The defect
CERTAIN EXTENDED AND REGULAR CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND CARGO VANS CONVERTED TO COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, 'CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS.' THESE VEHICLES HAVE ONE SEATING POSITION, THE CENTER REAR SEAT, EQUIPPED WITH CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER ANCHORAGES.
The risk
THE STANDARD REQUIRES CHILD SEAT LOWER ANCHORAGES IN TWO SEATING POSITIONS FOR VEHICLES WITH THREE REAR SEATING POSITIONS. THE STANDARD CAB AND CARGO VAN VEHICLES, WHICH ONLY HAVE FRONT SEATING POSITIONS, HAVE AN AIR BAG OFF SWITCH TO DISABLE THE FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG AND DO NOT HAVE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER ANCHORAGES IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. THE STANDARD REQUIRES PASSENGER SEAT CHILD SEAT LOWER ANCHORAGES IN VEHICLES WITH AN AIR BAG OFF SWITCH. HOWEVER, THE STANDARD DOES NOT REQUIRE VEHICLES WITH ONLY FRONT SEATING POSITIONS TO HAVE LOWER ANCHORAGE PROVISIONS IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AN AIR BAG OFF SWITCH.
The remedy
TO BRING THE STANDARD CAB AND CARGO VAN VEHICLES INTO COMPLIANCE, DEALERS WILL INJECT EPOXY INTO THE AIR BAG OFF SWITCH TO PREVENT AIR BAG ACTIVATION, RELOCATE THE SWITCH BEHIND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THEN INSTALL A COVER OVER THE RESULTING OPENING. THE SUN VISOR LABEL AND OWNER'S MANUAL WILL ALSO BE CHANGED. THE CORRECTION FOR THE EXTENDED CAB VEHICLE WILL CONSIST OF CHANGING THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT TO A SEAT THAT HAS CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER ANCHORAGES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Express | 2003 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | 2003, 2004 |
| GMC Savana | 2003 |
| GMC Sierra | 2003, 2004 |
Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Express | 2003 | 59 | 10 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | 2003 | 695 | 6 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | 2004 | 622 | 8 |
| GMC Savana | 2003 | 22 | 11 |
| GMC Sierra | 2003 | 206 | 6 |
| GMC Sierra | 2004 | 188 | 7 |
Other seat belts recalls in 2004
36 of the 601 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2004 concerned the seat belts; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 04V608000 18 Dec 2004 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 04V592000 15 Dec 2004 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
| 04V595000 15 Dec 2004 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V593000 15 Dec 2004 | PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V582000 10 Dec 2004 | MAZDA NORTH AMERICAN OPERATIONS |
| 04V550000 18 Nov 2004 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
| 04V532000 2 Nov 2004 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 04V407000 17 Aug 2004 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2004