2016 Mazda MAZDA6

The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that after her husband had driven for approximately 2 hours with the seat heater activated, the passenger’s side seat overheated, and the seat started smoking. The driver stated that the seat heating element overheated and burned a hole in the seat, damaging the air bag located near the seat heater sensor. The dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,500.

1) UNKNOWN. My guess: The front seats or guard rails. 2) Very seat when braking, and coming to and from a stop. Poses as a safety risk. 3) Yes, no remedy/solution was yielded. Others on forums who visited dealership stated that the dealership said it was “normal”. Despite the other side not having the issue at all. 4) No 5) No Full assessment: The issue of this complaint lies within the front seat of the vehicle. My educated guess is that there is a defect within the seat rails of the vehicle as no remedy seems to be found upon extensive research on google and various forums. Specifically, in my vehicle and may others that I have found, have issues with the driver seat feeling loose when braking or hitting the gas from a stop. Many individuals (including my close friend) have raised this to dealerships and were told that this is “normal” despite the passenger seat (or vice versa) does not have the same issue whatsoever with no remedy. I personally have tightened all possible nuts and bolts for the seat AND brought it to multiple shops and dealerships, which yielded no remedy as all bolts were in fact tightened. I strongly believe that this issue should be further investigated and mitigated as it poses as a risk of serious injury - whether involved in an accident or the seat coming loose, or off entirely. The best way to describe the amount of play is sitting on a chair that is placed on an uneven floor, with one corner rocking toward itself. Or a table that is placed on an unleveled floor and is rocking towards one end (which that remedy consists of folding an napkin enough times to stick it under one of the legs). Please note that I have had this car for a couple of years and this one thing that grinds my gears.. aside from the plastic rattle of the driver side window switch module when listening to music.

Driver seat is unstable and has been since I purchased the vehicle. I never got it looked at because I can't afford repairs. There was a recall for the passenger seat and I believe it would be for the driver seat as well given the driver seat stability is crucial. It rocks as if it isn't fully secure. You notice it sometimes when getting in and out the car and I became noticable when my dog decided to jump into my seat one day when cleaning my interior and I saw the seat heavily rock forward and backward. You sometimes notice it as well when coming to a stop from highway speeds the seat will slightly tilt forward. This issue has been with the car after i purchased it in 2018 but didn't notice it until a few months after the purchase.

The contact owns a 2016 Mazda Mazda6. The contact stated that the driver’s seat was previously moved backward; however, when her daughter attempted to move the seat forward to drive the vehicle, the seat remained stuck in the rearward position. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, who informed the contact that the wire connecting the seat motor to the seat track had fractured. The dealer informed the contact that the entire seat assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

"DRIVER SEAT ALIGNMENT" AFTER DRIVING FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME DRIVERS LEFT LEGS BEGINS TO FEEL DISCOMFORT OR STRESS TO THE OUTSIDE OF LEFT KNEE DUE TO SEAT BEING ANGLED LEFT. PRESSURE FROM LEFT FOOTREST AND WHEEL WALL FORCES DRIVER TO RETRACT LEG AND PLANT INTO FLOOR CLOSER TO THE SEAT. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH EVERY TIME I HAVE DRIVEN ALSO IT WAS CONFIRM BY A MAZDA SALES ASSOCIATE.

THE FORWARD TILT OF THE HEADREST FORCES MY HEAD FORWARD IN AN UNSAFE AND UNCOMFORTABLE MANNER NO MATTER WHAT SEAT SETTINGS ARE USED. I HAVE SUSTAINED CHRONIC NECK AND UPPER BACK HEALTH ISSUES SINCE I BEGAN DRIVING MY NEW CAR. THE SEAT AND HEADREST DESIGN FORCE THE DRIVER INTO AN UNNATURAL POSTURE THAT GIVES NO BACK SUPPORT AND BUMPS THE HEAD FORWARD AND DOWNWARD FACING. THE CONSTANT STRAINING TO WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR IS NOT ONLY UNSAFE BUT IT IS CAUSING CHRONIC INJURY. I DO NOT HAVE AN UNUSUAL BODY TYPE, I AM FIT AND OTHERWISE HEALTHY AND THIS AGGRAVATION DOES NOT HAPPEN IN ANY OF MY OTHER (OLDER) VEHICLES.