The defect
ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS IN THE REAR SEATING POSITIONS CONTAIN FIRST LOCK POSITIONS WHICH WILL NOT LOCK WHEN USED BY SMALLER PASSENGERS. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION".
The remedy
ALL OWNERS WILL BE SENT A PRE-PAID POSTAGE CARD THAT IS TO BE FILLED OUT AND SENT BACK. THE CARD WILL INDICATE WHETHER THE SEAT BELTS ARE FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. IF DEALER INSPECTS SEAT BELTS, THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS WILL BE REPLACED, IF NECESSARY, WITHOUT CHARGE.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Camaro | 1981 |
| Chevrolet Chevette | 1981 |
| Pontiac Firebird | 1981 |
Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
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 Camaro | 1981 | 1 | 1 |
| Chevrolet Chevette | 1981 | 5 | 3 |
| Pontiac Firebird | 1981 | 0 | 1 |
Other seat belts recalls in 1981
8 of the 157 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1981 concerned the seat belts; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 81V147000 8 Dec 1981 | SAAB CARS USA, INC. |
| 81V085000 8 Jul 1981 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 81V075000 18 Jun 1981 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 81V071000 10 Jun 1981 | WHITE MOTOR CORPORATION |
| 81V070000 8 Jun 1981 | VAN-CON, INCORPORATED |
| 81V031000 16 Mar 1981 | TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD. |
| 81V016000 4 Jan 1981 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1981