Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Seat belts reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
24
Latest Oct 2, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
6%
of 394 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3
What this page shows
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Buick Lesabre submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming seat belt
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Seat belts
Filed Oct 2, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 BUICK LESABRE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT WEBBING TIGHTENED INDEPENDENTLY AROUND THE CHILD'S BODY. THE OCCUPANT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED BACK AND TORN SPINE. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS INJURY TO THE ABDOMEN. THE INJURIES REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA ID
10779283
Incident
Aug 19, 1998
Mileage
45,000 mi
Fuel systemSeat belts
Filed Jan 17, 2008
I TURNED THE IGNITION TO START MY CAR ON 1/17/2008 AT APPROXIMATELY 8:30A AND HEARD A VERY LOUD POP AND SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT THE ENGINE COVER AND INTAKE MANIFOLD WERE BOTH SHATTERED. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND A RECALL PERTAINING TO THIS EXACT ISSUE, RECALL NUMBER 96V116000; ADDITIONALLY, I FOUND ANOTHER RECALL PERTAINING TO FAULTY SAFETY BELTS, RECALL NUMBER 96V044000. I AM CURRENTLY LOOKING INTO REPAIR COSTS BECAUSE I WAS TOLD BY THE BUICK CORPORATION THAT THERE IS A RECALL BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED FOR SOME UNEXPLAINED REASON. *TR
NHTSA ID
10215239
Incident
Jan 17, 2008
Mileage
177,364 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jan 25, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported
I WAS REAR ENDED WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND THEN PUSHED INTO THE CAR STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND TRANSPORTED TO EMERGENCY ROOM. THE SAFETY BELT ON MY 1997 BUICK LESABRE LTD DID NOT HOLD ME BACK DURING THE COLLISION AND I WAS THROWN FACE FIRST INTO MY STEERING WHEEL. THIS RESULTED IN A SEVERELY BROKEN NOSE, SEVERE FACIAL CONTUSIONS AND BRUISES. I AM TOLD BY BUICK DEALER REPAIR PERSONNEL THAT A BUICK LESABRE MUST BE TRAVELING AT 25 MPH IN ORDER FOR SEAT BELTS TO LOCK AND HOLD THE DRIVER BACK. THE SEAT BELTS ON BOTH THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY CAR CAN BE PULLED OUT AND ALMOST REACH THE WINDSHIELD WHILE THE CAR IS STOPPED AND WHILE DRIVING IT. I HAVE ALSO DISCUSSED THE ACCIDENT WITH SEVERAL PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN SIMILAR ACCIDENTS IN DIFFERENT MAKE CARS. THEY STATED THAT THEIR SEAT BELTS DID HOLD THEM BACK AND THAT THEY DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE SEAT BELT ON MY 1997 BUICK IS DEFECTIVE AND ALLOWED ME TO RECEIVE SEVERE FACIAL INJURIES. I BELIEVE THE SEAT BELTS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND PROPERLY REINSTALLED SO THAT THEY WILL WORK IN AN ACCIDENT SUCH AS MINE. THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED BUT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I HAVE SEARCHED THROUGH THE COMPLAINTS SENT TO YOUR ORGANIZATION AND NOTICED THAT AN ALMOST EXACT ACCIDENT HAPPENED TO A 1997 BUICK LESABRE LTD IN 1998. THE PERSON INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WROTE TO YOU COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SEAT BELTS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND ALLOWING THE PERSON TO SUSTAIN MANY INJURIES. WHEN WILL THE NHTSA NOTICE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS AUTO SAFETY BELT AND ORDER A RECALL SO THAT INJURIES SUCH AS MINE AND THE PERSONS IN 1998 DO NOT CONTINUE TO OCCUR? *NM
NHTSA ID
10107882
Incident
Dec 1, 2004
Mileage
58,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Dec 9, 2004
FRONT DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BROKE. IT WAS THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 96V044000. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER. HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED THE RECALL. *AK *TC
