NHTSA Complaint #10450478 — 2006 MAZDA MX-5

IT HAS BEEN WELL DOCUMENTED THAT THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS IN 2006 MAZDA MIATAS FAIL TO RETRACT THE SEAT BELT. INITIAL MAZDA DENIED THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROBLEM AND IN MY CASE TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL FOR A SEAT BELT NOT TO RETRACT. IN RESPONSE MAZDA FINALLY ISSUED A TSB (08-001/11) IN 2008 WHICH RECOMMENDS WASHING THE SEAT-BELT AND REPLACING THE RETRACTOR GUIDE - BUT NOT REPLACING THE RETRACTOR. THE SOLUTION OFFERED BY MAZDA IS INADEQUATE AND FAILS TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE CONDITION. THE RESULT IS SEAT BELTS THAT DON'T RETRACT LEAVING THE SEAT BELT EXPOSED TO BEING DAMAGED BY BEING PINCHED IN DOOR CLOSINGS. ET CETRA. *TR