NHTSA Complaint #11217079 — 2016 SUBARU CROSSTREK

LEVER TO ADJUST DRIVER SEAT HEIGHT HAS TIP AT FRONT EDGE OF DRIVER SEAT. LEVER LOOSENS AND TIP PROTRUDES SUCH THAT ON EXITING CAR IT OFTEN TRAPS PANTS CUFF AND HAS NEARLY DUMPED ME ONTO HIGHWAY IF I AM DISTRACTED AND NOT CONCENTRATING ON AVOIDING THIS. SUBARU CORRECTED ON LATER MODELS BY MOVING TIP 3 INCHES BACK OUT OF CUFF RADIUS, WHICH DOES NOT HELP WITH MY 2016. AXLE OF LEVER FURTHER BENDS OR GOES OFF AXIS TO EXACERBATE PROBLEM. FOR WARRANTY CORRECTION DEALER CLAIMS 'THAT IS THE WAY IT WAS DESIGNED, NOTHING WE CAN DO. THEY COULD PUT IN THE SEAT WITH CORRECTED LEVER POSITIONING. TO NOTE BELOW: PROBLEM IS ON EXITING PARKED CAR. PROBLEM IS POSITION AND DESIGN OF MANUAL DRIVER SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT LEVER. THAT IT BENDS AWAY FROM ORIGINAL POSITION OF FLUSH AGAINST SEAT BASE AND THE TIP PROTRUDES JUST AT THE EDGE WHERE THE LEFT LEG DRAGS BY ON EXITING, AND THE PANTS CUFF GETS CAUGHT BETWEEN THE LEVER AND THE MOLDED SEAT BASE. AS THE RIGHT LEG IS SWINGING OUT IN EXPECTATION THAT THE LEFT IS HEADING TOWARD THE ROAD, I TRIP AND START TO FALL TOWARD THE ROAD. THIS HAS GOTTEN WORSE AS EACH TIME IT BENDS THE AXLE OF THE LEVER A BIT FURTHER OUT, INCREASING THE GAP BETWEEN LEVER AND SEAT BASE.