Mazda Motor of America is facing a significant legal battle over allegations of selling vehicles with defective seat heating systems that have caused serious injuries to consumers. On September 3, 2024, Kristine Dyvad filed a class action complaint in the Superior Court of California, County of San Francisco, against Mazda Motor of America, Inc., alleging multiple counts including strict liability and breach of warranty.
According to the complaint, Dyvad and other plaintiffs suffered burns from using the seat heaters in their 2018 Mazda 6 vehicles. The lawsuit claims that Mazda was aware of the defect but failed to warn consumers or take corrective measures. "Defendant has exposed thousands of California citizens to safety risks while knowingly selling defective Vehicles," states the complaint. The plaintiffs argue that they relied on Mazda's representations about the vehicle's safety and reliability when making their purchases.
The lawsuit outlines several causes of action against Mazda, including strict liability for failure to warn and defective product design, breach of express and implied warranties, negligent product liability, negligent misrepresentation, common law fraud, and violation of California's Unfair Competition Law (UCL). The plaintiffs allege that Mazda's actions were not only negligent but also reckless and grossly negligent. They claim that the company had received numerous reports about the defect over several years but chose not to inform consumers.
Dyvad seeks compensatory damages for personal injuries sustained from using the vehicle as advertised by Mazda. She alleges she would not have purchased the vehicle or would have paid significantly less if she had known about the defect. The plaintiffs are asking for various forms of relief including compensatory damages, statutory damages, punitive damages, attorneys' fees, costs, and any other remedies allowed by law.
The case is being handled by Singleton Schreiber LLP with Christopher R. Rodriguez leading the legal team for the plaintiffs. The case ID is CGC-24-617816 and it will be presided over by judges from the Superior Court of California in San Francisco.