Vauxhall Corsa working parts not protected

Driving when my foot mat started to move into the well where pedals located. Something was pulling it from under my feet! Managed to stop the car but could not move the mat. It was stuck fast. My husband thought about it and said if something has dragged it in, perhaps it will push it out if you reverse. So I did reverse and it came back out. I got a torch and looked into the well and to my horror saw some metal pars and a rod which disappear up into the bonnet (I think). I spoke to Vauxhall who, after doing some investigation, told me this metal work I could see is the steering column. That makes sense because I did turn the steering wheel whilst reversing. Surely moving parts should be protected. I think this is very dangerous but Vauxhall (or at least the staff at my main dealers) say the 2016 is made this way. I am wondering whether a sleeve should be around this and whether it was missed off at production. Has anyone else had this problem?