2001 Chevrolet Tahoe Seat Belts Problems

Your front passenger seat belt locks up and won't adjust properly—it keeps getting tighter after you fasten it and doesn't allow any movement, making it very uncomfortable. This has been happening since you bought the vehicle in 2001, and the dealership says there's no recall for this issue. The fix will likely involve inspecting the seat belt retractor mechanism and potentially replacing the belt assembly or retractor unit.

2001 CHEVY TAHOE; REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DOES NOT RETRACT, THE SEAT BELT HAS TO BE MANUAL ADJUSTED WITH A SCREW DRIVER AND DOING SO CRACKED THE PANEL. WAS ONLY ONE SIDE BUT OVER THE YEARS NOW IT IS BOTH SIDE. ONE SIDE JUST WILL NOT RETRACT AT ALL ANYMORE. I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST US BUT IT MUST BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. DO NOT LIKE THAT THEY DO NOT RETRACTING IF WE GET IN AN ACCIDENT AND DOES NOT PROTECT OUR SON! THANKS *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVY TAHOE. THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT AND HAS CAUSED THE PASSENGERS TO SIT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE REAR SEAT TO USE THE LAP BELT. IN ORDER TO USE THE SEAT BELTS SHE HAS TO MAKE ADJUSTMENTS TO THEM WITH A SCREW DRIVER. THE CONTACT FEELS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE SOMEONE CAN BE INJURED DUE TO THE SEAT BELTS FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 122,350 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,000. UPDATED 10/21/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR SHOULDER SEATS BELTS CONTINUE TO JAM AND DON'T RETRACT. WHEN THEY DO RETRACT, THEY ARE VERY SLOW. UPDATED 10/20/09 *JB

TL* - THE VEHICLE OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE SEAT BELT FAILED ON THE PASSENGER'S REAR SIDE SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FAILED TO SECURE THE PASSENGER DURING THE IMPACT. THE PASSENGER WAS FORCED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE CONTACT HAS A POLICE REPORT. THE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED, AND THE CONTACT ALSO HAS THE OLD SEAT BELT.*AK UPDATED 02/21/07. *JB

MY CHEVY TAHOE WAS BEING DRIVEN BACK FROM WATCHING THE NASCAR RACE IN THE POCONOS PA WHEN DRIVING ALONG INTERSTATE 84 TWO OF THE THIRD ROW PASSENGERS COMPLAINED THAT THEIR SHOULDERS HURT FROM THE SEAT BELTS NOT MOVING. THE SEAT BELTS LOCKED IN PLACE AND ONLY WOULD LOOSEN UP WHEN THE SEAT BELT WAS RELEASED FROM THE CLIP. BEFORE PASSENGER FEMALE GIRLS AGES 12 & 11 USED THE ADJUSTMENT STRAPS IN THE VEHICLE SO THE BELT WOULD SIT PROPERLY ON THEIR SHOULDERS. AFTER STOPPING TO EAT. THE 11 YEAR OLD WAS UNABLE TO STRAP IN AGAIN SINCE THE BELT WOULD NOT EXTEND THE 6 INCHES MORE TO GET IT TO LOCK INTO PLACE. BOTH GIRLS DID RECEIVE BRUISING TO THERE SHOULDER. GM SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE SEA BELTS IN THE TAHOE AND REFUSES TO FIX OR REPLACE THE TAHOE/SEAT BELTS.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROTE 17M IN MONROE NY TWO OF THE PASSENGERS COMPLAINED THAT THEIR SEAT BELTS LOCKED UP ON THE AGAIN. THESE THE 2 FEMALES NOW IN THE 2ND ROW SEATS WHO WERE INJURED BY THE SEAT BELT FAILURE IN THE 3RD ROW SEATS JUST ONE WEEK PRIOR. BOTH GIRLS HAD THE FACTORY ADJUST ON SO THE SEAT BELT SAT PROPERLY ON THEIR SHOULDERS. THE SEAT BELT ONLY LOOSENED UP AFTER BEING RELEASED FROM THE BUCKLE. CHEVY REFUSES TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE SEAT BELTS/TAHOE. AT THIS POINT THIS HAVE MADE FAILURES OF ALL 6 SEAT BELTS WITH SHOULDER STRAPS. THIS TIME THE GIRLS WERE SITTING ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE TAHOE AS COMPARED TO THE 6/12/2005 INCIDENT AND WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE RECEIVED BRUISING ON THE OPPOSITE SHOULDERS AS LAST TIME

