1997 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Seat Belts Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT DROVER OVER BLACK ICE AND SLID OFF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT SIDESWIPED TWO TREES BEFORE CRASHING HEAD ON INTO ANOTHER TREE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED YET THE SEAT BELT DETACHED FROM THE LOCK AND THE ENTIRE UNIT THAT HELD THE SEATBELT IN PLACE WAS FRACTURED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE BURNS AND A BROKEN NOSE AS A RESULT. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A SALVAGE LOT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED CAUSING STICKING AND LOCK UP.

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL FULLY LOCK UP WHEN RETRACTED FROM TIME TO TIME--RENDERING SEAT BELT INOPERATIVE. DEALER WILL NOT FIX UNLESS A SERVICE TECHNICIAN SEES THE PROBLEM (SALES PERSON HAS SEEN THE PROBLEM). GM WILL NOT AUTHORIZE REPAIR UNLESS PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT AND READILY DUPLICATABLE. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN FOR ME--PASSENGERS ARE OFTEN NOT ABLE TO BUCKLE-UP WITHOUT 5-10 MINUTES OF FIDDLING WITH THE RESTRAINT SYSTEM BEFORE IT WILL RELEASE.

CK1500 THE SEAT BELT STICKS, YOU CAN NOT GET IT TO RELEASE SOMETIMES WE HAVE TAKEN IT IN TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WILL HAVE TO DO SO AGAIN THIS COMING WEEK. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD.

SEAT BELT DOES NOT COME OUT ALL THE WAY TO SNAP SHUT AS IS REQUIRED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *AK

THE DESIGN OF THE PASSENGER'S SEATBELT TIGHTENED TOO HARD WHICH CAUSED SMALL INJURIES TO THE PASSENGER . THE PASSENGER CANNOT WEAR THE SEATBELT. *AK

THE REAR SAFETY BELT COMFORT GUIDES ARE MADE OF THIN PLASTIC AND BREAKS VERY EASILY.

The owner was stopped by law enforcement for not wearing a seat belt. The owner claims they are exempt from wearing a seat belt due to a disability and disputes the legality of the traffic stop.