1999 Chevrolet Corvette: seat belt won't latch or retract

Filed Mar 30, 2017 · Seat belts · 110,000 miles · MD

The driver's side seat belt will not retract. It is extended all the way out. Therefore, it will not fit nor will it protect anyone from injury. I find this to be a seatbelt defect and a major safety hazard.

Filed May 14, 2016 · Seat belts · 92,300 miles · MI

My 1999 corvette seat belt retractor quit working 2 days ago . My wife was unable to fasten the seat belt after several tries. I removed both retractors to inspect and could find no visible damage. There car is in showroom condition. I did an internet search for info and found a recall campaign : the federal safety agency campaign I'd number 00v111000 apr 6 2000. I called my chevy dealer [xxx] and they said a recall had been done in 2000 for a plastic part to stop belt twisting and no further recall would be honored. But this is not the problem! The ratcheting mechanism is faulty. I need this fixed asap from the defective seat belt mechanism. This results in a vehicle I now cannot legally and safely drive. Please help. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed May 8, 2013 · Seat belts · 90,000 miles · LA

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 chevrolet corvette. The contact stated that the front passenger's side seat belt failed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 90,000.

Filed Aug 6, 2003 · Seat belts · CA

Consumer states that drivers side seat belt does not lock. Dealer notified.

Filed Sep 25, 2000 · Fuel system, Seat belts · IL

While filling fuel tank fuel was leaking. While driving a security light will pop on sometimes. When pulling out seat belt it will retract and lock without releasing.

Filed Sep 11, 2000 · Seat belts · NY

Passenger's side seat belt is jammed & failed to retract to original position. Once pulled out to be used, it would twist as it was going back. Took to dealers & had the belt retractor replaced.

Filed Apr 4, 2000 · Seat belts · IL

Passenger and driver side seat belt retractors constantly jam, causing seat belts to be inoperable. Took to dealer who "lubed" retractors, which had no effect. Caused by seatbelt improperly feeding into retractor and ratchet mechanism preventing belt from being pulled back out to correct. Retractor spring is not strong enough to completely wind in the belts when folded, causing a jammed situation where the belt will neither retract fully or pull out. This renders the belts unusable.

Filed Mar 15, 2000 · Seat belts · IL

Driver and passenger seat belt retractors jam repeatedly, causing seat belts to become unsable, which could cause injury or death in a crash. I returned the vehicle to the dealer wh said ther had been no problems reported with this design. He "lubed" the assemblies, which had no effect. I believe that there is a design flaw with respect to the locking/ratcheting mechanism thet is supposed to allow the seat belt to be locked in a tight position to hold the occupants in the seats better for high lateral forces. Unfortunatly, the design of the assembly frequently allows (and causes due to retract angles) the belt to feed into the retractor folded over. When this happens, the retract spring does not have enough power to pull the the belt all of the way in, which it must do to release the ratcheting mechanism. The result is a jammed belt that is prevented from being pulled out by the locking mechanism and prevented from retracting from the folded belt. Since I know about the problem, I am very carefull when taking off the belt, but it still happens occasionaly. The passenger side jams much morer frequently due to varying people not familier with the care that must be taken to prevent a jam. I can clear the jam by getting out of the car, kneeling on the ground and working the belt in and jerking out until it wraps all of the way in twisted. This usually takes around 20 - 30 minutes to accomplish. I have had to do this around 50 times now. Since it is illegal and unsafe to drive the vehicle with out a seat bealt properly fastened around all occupants, I am considering having the vehicle transported to the dealer on a flatbed each time it jams. I would really appreciate some help on this matter. Please call for more details.

Filed Sep 29, 1999 · Seat belts · IN

Passenger's side seat belt will not retract, it binds at the corner and will get stuck in the out position. The dealer has been contacted and replaced the seat belt, but the problem is still present.

Filed Jul 6, 1999 · Seat belts · CA

Passenger's seatbelt gets stuck in the retractor which causes seatbelt to be inoperable, and won't protect the occupant in event of a crash. Dealer replaced the seatbelt system, but problem still exists. *ak

Filed Jun 3, 1999 · Seat belts, Steering · FL

Steering wheel locked up when in reverse gear, and the vehicle was rolling which could have caused an accident. 2. Passenger's side seat belt will not retract in place properly or it will twist and jam the system ,causing loss of protection. The service department admits to the defect in both cases. *ak ref. In ea02-031

Filed May 26, 1999 · Seat belts · CA

Seat belt on passenger side jams and fails to retract or extend. The angle of the seatbelt system does not enable the occupant to easily use it without "coaxing" it back in. The dealer is now replacing the belt for a second time. I have spoken to three other new corvette owners who have experienced trouble with the seat belts, especially on the passanger side. Their solution was not to wear the belt, which is not a valid or legal solution. The dealer intake people agree with us that the belts are too sensative, but can only replace the belt.