SEAT BELT MALFUNCTION!! SINCE THE PURCHASE OF MY 2001 TAHOE...(NEW) THE BACK RIGHT PASSENGER SEATBELT CONTINUES TO LOCK UP. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED AND "REPAIRED" SEVERAL TIMES TO NO AVAIL. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFECT SOMEWHERE! I ALSO HAVE 2 FRIENDS WITH THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM! SAME SEAT BELT. I HAVE 2 SMALL CHILDREN AND THIS COULD BE DANGEROUS. IS GM WAITING FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN?

I BOUGHT A 2001 CHEVROLEX TAHOE USED IN MARCH OF 2004. SINCE THEN THE FRONT SEAT BELTS HAVE NOT WORKED PROPERLY. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES FOR 3 REPLACEMENTS. STILL NOT FIXED. GM HAS MOVED MY ISSUE TO CUSTOIMER RELATIONS AND I WAS SUPPOSED TO CALL ME BACK ON NOVEMEBER 8 AND AS ON NOVEMEBER 29 I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN CALLED BACK. CONTACT PERSON AT GM IS CRAIG KING (813)635-4084. DRIVER BELT LOCKS UP AS YOU TRY TO PUT IT ON AND SOMETIMES CAN NOT GET BELT ON. PASSANGER BELT LOCKS UP ON PASSANGER AND WILL NOT UNLUCK EVEN WHEN PASSANGER LEANS BACK. PERSON GETS TRAPPED AGAINST SEAT AND REALESING BELT FROM BUCKLE ONLY WAY FOR PERSON TO MOVE.*AK

REAR MIDDLE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT AND THEREFORE IS NOT SAFE FOR USE. THIS HAS BEEN SERVICED YET STILL HANGS UP FREQUENTLY. HAVE TO REMOVE PANEL TO GET ACCESS TO APPLY TEMPORARY FIX.*AK

I BOUGHT A 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE IN MARCH OF 2004. SINCE THAT TIME THE FRONT SEAT BELTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 2 TIMES. CURRENTLY THE TAHOE IS IN HAWTHORNE CHEVROLET IN HAWTHORNE NJ, TRYING TO GET IT REPAIRED FOR THE THIRD TIME. I HAVE CONTACTED CHVROLET THEMSELVES ABOUT THIS. I AM WORRIED THAT IT WILL BE UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. IF THAT HAPPENS CHEVROLET SEEMS RESISTANT TO STAND BEHIND THE SAFETY DEFECT OF THERE MANUFACTORED TRUCK. MY TRUCK OBVIOUSLY CAN NOT BE RELEASED FROM THE DEALER UNTIL FIXED. OCTOBER 13 WAS THE 5TH DAY IN THE SHOP FOR THE TRUCK AND IT WAS RETURNED THERE THAT DAY AND IS STILL THERE.*AK

DRIVERS SEAT HEATING SENOR OVER HEATED. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS AT 28,000 MILES. NOW AT THE PRESENT MILEAGES OF 33,000 MILES THE PROBLEM HAS RESURFACED. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WOULD CONTINUE TO TIGHTEN ON THE OCCUPANT WHILE DRIVING. *JB THE SPARE TIRE CABLE PLASTIC CONNECTOR WOULD NOT RELEASE THE SPARE TIRE. *SC *JB

