The defect
ON CERTAIN CREW CAB PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE 2ND ROW CENTER OCCUPANT SEAT BELT ROUTING MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO POSITION THE LAP PORTION OF THE SAFETY BELT LOW AROUND THE HIPS OF OCCUPANTS, ESPECIALLY SMALLER OCCUPANTS, SEATED IN THIS POSITION. APPROPRIATE USE OF A CHILD SEAT OR BOOSTER SEAT, AS RECOMMENDED FOR SMALL CHILDREN, DOES IMPROVE THE FIT CONDITION FOR THIS USER GROUP. IN ADDITION TO INSTRUCTIONS ON PROPER INFANT AND YOUNG CHILD RESTRAINT (WITH CHILD SEATS OR BOOSTERS), SPECIAL VERBIAGE FOR RESTRAINING OLDER CHILD IS INCLUDED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. ALSO, THE SUGGESTED SEAT BELT FIT/ROUTING FOR ADULTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF SEATING POSITION, IS DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL TEXT.
The risk
A LAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ROUTING THAT IS NOT LOW AND SNUG ON THE HIPS CAN ALLOW THE LAP BELT TO RIDE UP ON AN OCCUPANT'S ABDOMEN INSTEAD OF FITTING LOW AROUND THEIR HIPBONES, AND THEREFORE, CAN EXPOSE THEM TO MORE RISK OF ABDOMINAL AND INTERNAL ORGAN INJURY.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL CUT OPEN THE GUIDE LOOP, REMOVE A PORTION OF THE LOOP, AND THEN THE REMAINING TWO SIDES SHOULD BE FOLDED OVER AND SECURED WITH A RETAINER FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 21, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
Components: SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadillac Escalade | 2003 | 81 | 4 |
| Cadillac Escalade | 2004 | 69 | 2 |
| Cadillac Escalade | 2005 | 43 | 2 |
| Chevrolet Avalanche | 2003 | 204 | 4 |
| Chevrolet Avalanche | 2004 | 165 | 5 |
| Chevrolet Avalanche | 2005 | 71 | 3 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | 2003 | 695 | 6 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | 2004 | 622 | 8 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | 2005 | 316 | 8 |
| Chevrolet Suburban | 2003 | 301 | 5 |
| Chevrolet Suburban | 2004 | 204 | 4 |
| Chevrolet Suburban | 2005 | 129 | 6 |
| Chevrolet Tahoe | 2003 | 507 | 4 |
| Chevrolet Tahoe | 2004 | 467 | 2 |
| Chevrolet Tahoe | 2005 | 293 | 5 |
| GMC Sierra | 2003 | 206 | 6 |
| GMC Sierra | 2004 | 188 | 7 |
| GMC Sierra | 2005 | 117 | 9 |
| GMC Yukon | 2003 | 204 | 4 |
| GMC Yukon | 2004 | 159 | 2 |
| GMC Yukon | 2005 | 85 | 3 |
| Hummer H2 | 2004 | 59 | 3 |
| Hummer H2 | 2005 | 79 | 2 |
Other seat belts recalls in 2005
7 of the 562 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2005 concerned the seat belts; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 05V558000 19 Dec 2005 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 05V501000 1 Nov 2005 | LAND ROVER |
| 05V448000 4 Oct 2005 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION |
| 05V327000 20 Jul 2005 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 05V158000 20 Apr 2005 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 05V127000 31 Mar 2005 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2005