NHTSA ID
10099677
Incident
Oct 14, 2004
Mileage
42,033 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jul 29, 2002
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ,PLASTIC PART, FELL APART WHEN FASTENING TOGETHER. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AKI
NHTSA ID
8014930
Seat belts
Filed Sep 28, 1999
HEAD RESTRAINTS ON DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES WILL NOT COME UP HIGH ENOUGH TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT HEAD PROTECTION WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES. *AK
NHTSA ID
846593
Seat belts
Filed Feb 1, 1999
THE DESIGN OF FRONT SEAT HEADREST IS NOT HIGH ENOUGH. YH
NHTSA ID
608968
Seat belts
Filed Feb 1, 1999
SEAT BELT FAILED. NM
NHTSA ID
608120
Incident
Feb 11, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Feb 1, 1999
RIGHT REAR SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MECHANISM FAILED, REAR BUCKLES DO NOT LATCH PROPERLY. MJS
NHTSA ID
608044
Incident
Aug 1, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Feb 1, 1999
DRIVER SEAT BELT FAILED. *YC
NHTSA ID
607477
Seat belts
Filed Dec 3, 1998
WHEN RIDING IN THE VEHICLE AND TRYING TO GET THE SEAT BELTS TO STAY AROUND THE CONSUMER, THE FRONT AND THE REAR SEAT BELT STRAPS ARE TOO SHORT TO BE PULLED OUT AND TO GO AROUND THE CONSUMER. *AK
NHTSA ID
831754
Incident
Jan 12, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Jul 8, 1998
1 injury reported
SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN PROPERLY DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING INJURY.
NHTSA ID
537414
Incident
May 18, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Nov 26, 1997
REAR SEAT BELT DESIGN CAUSES OCCUPANT TO SIT ON BUCKLE, THEY ARE TOO CLOSE TO SEAT AND DIFFICULT TO FASTEN.
NHTSA ID
525465
Seat belts
Filed Nov 17, 1997
PASSENGERS SEAT BELT LOCKS/TIGHTENS WHILE DRIVING, CREATING DISCOMFORT FOR PASSENGER, IS DESIGNED THIS WAY TO SECURE CHILD SEATS.
NHTSA ID
524874
Incident
Oct 24, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Nov 4, 1997
SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILED.
NHTSA ID
604358
Seat belts
Filed Oct 2, 1997
REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT EXTEND FAR ENOUGH TO FIT PEOPLE OVER 100 POUNDS.
NHTSA ID
523119
Heating & air conditioningSeat beltsSteering+1 more
Filed Sep 8, 1997
A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED.
NHTSA ID
603869
Incident
Jul 19, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Jul 30, 1997
SEAT BELT DESIGN PROBLEM; THE BUCKLE PART OF THE SEAT BELT IS SO SHORT THAT IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT FOR AN ADULT TO BUCKLE THE BELT. *AK
NHTSA ID
814579
Seat belts
Filed Apr 10, 1997
SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED.
NHTSA ID
602999
Incident
Nov 11, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Apr 4, 1997
PLASTIC PART OF BUCKLE CAME OFF WHEN TRYING TO BUCKLE UP.
NHTSA ID
516213
Incident
Mar 22, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Feb 12, 1997
LOCATION OF REAR SEAT BELTS MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO BUCKLE.
NHTSA ID
602831
Incident
Dec 31, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Dec 12, 1996
REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES INOPERATIVE.
NHTSA ID
512600
Incident
Dec 7, 1996
Seat belts
Filed May 29, 1996
THE REAR SEAT BELTS ARE TO SHORT TO GO AROUND A CHILD SEAT OR A PERSON. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
NHTSA ID
984993
Incident
May 28, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Mar 26, 1996
REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLES LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGERS ON OUTSIDE SEATING, MAKING IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BUCKLE BY PERSONS USING THEM. *AK
NHTSA ID
809037
Incident
Nov 25, 1995
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own