ON AUGUST 3, 2003, CHRISTOPHER MOFFEIT, AUDREY MOFFIET AND THEIR TWIN DAUGHTERS, MACKENZI MOFFIET AND MALLORY MOFFEIT, WERE INVOLVED IN A MOTOR VEHICLE ROLLOVER ACCIDENT WHILE TRAVELING IN THEIR 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE. MACKENZIE AND HER SISTER, MALLORY, WERE SECURELY BUCKLED INTO THEIR CHILD SAFETY SEATS WHICH WERE FASTENED INTO THE BACKSEAT OF THE TAHOE WITH SEATBELTS. FORENSIC EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT THE SEATBELT SECURING MACKENZI'S CHILD SAFETY SEAT RELEASED DURING THE ROLLOVER COLLISION. MACKENZI'S CHILD SAFETY SEAT WAS EJECTED FROM THE TAHOE. AS A RESULT OF THE INJURIES SHE SUSTAINED, MACKENZI PASSED AWAY SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE ACCIDENT. FORENSIC EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT THE SEATBELTS OF CHRISTOPHER AND AUDREY ALSO RELEASED DURING THE ROLLOVER COLLISION. BOTH WERE EJECTED AND DIED AUGUST 3, 2003 AS A RESULT OF THE INJURIES THEY SUSTAINED IN SAID ACCIDENT.*AK

SHOULDER RESTRAINT FAILS TO LOCK, IT CONTINUALLY RETRACTS WHILE DRIVER IS WEARING IT. WITH EVERY MOVEMENT SEAT BELT CONTINUES TO TIGHTEN RESTRICTING ANY MOVEMENT OF YOUR UPPER BODY. DRIVER RESTRAINT IS VERY DANGEROUS. THE DRIVER IS FORCED TO MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHETHER WEAR THE SHOULDER RESTRAINT AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR NOT WEAR IT AND BE IN DANGER AS WELL AS BREAKING THE LAW! ALTHOUGH THE RETRACTING MECHANISM SQUEAKS ALL THE TIME, THE RETRACTION DIFFICULTIES ARE INTERMITTENT. THE PROBLEM STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN 3 YEARS OLD, BUT GENERAL MOTORS REFUSES TO REPAIR THE SEAT BELT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAS 49K MILES, DESPITE THE OBVIOUS HAZARD TO THE VEHICLE OWNER AND OTHERS SHARING THE ROADWAY AT THE TIME. *JB

AUGUST 2001 I PURCHASED A NEW 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE FROM DANVERS CHEVROLET. THAT FALL THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FAULTY SEAT BELT AND THE SEAT. THE SEAT BELT IS STILL NOT OPERATING AS ORIGINALLY INTENDED AND GM WILL NOT ADMIT FAULT. THE REPAIRING DEALERHSIP - HILLCREST CHEVROLET IN SALEM, MA (HAVE BEEN GREAT WITH ME) ARE NOT ALLOWED BY GM ANYMORE TO REPLACE SEAT BELTS OR TO ATTEMPT TO FIX THE LOCKING MECHANISM THAT IMMEDIATELY CHOKES ANYONE SITTING IN THE SEAT - AS IF THE CAR WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YOU CANNOT MORE ANYTHING BUT YOUR EYES! HILLCREST EMPLOYEES HAVE SEEN AND EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM. GM HAS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TRAILBLAZER BUT ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP ME ANYMORE - I MADE THEM AWARE OF THE SEAT BELT LAW IN MASSACHUSETTS; THEY DON'T CARE. I NEED HELP TO GET THE SEAT BELT FIXED SO IT CAN BE USED. IF ANYTHING HAPPENS TO ANYONE IN MY CAR BECAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT; IF I GET STOPPED AND A TICKET BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT CAN'T BE WORN - I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT WILL HAPPEN. I AM IN TEARS OVER THIS AND AM DESPERATE FOR HELP. PLEASE HELP ME. CATHY COMORA-FAVALORO. *AK

THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK - IT CHOKES THE PASSENGER. THE SEAT BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE; THE ENTIRE SEAT WAS REPLACED ONCE, BUT IT IS STILL A PROBLEM. WE HAVE A SEAT BELT LAW IN MY STATE, BUT THE SEAT BELT CANNOT BE WORN.*AK

NHTSA#01-V-159-000: RETRACTORS FOR THE 2ND AND 3RD ROW OF SEATS THAT COULD BE CRACKED. CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDE IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN#. DEALER NOTIFIED. PH

