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Chevrolet Tahoe seat belt problems

70 of the 10,079 owner complaints about the Chevrolet Tahoe describe seat belt won't latch or retract, most of them for the 2002 model year.

owner complaints
70
worst model year
2002
typical mileage
71,000
Is there a fix? There are 13 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Nov 6, 2026 · Seat belts · AZ

The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while attempting to fasten the seat belt, the seat belt buckle mechanism remained fixed in position and failed to allow the front driver's side and front passenger's side seat belts to retract. The contact did not inspect the rear passenger's side seat belt. The dealer was contacted. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Jul 14, 2025 · Seat belts · TX · crash · 1 injury

Our vehicle was rear ended and the front passenger seatbelt did not lock or (possibly) locked too late. The front passenger's face hit the dashboard, as well as their knees and feet. The vehicle that hit ours was estimated to be travelling at about 45 mph and we were rolling at around 5 mph in traffic. The failure has not been able to be reproduced by the collision center, the sensor callibration contractor, nor the dealership. No sensors showed any failures and the tension appears to be correct on the seatbelt. We have been unable to determine why the seatbelt failed during this incident and if the vehicle will react appropriately in the event of another collision.

Filed May 6, 2025 · Seat belts · 230,000 miles · IL

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the pre-tensioner cable for the driver’s side seat belt snapped, and the contact was no longer able to drive the vehicle due to the seat belt failure. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was advised that the pre-tensioner cable was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 230,000.

Filed Apr 2, 2024 · Seat belts · 130,000 miles · NY

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the front driver’s side seat belt tensioner cable had failed to operate as needed. Due to the failure, the seat belt warning symbol was displayed on the instrument panel. Upon investigation, the contact discovered the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V245000 (Seat Belts) which was linked to the failure. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

Filed Sep 23, 2023 · Seat belts · IL

Second row right side seatbelt retractor broken and not bolted to C pillar from factory.

Filed Apr 17, 2023 · Seat belts · OH

Driver side seat belt female part broke inside. Can not insert & clip in male part.

Filed Jan 31, 2023 · Seat belts · 96,000 miles · VA

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the front driver’s side seat belt tensioner cable failed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V450000 (Seat Belts). The dealer and the manufacturer were notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.

Filed Apr 20, 2022 · Seat belts · WA

1- the second row center Seat Belt Receptacle stopped locking so failed, this happened while using the vehicle. 2- the seatbelt receptacle stopped latching while using the car in Seattle, I had to drive with someone in that seat unbuckled because all other seats were being used. 3- the receptacle can not be repaired, needs to be replaced; 4- I have contacted the manufacturer to have them fix this but they will not do it without compensation. 5- no warning. the vehicle is not old and in very good condition. I drive with my family in the car daily but rarely need to use the middle seat. I feel this is a defective latch due to the limited use and age of vehicle. I am concerned that the other seatbelts will also break without warning and Think that GM needs to be aware of a possibility.

Filed Mar 12, 2022 · Seat belts · CO

The middle row seat belt on the drivers side is failing to retract and secure my child. It is premature failure on a 5 year old model vehicle.

Filed Mar 4, 2022 · Body, Brakes · MN

Front passenger seatbelt is stuck won’t expand to buckle up, when turning on right blinker the high beam lights turn on. Which is unsafe for other drivers being blinded by the bright lights. Back hatch does not operate at all, could potentially be life threatening if that was an only exit due to unexpected Circumstances

Related recalls

Seat belts: critical fastenersReported August 11, 2022 · 484,155 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors, LLC (M) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly formed.
Risk
A seat belt with a deformed rivet may not properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both the left and right side third-row seat belt buckle assemblies and replace seat belt buckle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed September 28, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 1, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020; Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006; and GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is N222372380.

Recall number 22V617000 · Recall details

Seat belts: frontReported April 8, 2021 · 2,568 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe, and 2014-2015 GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles that may have received an incorrect replacement tensioner cable assembly as part of a previous recall remedy or a subsequent repair. The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat may be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and separate.
Risk
A broken pretensioner cable reduces the effectiveness of the driver's seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver seat belt lap pretensioner, free of charge. The recall began on May 5, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, and GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is N212330040.

Recall number 21V245000 · Recall details

Seat belts: rear/otherReported March 25, 2021 · 5 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The second-row center seat belt latch may be trapped beneath the trim bezel and therefore inaccessible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208. "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk
A passenger in the second-row center will be unable to wear a seat belt, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the trim bezel, correctly position the seat belt latch plate, and reinstall the trim bezel, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is N212329320.

Recall number 21V210000 · Recall details

Seat belts: rear/otherReported March 18, 2021 · 94,641 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Suburban, and Tahoe vehicles with third-row seating. The third-row outboard seat belts may have been entrapped or misrouted behind the outboard seat-folding mechanism, which could result in damaged seat belts.
Risk
A damaged seat belt can break during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third-row outboard seat belts, replacing any damaged seat belts, and rerouting them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 21, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782, and Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313000.

Recall number 21V190000 · Recall details

Seat belts: critical fastenersReported December 23, 2020 · 470 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.
Risk
If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8785, Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.

Recall number 20V811000 · Recall details

Seat belts: critical fastenersReported December 17, 2020 · 624,216 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The seat belt brackets may not be secured to the seat frame in the front-row center seating position.
Risk
If a seat-belt bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the front-row center seat position, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-side front-row center seat-belt bracket attachments and reassemble it correctly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is N202314670.

Recall number 20V792000 · Recall details

Seat belts: frontReported May 3, 2018 · 23,004 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe Police Pursuit and Special-Service vehicles. The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat may be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and separate.
Risk
If the pretensioner cable becomes fatigued or breaks, the driver 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 pretensioner cable and seat side-shield, free of charge. The recall began June 19, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is 18156.

Recall number 18V291000 · Recall details

Seat belts: pretensionerReported July 10, 2017 · 40,683 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V‑651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Risk
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1‑800‑521‑7300, Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.

Recall number 17V437000 · Recall details

Seat belts: pretensionerReported September 8, 2016 · 3,640,162 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Risk
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
Remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1‑800‑521‑7300, Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.

Recall number 16V651000 · Recall details

Seat belts: rear/otherReported April 22, 2005 · 1,359,824 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain crew cab pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the 2nd row center occupant seat belt routing may make it difficult to position the lap portion of the safety belt low around the hips of occupants, especially smaller occupants, seated in this position. Appropriate use of a child seat or booster seat, as recommended for small children, does improve the fit condition for this user group. In addition to instructions on proper infant and young child restraint (with child seats or boosters), special verbiage for restraining older child is included in the owner's manual. Also, the suggested seat belt fit/routing for adults, irrespective of seating position, is described in the owner's manual text.
Risk
A lap portion of the seat belt routing that is not low and snug on the hips can allow the lap belt to ride up on an occupant's abdomen instead of fitting low around their hipbones, and therefore, can expose them to more risk of abdominal and internal organ injury.
Remedy
Dealers will cut open the guide loop, remove a portion of the loop, and then the remaining two sides should be folded over and secured with a retainer free of charge. The recall began on july 21, 2005. Owners may contact cadillac at 1‑866‑982‑2339, chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463, or hummer at 1‑800‑732‑5493.

Recall number 05V163000 · Recall details

Questions about the Chevrolet Tahoe seat belt

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

The model years with the most reports are 2002 (9 complaints), 2007 (9 complaints) and 2001 (8 complaints).

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