NHTSA Complaint #10662068 — 2010 MAZDA MAZDASPEED3

I WAS TAKING A CLOVER-LEAF OFF-RAMP WHEN I HEARD A SNAP (OR POP) AND FELT MY SEAT ROCK BACK ABOUT 3 INCHES WITH MORE INCHES TO GO BACK. I TOOK MY 2010 MAZDASPEED 3 INTO MORRIE'S MINNETONKA MAZDA IN ORDER FOR THEM TO INSPECT THE PART THAT HAD BROKEN. THE WASHER CAME LOOSE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT RAIL ON THE LEFT SIDE. THE MECHANICS HAD REATTACHED THE WASHER, WHICH APPEARED TO BE A PRESSED-ON WASHER, AND WHEN TESTING THE SEAT BY ROCKING IN IT, THE WASHER FELL OFF AGAIN. THE RECOMMENDATION THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAD GIVEN ME WAS TO PURCHASE A NEW DRIVER SEAT RAIL ASSEMBLY, WHICH COSTS $1080.00 + TAX/SS. I HAD DECLINED TO PURCHASE THIS PART, AS I DON'T BELIEVE THE SEAT RAIL ASSEMBLY IS WORTH THAT AMOUNT, PLUS I COULD HAVE PURCHASED A NICE SET OF AFTERMARKET SEATS LIKE BRANDS BRIDE OR SPARCO. AFTER POSTING TO A FACEBOOK GROUP PAGE CALLED "MAZDA COMMUNITY BLOG", MANY OTHER MEMBERS HAVE POSTED SIMILAR EXPERIENCES, AND HAVE PROVIDED MANY REFERENCES TO OTHER WEBSITES THAT HAVE CLOSE TO THE SAME ISSUE THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED. IT APPEARS TO BE MOSTLY RELATED TO THE 2010 MAZDASPEED 3 / 2010 MAZDA 3 YEARS OF WHEN THIS ISSUE HAS HAD OCCURRENCES. SOME OTHER SIMILAR ISSUES THAT OTHERS HAVE ALSO HAD ARE THE WELDS BREAKING ON THE SEATS, WHICH HAVE A SIMILAR EFFECT TO WHAT MY SEAT FELT LIKE. *JS