NHTSA Complaint #703164 — 1995 MAZDA PROTEGE

ON FEB 4/99 WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT TILTED BACK QUITE DRAMTICALLY CAUSING ME TO GRIP THE STEERING WHEEL TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HAD BECOME UNSTABLE AND IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE THE CAR PARTICULARLY DURING ACCELERATION AND MAINTAIN CONTROL. I WENT TO THE DEALER ON FEB 10/99 AND FOR $36.92 THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE SLIDING SEAT TRACK WAS BROKEN. THEY INDICTAED THE CAR APPEARED WELL MAINTAINED AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT THE RESULT OF POOR MAINTENANCE BUT INSTEAD SEEMED TO BE A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THEY SAID THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHIVLES WAS $209 CDN PLUS LABOUR FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT $300. I APPROACHED MAZDA CANADA AND THE DEALER TO SEE IF THEY WOULD COVER THE COST OF THIS MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. THE DEALER'S SEVICE MANAGER SAID THE VEHICLE WAS BEYOND IT'S 5 YEAR 80,000 KM WARRANTY PERIOD AND THERE DIDN'T SEEM TO BE ANYTHING HE COULD DO PARTICULARLY SINCE I HADN'T BEEN BRINGING MY CAR TO THEM REGUALRLY FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. COULD YOU PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS PROBLEM HAS SHOWN UP IN OTHER MAZDAS AND WHAT RECOURSE I MIGHT HAVE IF ANY. I WILL ALSO BE CHECKING WHAT HELP I CAN GET FROM CANADIAN REGULATORY AGENCIES. YOUR ASSITANCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK-YOU.