSISTS ON A SPECIFIC MONTH/DAY/YEAR FOR THE INCIDENT DATE. I HAVE ENTERED MY DATE OF PURCHASE INSTEAD. *AK