NHTSA Complaint #10133217 — 2001 MAZDA MILLENIA

NINE MONTHS AFTER THE POWER STEERING WHEEL TILT MOTOR FAILED, I AGAIN EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE, 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 UP 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. THE PREVIOUS FAILURE (NOV 12, 2004) WAS DEEMED TO BE A FAILED MOTOR; THE MOTOR WAS REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF $363.33. THIS FAILURE IS NOW DEEMED TO BE A FAILURE OF THE STEERING COLUMN ITSELF - THIS WILL COST ME ~$1600!!!!*AK