The contact owns a 2014 GMC Sierra. The contact stated that while driving at 42 MPH, she was involved in a three-vehicle accident after a vehicle involved in another accident ricocheted and hit her vehicle. The driver's side air bag exploded but did not deploy. Black smoke was released from the steering wheel and the air bag fell on the contact's left leg. The driver seat belt retractor fell apart during the accident which sliced the top part of the contact's ear; in addition, the failure sent a part of the contact's earing into her ear canal. The driver of the vehicle that was originally hit in the accident died the next day in the hospital; another passenger in that same vehicle was critically injured. The contact was treated days later at a hospital for a severe burn to the left leg due to the airbag. Her leg remained infected despite the treatment received at the hospital. The contact's ear was not treated. A police report was filed. The contact's vehicle was initially towed to an independent mechanic and then to a friend's home. The contact's insurance had yet to make a decision on the repair for the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact discovered the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V245000(Seat Belts) and 17V437000(Air Bags, Seat Belts) which she linked to her failure. The dealer nor the manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 93,622.
GMC Sierra seat belt problems
40 of the 3,904 owner complaints about the GMC Sierra describe seat belt won't latch or retract, most of them for the 1998 model year.
- owner complaints
- 40
- worst model year
- 1998
- typical mileage
- 37,000
By model year
Often reported together
No deployment 3Slipping 2ABS 2Transmission failure 1Won't shift 1Door locks 1Grinding brakes 1
What owners say
Tl* the contact owns a 1994 gmc sierra. The contact stated that the driver's seat belt would not latch to the buckle. Also, the strap that goes across the driver's chest would not adjust to his height. The contact spoke with cole buick gmc (6600 s westnedge ave, portage, mi 49002, 269‑323‑3200) and was informed that the seat belts were not included in a recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 145,000.
Need to get driver's seat belt and passenger door lock fixed under warranty. A bad employee at the dealer in july 2010 committed identity theft and open accounts under a different name "[xxx]" [xxx]. Dealer put me on a gm wide blacklist and so frustrating. Have reported to police, but just want to go to another gmc dealer to have fixed. Gm customer service has not helped and keeps calling the first dealer to request their permission and it has been denied. Dealer that committed id theft: ferguson gmc broken arrow, ok 74011 I really like the pickup, but unfair to hold up warranty/safety repairs because of the id theft. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The front passenger side seat belt buckle failed. It will no longer lock and lets the belt free if engaged. Vehicle was purchased at texas. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
2000 gmc sierra front passenger seat belt not working properly. Customer states that the seat belt is hard to pull and does not retract properly. *kb the consumer initially reported the seat belt was making a squeaking noise. The dealer replaced the seat belt, but the new seat belt locked up on passengers restricting their ability to lean forward and was very tight. The dealer replaced the seat belt two more times and the restriction problem was still present. The dealer stated the belt was suppose to work that way. The consumer stated the original belt never worked that way. The consumer stated the last seat belt that was replaced not only restricted movement, but it did not retract smoothly. Once the seat belt was in use, it did not recoil leaving the belt loose and useless. In addition, the arm rest kept falling off and the seat no longer reclined.
Passenger front seat belt locks where passenger is not able to move at all. The other seat belts do not do this. Due to law with using seat belts at all times this is a problem is an accident happens. Plus, passenger is uncomfortable when traveling long distances being stuck in on position and not being able to move at all.
Dt*: the contact stated that the metal piece on the back of the child safety seat where the seat belt loops through had broken. The manufacturer informed the contact that there was a recall on the child safety seat, the federal safety agency campaign id # 05c003000; child seat: harness , but the free in-home remedy kit offered would not fix the problem because the broken metal piece is not part of the recall. The contact believes the metal piece broke due to the poor integrity of the failed part noted in the recall.
1.driver's seat, device that moves seat to different seating positions, fell apart. 2. Turn signal device clicks nonstop 3. Passenger seat belt locks tight when passenger is in the seat not allowing for movement.
While driving 40 MPH in heavy fog the consumer lost control of the vehicle and went down an embankment and crashed into a tree. The driver side seat belt broke. As a result, the consumer sustained neck injuries and bruises. Please provide additional information.
Passenger seat belt locks up, requiring it to be unbuckled and fully retracted before it can be fastened again.
Related recalls
Seat belts: rear/other
- 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
Seat belts: front: anchorage
- What is wrong
- Certain extended and regular cab pickup trucks and cargo vans converted to compressed natural gas (cng) fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, 'child restraint anchorage systems.' these vehicles have one seating position, the center rear seat, equipped with child restraint lower anchorages.
- Risk
- The standard requires child seat lower anchorages in two seating positions for vehicles with three rear seating positions. The standard cab and cargo van vehicles, which only have front seating positions, have an air bag off switch to disable the front passenger air bag and do not have child restraint lower anchorages in the passenger seat. The standard requires passenger seat child seat lower anchorages in vehicles with an air bag off switch. However, the standard does not require vehicles with only front seating positions to have lower anchorage provisions if the vehicle is not equipped with an air bag off switch.
- Remedy
- To bring the standard cab and cargo van vehicles into compliance, dealers will inject epoxy into the air bag off switch to prevent air bag activation, relocate the switch behind the instrument panel and then install a cover over the resulting opening. The sun visor label and owner's manual will also be changed. The correction for the extended cab vehicle will consist of changing the front passenger seat to a seat that has child restraint lower anchorages. The recall began on september 9, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438 or gmc at 1‑866‑996‑9463.
Recall number 04V225000 · Recall details
Seat belts: front
- What is wrong
- These vehicles were built with front seat belt systems with no energy management loops and may not meet the head injury criteria requirements of fmvss no. 208, "occupant crash protection."
- Risk
- In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupants of these seats may not be properly restrained.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the retractor portion of the seat belt assembly(s) with one having the newly designed energy-management twin-loop system.
Recall number 95V242000 · Recall details
Seat belts: front
- What is wrong
- If both the lap-belt and shoulder-belt energy management loops on the front seat belt assemblies release at or near the same time, acceleration forces can cause the buckle release mechanism to activate and allow the buckle to separate from the latch.
- Risk
- If the buckle released, the system would fail to provide adequate occupant restraint protection.
- Remedy
- Dealers will remove the stitching that creates the energy management loop in the shoulder belt(s).
Recall number 95V241000 · Recall details
Questions about the GMC Sierra seat belt
Which GMC Sierra years have seat belt won't latch or retract problems?
The model years with the most reports are 1998 (7 complaints), 1999 (6 complaints) and 1993 (4 complaints).
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