Driver's seat belt buckle assembly

An NHTSA Recall Query into Chevrolet vehicles. Closed 27 May 2004.

Investigation
RQ04002
Type
Recall Query
Opened
18 February 2004
Closed
27 May 2004

What NHTSA investigated

On february 18, 2004, odi opened this recall query (rq) based on two fatality reports involving my 1997 GM S-10 pickup trucks.each report alleged that the belted driver occupant was ejected in a multiple-rotation rollover crash.the my 1997 s/t series pickups use an energy-absorbing loop in the driver seat belt that allows the webbing to elongate up to 10 inches (to mitigate driver injury in frontal crashes).gm also used this energy-absorbing loop seat belt design in MY1997 s/t series utility vehicles (chevrolet blazer, gmc jimmy and oldsmobile bravada).gm conducted a safety recall campaign (03V-117) to replace the driver seat belt in these utility vehilces based on a higher fatality rate of ejected belted drivers in rollover crashes.both fatal crashes are severe rollover crashes (multiple-rotation rollover) and both vehicles sustained damage to the roof structure.odi reviewed the field data performance of the subject vehicles and compared them to peer vehicles using nhtsa's fatality analysis reporting system (fars) database.the fars data did not indicate a field performance trend for the subject vehicle.a safety-related defect trend has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.accordingly, this investigation is closed.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist.the agency will monitor this issue and take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

Vehicles covered

MakeModelModel years
ChevroletS101997
ChevroletSONOMA1997
GMCSONOMA1997
IsuzuHOMBRE1997

Source

From NHTSA’s investigation file, rebuilt daily. To report a problem with your own vehicle, go to nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. All open investigations.