NHTSA Complaint #755684 — 1995 MAZDA 626

SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE SEATS ON THIS CAR-- WHEN YOU LEAN ON THE INSIDE OF THEM, PUTTING YOUR FULL WEIGHT AGAINST ONLY THE INSIDE OF THE SEAT, IT FALLS BACKWARD SUDDENLY. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM WHEN TENDING TO BABY SEATS FASTENED IN THE BACK., BEHIND YOU. YOU LEAN IN TO HELP BABY, AND WHAM THE CHAIR FALLS INTO A FULL RECLINE. THIS HAPPENS WITH BOTH SEATS, AND EVEN WITH VERY LIGHTWEIGHT ADULTS. SHOULD SOMEONE BE DRIVING WHEN THEY LEAN, IT COULD MEAN A MASSIVE SAFETY HAZARD. TO MAKE THIS CLEARER, IF YOU SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT (BOTH SEATS ARE EFFECTED, BUT FOR EXPLAINATIONS SAKE, WE'LL USE THE PASSENGER SIDE), THEN TURN TOWARD THE CENTER BACK SEAT OF THE CAR, YOUR SHOULDER RESTS AGAINST THE INSIDE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT, PUSHING A LITTLE TO THE INSIDE. WHEN STEADY PRESSURE IS APPLIED, AS YOU HELP THE CHILD, SUDDENLY, IT DROPS YOU BACKWARDS INTO A FULL RECLINE. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE LATCH IS TRYING TO CATCH AS IT FALLS-- KIND OF LIKE A KID RUNNING WITH A STICK AGAINST A PLASTIC PICKET FENCE. HOPE THIS HELPS. BTW, IN TESTING IT, YOU MIGHT DO WELL TO HAVE A PERSON LEAN AS IF TURNING TO REACH INTO THE SEAT BEHIND THE SEAT THEY ARE SITTING IN. IT IS STEADY UNBALANCED PRESSURE THAT COLLAPSES IT, NOT SUDDEN IMPACT.*AK