Hot Cross Buns: Mazda owner sues over too-hot seat-warmers

The California driver of a 2018 Mazda6 alleges the heated seats in her car caused serious burns, and so launched a class-action

  • A Mazda owner in California is suing because she says her car’s heated seats caused her injury
  • What’s not clear is specifically how her 2018 Mazda6 sedan inflicted damage
  • We may not have to wait long to find out: a hearing is scheduled for February

Over the past couple of decades, heated seats have gone from a decadent item found on luxury cars to a common feature found on vehicles costing much less than your average new car. But one person is alleging grave problems with the bun-warmers in their Mazda — and is taking the company to court for a resolution.

Muddying the waters, it is not made clear by the plaintiff as to the precise defect (a wiring short or overly warm factory settings, for example) nor was it explained how Dyvad’s burning incident occurred. Nevertheless, compensatory damages are sought for personal injuries sustained alongside statements the vehicle would not have been purchased or at least purchased for less if the plaintiff had known about the defect. Filed in the Superior Court of the State of California County of San Francisco, a hearing is scheduled for the matter in February of next year.

However, folks from Sweden can be rightly said to have been on the leading edge of making heated seats commonplace, with Saab including the feature for the driver’s seat of its groovy 99. This author remembers marvelling at bun-warmers on a Volvo 240 in the early ‘90s.

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