The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH BUCKET SEATS OR A SPLIT BENCH SEAT IN THE SECOND (MIDDLE) OR THIRD (BACK) ROW. THE SEAT LATCH MECHANISMS ON BUCKET SEATS AND ON THE 40% PORTION OF THE SPLIT BENCH SEAT IN THE SECOND AND THIRD ROWS DO NOT HAVE PROTECTIVE COVERS.
The risk
WHEN ACTIVATING THE RELEASE MECHANISM TO ROLL A BUCKET SEAT FORWARD, A CUSTOMER'S FINGER(S) COULD BE SEVERELY INJURED OR SEVERED IN THEY ARE NOT KEPT CLEAR OF THE MECHANISM.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE COVERS ON THE OUTBOARD LATCH MECHANISMS ON ALL LEFT AND RIGHT HAND REAR BUCKET SEATS IN THE SECOND AND THIRD ROW, AND TO BOTH INBOARD AND OUTBOARD LATCH MECHANISMS ON THE CENTER REAR BUCKET SEAT AND THE 40% PORTION OF THE SPLIT BENCH SEAT.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Venture | 1997, 1998 |
| Oldsmobile Silhouette | 1997, 1998 |
Components: SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
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 Venture | 1997 | 432 | 6 |
| Chevrolet Venture | 1998 | 409 | 7 |
| Oldsmobile Silhouette | 1997 | 104 | 6 |
| Oldsmobile Silhouette | 1998 | 170 | 7 |
Other seats recalls in 1998
10 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the seats; GENERAL MOTORS CORP. filed 1,195 campaigns in all.
| 98V328000 22 Dec 1998 | COLLINS BUS CORPORATION |
| 98V317000 14 Dec 1998 | MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN |
| 98V308001 17 Nov 1998 | NEOPLAN USA CORP. |
| 98V238000 28 Sept 1998 | CARPENTER INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 98V229000 17 Sept 1998 | THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. |
| 98V163000 21 Jul 1998 | TIARA MOTOR COACH DIVISION |
| 98V138000 23 Jun 1998 | NEW FLYER OF AMERICA, INC. |
| 98V078000 14 Apr 1998 | MOTO AMERICA INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998