NHTSA Complaint #10133211 — 2001 MAZDA MILLENIA

THE TILT-STEERING MOTOR FAILED, LEAVING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED IN THE EXTREME-UP ("BUS-DRIVER") POSITION. NO WARNING; I JUST PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND THE WHEEL DID NOT COME DOWN (IT AUTOMATICALLY SWINGS OUT OF THE WAY WHEN YOU TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION). THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE, ALTHOUGH THE STEERING WHEEL TECHNICALLY STILL WORKS, IN ORDER TO DRIVE ONE HAS TO ELEVATE THE SEAT IN THE VERTICAL PLANE TO MAXIMUM AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LIKE THAT OF A BUS. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT, WERE ONE TO BE INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN SUCH A POSITION, THE AIRBAG WOULD BE AIMED AT ONE'S CHIN, PROBABLY RESULTING IN A BROKEN NECK, AND THE "BOTTOM" OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS POINTED DIRECTLY AT THE MIDDLE OF ONE'S CHEST, BELOW THE STERNUM, PROBABLY RESULTING IN MASSIVE INTERNAL INJURIES OR, EASILY, IN DEATH.*AK