Mazda 6 - Painful Heated Seats

[bbrind]

I just bought a 2004 Mazda 6 Sport GT and I'm having serious issues with the leather seats. The problem is that heating elements are placed so close to the surface of the upholstery that they protrude out, creating uncomfortable hard points which are hitting pressure points in my thighs and legs, and can be quite painful. In fact the heating elements are so close to the surface you can actually see them if you look for them - or feel them just by running your hand over the seat surface. The problem became very apparent when I treated the seats with a leather conditioner to make them more supple and protect them from the effects of the sun, etc. The suppleness in the leather really brought the problem to the forefront since I began to feel the heating elements that much more. I have had 3 other vehicles with heated leather seats and have never had any discomfort so I took the car into Mazda Service. When I showed it to the General Service Manager he immediately acknowledged there was indeed a problem. Mazda tried to repair it by inserting another piece of thin foam underneath the leather. Unfortunately this solution was quite inadequate since they were unable to recess the heating elements. Apparently the heating elements (according to the service manager) are built into the main foam pad at the factory. Needless to say the problem is still there. Furthermore the passenger seat is not what it used to be since the new foam insert was not fully extended underneath the length of the seat. Now there is a visible lump that goes across it near the front where the insert ends. I have looked at GT versions of both the sedan and sport models and have spoken to several sales reps at different Mazda dealerships. The problem seems to be same in the 3 other cars that I looked at. In any case, I was just wondering if anybody has had a similar problem, and if so, how they resolved it.

Photos of Mazda's Heating Pads

[Sax Maniac]

I had the exact same thing happen to me. Take it back to the dealer!

They replaced the seat heater and seat pads for both front seats, under warranty. It took quite a bit of time, but the service manager admitted it's a big job, and takes a few hours to do. They gave me a loaner for the day.

Many dealers will, even under warrantly, drag their feet and require multiple complaints to get fixed right. I've had this happen to me numerous times under different cars. I had a bad heater core and cruise control unit on my last car, and both required multiple trips for them to admit it was a bum unit and replace it.

To Mazda's credit, they identified what it was right away, ordered the right parts, and did it well. If it even hints at protruding again, I won't hesitate to take it back.

If they give you a hassle, go to a different Mazda dealer. It doesn't have to be where you bought it. I bought my car out of state, so it's a hassle to go back there for service - I just go to the closest one.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[UCLeadGuitar]

I had the same problem...they had to fix it 3 times...and 2 of the 3 times they scratched up the whole trim on inside and had to replace it both times. its a big job but just keep complaining and they will fix

[Sigma]

Apparently the heating elements (according to the service manager) are built into the main foam pad at the factory.

Your Service Manager is totally BSing you. I've taken the seats out and removed the covers myself, so I know exactly what's under there, and the seat warmers are most definitely not embedded into the chair unless they changed the '04 seats, and I'm doubting they did that. If the seat warmers were embedded into the chair, you wouldn't feel any heat. The new seat covers I put on were just slightly thicker than stock and you can barely feel the warmers now.

For one, are you sure what you're feeling is the seat warmers? The seat warms are nothing more than very thin coils of wire insided a very thin foam pad that lays directly on top of the seat cushion -- actually it's a "sleeve" that has coils on half of it and the sleeve is slipped over the cushion. They are close to the surface. The only thing between you and them is that thin piece of perforated leather and a 0.5mm thich foam pad.

They're far from hard though, and I doubt you could feel them while sitting on them -- certainly not enough to actually cause discomfort. Prick you maybe, if a sharp point of a wire got through, but I doubt that could happne because it's just one solid loop of wire in a zig-zag pattern, going back and forth across the seat in three places. I really don't see how it could put pressure on you. You can ball the stuff up in your hand if you wanted, the coils really are that thin. Just think of the stuff that's embedded in the rear window -- that's basically what they are. It's very very thin.

What it would seem to me that you are feeling is the actual springs sticking through the foam cushion.

[Sax Maniac]

True, probably not the seat heaters. There's a seat belt sensor button, which was sticking out on mine. And, the service manager mentioned that sometimes a wire can work it's way up to the top, so that you have a wire laying at the top of the seat just under the leather.

Whatever it is, bumps are bad. Bumps they must fix!

[bbrind]

Thank you everybody for your feedback. I found a company that specializes in car seats, (Seat Cover Centre) and have had Mazda subcontract the work out to them. To my service manager's credit he made sure that they received new heating pads and new foam for the seats.

On the day of the installation Seat Cover Centre called me up and said they had never seen anything quite like it, so I went down to check it out.

This is what I have to report.

1. The heating pad sits on top of the foam just underneath the leather.

2. The heating coils are imbedded in the pad and they are reasonably thin.

3. There are fairly thick orange wires that connect the heating coils together which are located in different sections of the pad.

4. The orange wires are attached to the pad with thick, hard blobs of glue.

The orange wires and the hard blobs of glue are causing uncomfortable lumps in the seats. I find these lumps very uncomfortable and as far as I'm concerned this is a design flaw that should be remedied by Mazda.

Photos are posted at:
Mazda 6 Heating Pads

[Jax6S]

Click here for an entertaining thread regarding the seat. Enjoy!

[bbrind]

Those are very interesting photos but let me make this crystal clear for anybody who is under the impression that I must be a heavy weight.

I'm 5'11" and weigh 185 lbs.

I've owned other cars with heated leather seats without any problems what-so-ever. These include a VW Jetta, a Toyota 4-Runner, and an Acura EL (which my wife now drives).

Look closely at the photos I posted and you'll see why these things are digging into my backside; mainly my right leg. Make sure you look at the super-size photo that shows the wires and the thick glue blobs. I believe that's its just a matter of time before a lot more people start complaining about this as the glue blobs harden up over time.

Photos of Mazda 6 Heating Pads

[Sigma]

I can tell you that my seat does not have those same wires or glue blobs on it. Where you have wires, I just have a continuous coil.

The foam pad on my seats is also considerably thinner than on yours.

I'm thinking this was some '04 change after Mazda received numerous complaints of the seat heaters in '03 getting too hot.

[pobody]

I have experienced the same thing (pretty much) I have brought my car into the dealer complaining that there is "something" that I can feel through the seats, both driver and passenger. you can both see and feel this just by looking at the seats and just by feeling with your hands (pretty obvious).

So the dealer said "hmm, that is strange I'll look into it." So I have to go back in and see what has come of this. He said he checked other cars on the lot and they were the same, which to me means nothing, just because it's on others does not make it ok.

I am going to push this issue with them to some resolve. I will let you know what I come up with. If you get any answer from the dealer please let me know so I can reference it with my dealer.