By Free Republic | Created at 2024-09-23 20:41:41 | Updated at 2024-09-30 15:29:44
6 days ago
Mazda owner sues after misunderstanding over common safety feature
7 news ^
Posted on 09/23/2024 1:31:33 PM PDT by algore
Mazda is facing a class action lawsuit in the US, with the owner of one of its cars claiming it has a major defect… that’s actually just an extremely common safety feature.
Filed in the US District Court for the Central District of California, Pennsylvanian Mazda CX-50 owner Joshua Meltzer is attempting to sue the carmaker for US$5 million (A$7.35 million) following an incident which resulted in his daughter jumping out of the moving vehicle.
The feature in particular is the requirement for drivers to press the brake pedal when switching the car on, which is shown in the instrument cluster as “Depress Brake Pedal to Start Vehicle.”
According to Car Complaints, Mr Meltzer says he purchased the CX-50 in May 2024 and told his daughter how to operate it.
Two weeks later upon her first attempt at driving it, the incident occurred.
“She pressed the Stop-Start button. The display then informed her ‘Depress Brake to Start Vehicle’,” Mr Meltzer’s lawsuit says.
“She then depressed the brake and shifted the vehicle out of Park and into Drive. The vehicle immediately began to roll backwards. She attempted to control the vehicle, including pressing the brakes, but both the power brakes and power steering were unresponsive.”
Effectively, Mr Meltzer’s daughter appears to have taken the instruction to mean depressing the brake would start the vehicle, and not that she should depress the brake and then press the start button again.
His daughter, whose age is unknown, allegedly feared for her life and jumped out of the driver’s door, with the Mazda continuing on its trajectory until it hit a kerb and then a neighbour’s tree, which Mr Meltzer had to pay to repair.
Mazda has denied the CX-50’s feature and how it operates is defective, with a dealership service manager telling the owner the car was shifted into gear when in accessory mode before the engine was on, meaning it couldn’t provide power assistance to the steering or brakes.
The owner is not only suing for financial compensation but also alleges owners of Mazdas fitted with push-button start since 2017 have been overpaying for their vehicles, with the “defect” leading to diminished values.
TOPICS: Heated Discussion
KEYWORDS: darwin
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1 posted on 09/23/2024 1:31:33 PM PDT by algore
To: algore
I want to say that, oh, about 999,999 out of 1,000,000 people know how to start a push button car, the conclusion being that this girl is an idiot.
2 posted on 09/23/2024 1:35:00 PM PDT by Opinionated Blowhard (When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic.)
To: algore
Two weeks later upon her first attempt at driving it, the incident occurred.
I think I see the problem.
3 posted on 09/23/2024 1:35:17 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (The worst thing about censorship is █████ ██ ████ ████ ████ █ ███████ ████. FJB.)
To: algore
Suing is easier (and more profitable) than admitting your daughter is a dumb bunny who can’t be trusted to operate a motor vehicle.
4 posted on 09/23/2024 1:37:18 PM PDT by fidelis (Ecce Crucem Domini! Fugite partes adversae! Vicit Leo de tribu Juda, Radix David! Alleluia!)
To: algore
Why is this person from Pennsylvania filing his suit in California?
5 posted on 09/23/2024 1:37:30 PM PDT by jerseyman
To: algore
6 posted on 09/23/2024 1:37:33 PM PDT by Magnum44 (...against all enemies, foreign and domestic... )
To: algore
I bet she can name 500 different genders.
7 posted on 09/23/2024 1:37:38 PM PDT by fruser1
To: algore
8 posted on 09/23/2024 1:37:48 PM PDT by albie (U)
To: algore
9 posted on 09/23/2024 1:38:48 PM PDT by llevrok (Say NO to a fourth Obama term!)
To: algore
Reminds me of what happened at DFW Airport years ago.
They used to have a convenient sign that told you which terminal your flight was.
Until some idiot thought it was ok to stop their car in the middle of the road to read the sign.
To make a long story short, they took the signs down.
10 posted on 09/23/2024 1:40:16 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
To: algore
“Mr Meltzer says he purchased the CX-50 in May 2024 and told his daughter how to operate it”
Obviously he didn’t and he and this frivolous lawsuit should be thrown out with extreme prejudice.
11 posted on 09/23/2024 1:40:33 PM PDT by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave!)
To: jerseyman
Probably where Mazda America has their US hq and more sympathetic judges
12 posted on 09/23/2024 1:40:47 PM PDT by llevrok (Say NO to a fourth Obama term!)
To: algore
In EVERY ‘push-button’ car I’ve ever driven:
Can’t shift out of park while car is off.
Can’t start car while in gear.
Must first be in park to start engine, have brake depressed to start & shift.
So either this particular vehicle had a manufacturing defect [and he’s got 1/2 a case (still need injury/damages)] or they’re morons, full of shit, and are suing to make the kid feel better about her lack of basic driving skills and low intelligence.
13 posted on 09/23/2024 1:41:21 PM PDT by TonyinLA (I don't have sufficient information to formulate a reasoned opinion said no lefty ever.)
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