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.
22
Latest Oct 2, 2012
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.
10%
of 212 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.
7
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
10
What this page shows
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 22 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, 2012
Crash reported1 death reported
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1994 CHEVROLET CAVALIER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE FELL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL. THE DRIVER BECAME INVOLVED IN A CRASH IN WHICH THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SIX TIMES. THE DRIVER WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE POLICE OFFICER STATED THERE WAS NO PIN IN THE SEAT BELT THAT PROPERLY SECURED IT TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELT WAS SECURED AROUND THE DRIVER'S ARM AND WAS CONNECTED TO THE LATCH, BUT NOT TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ID
10478332
Incident
Oct 1, 2012
Body & structureBrakesSeat belts
Filed Jan 11, 2003
THIS PROBLEM OF THE ABS SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING STARTED A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO. I HAVE ALREADY SPENT WELL OVER 800 DOLLARS ON BRAKE WORK AT SEVERAL DIFFERENT BRAKE SHOPS. NOBODY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS UNTIL I TOOK IT TO THE LAST PLACE. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS 1300 DOLLAR PROBLEM. I NEED TO REPLACE THE ABS BOX. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ONE DAY IN PERFECTLY CLEAR WEATHER I WAS TO FORCE TO HIT MY BRAKES AND ENDED UP SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL AND ALMOST BEING STRUCK BY NUMEROUS CARS UNTIL I FINALLY COME TO A STOP FACING TRAFFIC. THIS HAPPENED WHILE MY 15 MONTH OLD SON WAS IN THE CAR WITH ME. I HAVE READ IN NUMEROUS DIFFERENT WEB SITES ALL THE COMPLAINTS OF THE ABS SYSTEM FAILING ON 94 CAVALIERS. I THINK IF ANYTHING IS DECIDED TO BE RECALLED THIS IS DEFINITELY ONE OF THEM. NOT EVERYONE HAS THE MONEY TO JUST THROW AWAY ON HAVING THE PROBLEM FIXED. TS
NHTSA ID
10000963
Incident
Jan 7, 2003
Mileage
98,200 mi
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+5 more
Filed Apr 10, 2002
CONSUMER STATED WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO STOP ON WET LEAVES, IT WAS SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES WERE INSTALLED WRONG BY THE DEALER ON JUNE 14, 2000, THE DEALER OFFERED CONSUMER A 50 PERCENT SPLIT ON THE BRAKE WORK, HOWEVER CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE DEALER SHOULD PAY FOR THE ENTIRE BRAKE JOB SINCE THEY INSTALLED THE REAR BRAKES ON THE FRONT AND VICE VERSA. *JB
NHTSA ID
564993
Incident
Jun 14, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Mar 13, 2001
WHILE TAKING OFF SEAT BELT NOTICED BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. *AK *SLC
NHTSA ID
882854
Seat belts
Filed Feb 21, 2001
DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTOR GETS STUCK INSIDE AND MAL FUNCTIONS, AND WILL NOT COME OUT. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF IT. *AK
NHTSA ID
881059
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Dec 27, 2000
DRIVER SEAT BELT IS NOT ROLLING BACK AND THEREFORE IT GET STOCK IN THE DOOR AND TEARS UP. *AK
NHTSA ID
738369
Incident
Oct 30, 2000
BrakesInterior & seatsSeat belts+1 more
Filed Feb 25, 2000
EXCESSIVE FRONT BRAKE PAD WEAR, REPLACED A MINIMUM OF 10 TIMES WITHIN 70,000 MILES ROTORS REPLACED ALSO - DRIVERS SEAT DOES NOT ALWAYS LOCK INTO PLACE SOMETIMES SLIDES FOR/BACKWARDS - HARD TO USE RELEASE BUTTON ON FRONT PASSENGER BELT NOW THE CASING FELL OFF - WIPERS AREN'T PLACED CORRECTLY HAS CHIPPED OFF PAINT ON HOOD - DRIVER SIDE WINDOW IS HARD TO ROLL FEELS AS IF IT GETS OFF TRACK CAR GIVES SQUEKING/RATTLING SOUND WHILE DRIVING - BLACK METAL PARTS ON WIPERS HAS FADED TO BLOTCHY GRAY EARLY IN CARS LIFE - I HAVE NOT HAD PROBLEMS LIKE THESE IN ANY CAR I'VE OWNED, THEY ARE PREMATURE, ESPECIALLY THE EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR.