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WHEN USED FOR AN LARGE SIZED ADULT RACHETS IF THE PASSENGER LEANS FORWARD. THE PASSENGER WOULD THEN HAVE TO TAKE THE SEAT BELT OFF AND REFASTEN THE BELT TO GET IT FIT PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP HAS PUT A SEAT BELT EXTENDER ON THE PASSENGER SIDE TO ACCOMADATE THE EXTRA LENGTH NEEDED. THE OWNER STILL FEELS THIS IS NOT A PROPER FIX FOR THE SEAT BELT. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS TS

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE SEAT BELTS. CONSUEMR FOLLOWED THE INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED AND SIGNED THE RECALL NOTICE BECAUSE THE PARTS THAT WERE UNDER RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO CONSUMERS VEHICLE. CONSUMER SENT RECALL CARD IN BUT RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL NOTICE SAYING THE RECALL WAS NOT DONE. A THIRD RECALL NOTICE WAS SENT SAYING THE SAME. CONSUMER WILL MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE RECALL LOOKED AT AGAIN. CONSUMER OBJECTS TO WHAT CHEVROLETS RECORDS MAY SHOW. *JG

SEAT BELTS LOCKS WITHOUT ANY APPARENT REASON. BELT WILL NOT RELEASE UNLESS BELT IS REMOVED AND ALLOWED TO RECOIL COMPLETELY INTO THE SEAT. BELT IS THEN REAPPLIED. TAHOE HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE FOUR TIMES. BELT HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. LAST TIME DATE OF SERVICE 10-30-01. ON 10-31-01 GM REP REVIEWED PROBLEM AND INSTRUCTED SERVICE DEPT NOT TO DO ANYTHING ELSE WITH THE BELT THAT THE LOCKING WAS "NORMAL PROCEDURE". I FAIL TO SEE REMOVING A SAFETY BELT IS NORMAL PROCEDURE. MANAGER AT MARTIN BURKS STATED CHEVROLET WAS AWARE BELTS WERE DEFECTIVE AND RECALLED THEM (I NEVER RECEIVED A LETTER). ON THE THIRD VISIT TO THE SERVICE DEPT THE "NEW" NON-DEFECTIVE BELT WAS INSTALLED - SEEMS TO ME THE BELT IS STILL DEFECTIVE CONSIDERING RIDER HAS TO REMOVE THE BELT TO UNLOCK IT. *AK

VERY CONCERNED ABOUT INABLILITY TO MAINTAN SEAT MOUNTED SEATBELT SHOULDER STRAP ON SHOULDER WITH ANY SHOULDER MOVEMENT. SHOULDER STRAP CONTINUES TO SLIDE OFF SHOULDER CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY IMPLICATIONS BECAUSE OF POSITIONING OF SHOULDER STRAP IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT. UNABLE TO GET ANY SAFETY INFORMATION FROM GM CONCERNING THIS ISSUE OR SEATBELT PROTECTION FOR THIS VEHICLE IN GENERAL. I DON'T WISH TO BE ONE OF YOUR STATS IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS BEFORE THIS MAY CAREFULLY BE LOOKED AT. THANK YOU.*AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKS UP AND GETS VERY TIGHT AND CONTINUES TO GET EVEN TIGHTER UPON ANY SLIGHT MOVEMENT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER WAS ADVISED BY DEALER THAT BELT MEETS GM'S SPEC, CONSUMER FEELS BELT IS UNSAFE SINCE THE PASSENGER MUST REMOVE THE BELT TO RETRACT AND RESET, A LARGER PERSON CAN NOT WEAR THE BELT. *JB

SHOULDER RESTRAINT FAILS TO LOCK IT CONTINUALLY RETRACTS WHILE PERSON IS WEARING IT. WITH EVERY MOVEMENT SEATBELT CONTINUES TO TIGHTEN RESTRICTING ANY MOVEMENT OF YOUR UPPER BODY. BOTH DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SHOULDER RESTRAINTS ARE VERY DANGEROUS. IT PUTS THE DRIVER IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED,THE DRIVER IS FORCED TO MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHEATHER WEAR THE SHOULDER RESTRAINT AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR NOT WEAR IT AND BE IN DANGER AS WELL AS BREAKING THE LAW!*AK

FRONT PASSANGER SEAT BELT CONTINUES TO RETRACT AFTER BEING LOCKED. *AK