NHTSA Complaint #718907 — 2000 MAZDA MPV

SINCE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, WE HAVE HAD A PROBLEMS KEEPING OUR 2-YEAR OLD'S CAR SEAT SECURED PROPERLY. THE SEATBELTS IN THE MIDDLE SEATS AND REAR SEAT WILL NOT TIGHTEN AND/OR LOOSEN AFTER BUCKLING, CAUSING THE CAR SEAT TO SHIFT AND MOVE EASILY. I FELT WE MUST BE DOING SOMETHING WRONG AND FINALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO RETURN IT TO THE DEALER. AFTER OVER AND HOUR AND THROUGHT THE EFFORTS OF A SERVICE ADVISOR AND A LEAD SERVICE TECHNICIAN, IT WAS DETERMINED THERE MUST BE SOME SORT OF DESIGN FLAW IN THE SEATBELT WHICH PREVENTED THE BELTS FROM LOCKING PROPERLY. THEY ALSO DID NOT FEEL THAT INSTALLING A TETHER WOULD REMEDY THE PROBLEM TO AN APPROPRIATE DEGREE OF SAFETY. THEY ALSO CALLED MAZDA HEADQUARTERS WHO INFORMED THEM THAT YES, THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE SEATBELTS BUT THEY DON'T HAVE A RESOLUTION AT THIS TIME AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL. THE SERVICE ADVISORS ONLY RECOMMENDATION TO ME IS THAT I FIND ANOTHER CAR SEAT THAT MIGHT WORK WITH THESE SEATS. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE ARE NONE. THUS, EACH TIME MY FAMILY AND I RIDE IN THE CAR, MY 2-YEAR OLD'S LIFE IS AT STAKE SINCE WE CANNOT SAFELY INSTALL A CAR SEAT WITHIN THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ME ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN ON SEEKING REMEDY TO THIS PROBLEM. WE WILL ANXIOUSLY AWAIT YOUR RESPONSE. *AK