NHTSA ID
719276
Incident
Jan 15, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Nov 16, 1999
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FIRST STARTED IT WAS WINDING VERY SLOWLY AND THEN IT JUST CAME OFF. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WERE NOT ABLE TO HELP. *AK
NHTSA ID
852959
Incident
Nov 15, 1999
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+2 more
Filed Jul 28, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported
ABS FAILS EVERY TIME ACTIVATED, SYSTEM CYCLES SLOWLY, WITH UNCONTROLLABLE LOCK AND RELEASE OF WHEELS. THIS HAS OCCURED ON A FEW OCCASIONS. 1 OCCASION RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. ENGINE/VEHICLE VIBRATES HEAVILY WHEN IDLING IN GEAR. HAS DONE SO SINCE PURCHASE, BUT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. HORN PAD HAS DISLOGED AND FALLEN BETWEEN STEERING WHEEL SPOKES ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, NEARLY RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT LATCH DOES NOT RETAIN SEATBACK FROM TRAVELLING FORWARD. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY. SAFETY ISSUE. AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AFTER ABOUT 9 MONTHS, WITH NO PRIOR USE. AFTER REPAIR, IT FAILED AGAIN WITHIN 3 MONTHS.
NHTSA ID
709339
Incident
May 12, 1999
Seat belts
Filed Jan 14, 1999
THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT UN-BUCKLE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARANTY. PLEASE HELP!
NHTSA ID
702211
Incident
Oct 9, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Nov 3, 1998
DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE BROKE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE AND LOCK. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATES NO WARRANTY, REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE AT CONSUMER'S COSTS. *AK
NHTSA ID
830045
Incident
Nov 2, 1998
Seat belts
Filed May 12, 1998
1 injury reported
SEAT BELT FAILED DURING COLLISION CAUSING BACK INJURY.
NHTSA ID
535319
Incident
Jan 23, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Apr 28, 1998
1 injury reported
DURING COLLISION SEAT BELT FAILED TO HOLD CONSUMER RESULTING IN INJURY TO NECK AND BACK.
NHTSA ID
534838
Incident
Jan 23, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Jun 17, 1997
Crash reported1 injury reported
CONSUMER STATES WHILE GOING ABOUT 15 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION. UPON IMPACT THE SEATBELT ON BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WENT FORWARD AND DID NOT LOCK. OWNER WAS HOSPITALIZED. MANF. NOT CONTACTED
NHTSA ID
813191
Incident
Jun 3, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Apr 9, 1996
THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DOESN'T RETRACT. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
NHTSA ID
982515
Seat belts
Filed Feb 27, 1996
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE IN A ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK CAUSING THE DRIVER TO HAVE HEAD INJURIES. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA ID
979805
Incident
Feb 22, 1996
Interior & seatsSeat belts
Filed Jan 22, 1996
OTHER: SRS LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. *DSH
NHTSA ID
501635
Incident
Aug 2, 1994
Seat belts
Filed Jan 18, 1996
Crash reported2 injuries reported
CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T RESTAIN DRIVER HIT HEAD ON THE WINDSHIELD PASSENGER HIT HEAD ON DASH BOARD . TT
NHTSA ID
977824
Incident
Jan 12, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Jan 4, 1996
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHEN REAR ENDED IN ACCIDENT DRIVER'S SIDE SIT BELT DID NOT HOLD DRIVER. DRIVER HIT HER CHEST ON STEERING WHEEL AND HIT HER HEAD ON WINDSHIELD. TT
NHTSA ID
977418
Incident
Dec 28, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Jun 5, 1995
DESIGN OF UPPER PORTION OF FRONT SEAT BELTS ATTACHED TO DOOR IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION; IF DOOR WOULD OPEN, OCCUPANTS COULD FALL OUT OF VEHICLE. TT
NHTSA ID
966289
Incident
Jun 4, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Mar 17, 1995
ALL SEATBELTS AND SHOULDER HARNESS FAILS TO RETAIN OCCUPANTS OR CARSEATS WHEN IN USE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA ID
962158
Incident
Mar 17, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Feb 15, 1995
Crash reported1 injury reported
DRIVERS SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS/LAP SEATBELTS DID RETAIN OCCUPANT DURING FRONTEND COLLISION AT 20MPH CAUSING INJURIES. TT
NHTSA ID
960085
Incident
Jan 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