ON THE 18TH OF MAR 2001, AFTER FILLING UP MY GAS TANK, I GOT IN MY VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO PUT MY SEAT BELT ON AND ENDED UP LYING FLAT ON MY BACK. AS LUCK WOULD HAVE NO KIDS WERE SITTING BEHIND ME. A SINGLE GRADE 8 BOLT BROKE. A FEW YEARS BACK WHEN THIS VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 100K ON IT THE SAME THING HAPPENED. AT THAT TIME THE DEALER…
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ON THE 18TH OF MAR 2001, AFTER FILLING UP MY GAS TANK, I GOT IN MY VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO PUT MY SEAT BELT ON AND ENDED UP LYING FLAT ON MY BACK. AS LUCK WOULD HAVE NO KIDS WERE SITTING BEHIND ME. A SINGLE GRADE 8 BOLT BROKE. A FEW YEARS BACK WHEN THIS VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 100K ON IT THE SAME THING HAPPENED. AT THAT TIME THE DEALER (PERFORMANCE CHEVY IN SACRAMENTO CA) TOLD ME THERE WAS A CAMPAIN TO REPLACE THE BOLTS FROM GRADE 5 TO GRADE 8. APPARENTLY THE GRADE 5 LASTED LONGER THAN THE GRADE 8. THE DEALER HERE IN OGDEN SAYS THE VEHICLE IS TO OLD AND THERE IS NO PROVISION FOR MAKING THIS A SAFER SEAT. IF THIS HAD ACCURED WHILE DRIVING THERE ISNO TELLING WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED. I AM NOT A COMPLAINER BUT THIS WHOLE THING SEEMS WRONG. AND WHEN I GO TO SELL THIS VEHICLE HOW CAN I SAY IT IS A SAFE CAR. HOPE YOU CAN HELP,AND I APPRECIATE YOU LOOKING INTO THIS, I CANT BELIEVE I AM THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM.. PHILLIP WILLIAMS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #742826
Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 1999
Seat Belts
ALSO, IN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, IN SECOND ROW BEHIND DRIVER, IS UNABLE TO BE USED BECAUSE IT LOCKS UP. PASSENGER USING THAT SEAT WOULD BE WITHOUT RESTRAINT WHILE TRAVELING, WHICH COULD LEAD TO INJURIES IF INVOVED IN A VEHICLE COLLISION. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #853509
Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 1999
Seat Belts
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR, SECOND ROW BEHIND DRIVER, LOCKED UP AND UNABLE TO BE USED, CAUSING PASSENGER IN THAT SEAT TO BE WITHOUT RESTRAINT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIRS UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #853508
Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 1997
Seat Belts
THE OUTER TWO SEAT BELT BUCKLES DON'T WORK ON THE BENCH SEAT . *AK
THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL VETWEEN THEM, CREATING A "SOFT" JOINT. THIS "SOFT" JOINT RESULTS IN LOWER THAN SPECIFIED BOLT TORQUE WHICH LEADS TO JOINT LOOSENESS, CAUSING BOLT FATIGUE AND EVENTUAL BOLT FAILURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOLT FAILURE OCCURS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WOULD ALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FOAM AND/OR VINYL FROM BETWEEN THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME "SOFT" JOINT AND REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS.
SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH NEW ROTORS WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COATING. HOWEVER, IF REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LININGS ARE NECESSARY, IT WILL BE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE SINCE BRAKE LININGS ARE NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS.
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