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Chevrolet Caprice seat belt problems

20 of the 605 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Caprice describe seat belt won't latch or retract, most of them for the 1992 model year.

owner complaints
20
worst model year
1992
Is there a fix? There are 2 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

Often reported together

What owners say

Filed Jul 19, 2004 · Seat belts · 120,000 miles · VA

The driver's side seat belt retractor failed. The springs popped out of the plastic, causing the spring to no longer hold tension. *ak the driver's side seat belt would no longer hold the belt tensioner to adjust to the driver's body. The seat belts retractor spring had broken through the plastic retainer, which caused the belt to stay permanently in the full extended position. *sc

Filed Oct 29, 2003 · Seat belts · 154,000 miles · TN

Passenger front seat belt does not latch. Consumer has to use the middle buckle to fasten the driver's seat belt.

Filed Oct 8, 2002 · Seat belts · MA

Consumer states that the seat belt will not retract back into position and it could cause the seat belt to be defective in the event of and accident. Dealer notified. *mr the seat belt retractor on the driver side front has failed and is unable to be used.

Filed Nov 15, 2000 · Seat belts · OH

Belt retractor spring is wearing through plastic casing, causing complete failure of the seatbelt locking mechanisim.

Filed Mar 24, 2000 · Seat belts · OH

While daugther was putting seat belt on the spring that retracts belt broke, causing seat belt not to retract. Owner believes the cost of replacement should be reimbursed. *ak

Filed Nov 9, 1999 · Airbags, Seat belts · MI · crash

In a sudden ice/snow storm hit a patch of ice & vehicle started to slide to left towards traffic. Swerved to right & hit a stump. Neither air bags deployed upon impact. Passenger's seat belt broke. Driver hit knee on dashboard. Driver's seat belt remained intact. No emergency treatment. Insurance totaled vehicle.

Filed Jul 12, 1999 · Seat belts · IL

Driver's side seat belt won't retract and the spring broke.

Filed May 29, 1999 · Seat belts · TN

While driving my caprice, I pulled at the seat shoulder belt to readjust its position. It released, allowing all the belt material to be loosely held around me. I am not an athletic female and did not pull hard. I contacted gm. They stated that although seat belts are safety devices, they are only guaranteed to function during the warranty period or 36,000 miles. They said I was responsible to pay to have the seat belts replaced and would not have assumed any liability had a wreck occurred when the seat belt failed. The case number at gm is 990281010. I re-filed the complaint this week. I also discussed the issue with gm in december.

Filed Sep 20, 1998 · Seat belts · TX

Owner found that seat belt latchs will open if slapped.

Filed Aug 3, 1998 · Seat belts · WA

The driver's seatbelt will not retract, its pulled out and won't retract back, won't protect the occupant in event of an accident. Dealer has to replace the driver seatbelt.

Related recalls

Seat beltsReported June 23, 2015 · 47,042 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Chevrolet Caprice vehicles manufactured October 15, 2010, to October 22, 2013, and 2008-2009 Pontiac G8 vehicles manufactured July 25, 2007, to February 18, 2009. In the affected vehicles, the flexible steel cables that connect the seat belts to the vehicle at the outside of the driver seat and the front passenger seat may be bent from being sat on while entering the vehicle. This repeated bending may result in the cable breaking.
Risk
If the cable breaks, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the seat belt tensioner assembly which includes the steel cable, free of charge. These replacement parts reposition the tensioner cable out of the path of entry into the vehicle and uses a more flexible cable, set at a more upright angle. The recall began on July 5, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020 or Pontiac customer service at 1‑800‑762‑2737. GM's number for this recall is 15206.

Recall number 15V399000 · Recall details

Seat beltsReported July 1, 1992 · 219,571 vehicles affected
What is wrong
The shoulder belt guide loop plastic covering may crack and expose the steel sub-plate.
Risk
In the event of a vehicle crash, the exposed steelsub-plate can cut the safety belt webbing resulting in increased possibilityand/or severity of injury to the affected seat occupant.
Remedy
Install new shoulder belt guide loops.

Recall number 92V094000 · Recall details

Questions about the Chevrolet Caprice seat belt

Which Chevrolet Caprice years have seat belt won't latch or retract problems?

The model years with the most reports are 1992 (8 complaints), 1991 (6 complaints) and 1993 (3 complaints).

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