The defect
THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH SEAT BELT RETRACTORS OUT OF DESIGN POSITION WHICH CAN CAUSE THE RETRACTOR TO LOCK-UP ON SLOPES LESS SEVERE THAN THE FMVSS REQUIREMENT. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE COLLISION, UNBELTED OCCUPANTS ARE MORE AT RISK OF INJURY THAN THOSE USING SEAT BELTS.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELTS FOR PROPER FRONT SEAT BELT RETRACTOR POSITION. RETRACTORS FOUND TO BE IMPROPERLY POSITIONED WILL BE REINSTALLED CORRECTLY.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Camaro | 1997 |
| Pontiac Firebird | 1997 |
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 | 1997 | 69 | 1 |
| Pontiac Firebird | 1997 | 49 | 1 |
Other seat belts recalls in 1996
22 of the 297 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1996 concerned the seat belts; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 96V256000 27 Dec 1996 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 96V248001 12 Dec 1996 | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED |
| 96V248002 12 Dec 1996 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 96V242000 27 Nov 1996 | ASTON MARTIN |
| 96V225000 5 Nov 1996 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 96V207000 18 Oct 1996 | FERRARI NORTH AMERICA |
| 96V185000 10 Oct 1996 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 96V191000 9 Oct 1996 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1996