| Components - Details | |
|---|---|
| NHTSA Complaint Number: 003272473 | Incident Date: Feb, 27 2003 |
| Consumer's City: LONG BRANCH | Consumer's State: NJ |
| Vehicle Transmission Type: MAN | Manufacturers Name: Mazda Motor Corp. |
| Model Name: PROTEGE | Model Year: 2003 |
| Vehicle Involved in a Crash: No | Component's Description: Seats |
| Vehicle Involved in a Fire: No | Persons Injured: 1 |
| Vehicle's VIN#: | Date added to File: May, 25 2021 |
| Date Complaint Received: Apr, 25 2004 | Complaint Type: IVOQ |
| Incident Reported To Police: No | Purchase Date: Feb, 27 2003 |
| Was Original Owner: Yes | Anti-lock Brakes: Yes |
| Number of Cylinders: 4 | Date of Manufacturer: - |
| Was Vehicle Towed: - | Description of the Complaints: I am 6'0" with a tempermental back and a 30" pant inseam. in practical terms, i must have the seat cushion at its lowest position (for headroom); the seat back vertical (to prevent backache); and the seat moved relatively forward (to reach the pedals). my 2003 mazda protege 5 is one of the few cars i can drive comfortably. that's high praise for such a modest car. >>>>> my problem with the protege is the lever for the fore/aft movement of the driver's seat. the lever is below the front edge of the seat cushion (instead of along the left side); it is shaped roughly like a capital letter "l" laid horizontally; the inside angle is about 120 degrees (so that the long side points forward toward the accelerator); and the lever tip is "pointy". >>>>> if i wear "long" pants with bottom cuffs, the cuffs are prone to catch on the seat lever as i get out of the car. believe me, it's not easy to stop 235 pounds when i've been thrown off balance. i've repeatedly gotten bruised and/or scraped hands during ungraceful landings. >>>>> the front passenger seat is similar. these levers are a safety hazard. i believe that the 2003 protege (and any other recent vehicle using this design) should be recalled for replacement of the seat levers.*ak >>>>> a replacement lever should be shaped so that its tip tucks far enough under the seat cushion (a couple of inches) to prevent it from catching a pant cuff or purse strap. for an example of the job done right, please see the 2004 mazda 626. >>>>> this is an ongoing problem. your stupid web site design insists on a specific month/day/year for the incident date. i have entered my date of purchase instead. *ak |
