Owner-reported complaints naming the seat belt system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 GMC Envoy submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
MY SPOUSE WAS DRIVING DOWN S/B ON RT 313 @ RT 290 MARYLAND. HE HIT A DEER AND ROLLED MY ENVOY AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. MY SON WAS IN FRONT PASSAGER SET WITH A SET BELT ON AND WHEN THE ENVOY ROLLED HIS SET BELT DID NOT HOLD HIM ON. MY SPOUSE TOLD ME THE ANIT-LOCK BREAKS DID NOT ENGAGE WHEN HE SLAM ON THE BREAKS .
ENTERING STRAIGHT STRETCH OF 2 LANE HWY.,I SWERVED TO MISS OBJECT IN MY LANE AND PART OF ADJACENT LANE. I COULD NOT STRAIGHTEN UP VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE ROLLED AND STRUCK A TREE. THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT INFLATE. MY DOOR WAS DAMAGED AND HAD TO BE CUT OFF TO FREE MYSELF. THE ENVOY WAS TOTALED. MY WIFE'S HARNESS DID NOT HOLD AND SHE WAS FACING THE REAR BETWEEN THE FRONT SEATS. THE SIDE AIR BAGS AND FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS WELL MAINTAINED WITH NEW TIRES AND BRAKES. I WAS LIFE FLIGHTED, AND MY WIFE WAS CARRIED BY AMBULANCE TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE WE SUSTAINED MULTIPLE INJURIES. *TR
I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN MARCH OF 2012. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL NOT WORK AND I USE THEM FOR CAR SEATS NOW WHICH PLACES MY LIL ONES AT RISK SINCE THEY MAY NOT BE PROPERLY FASTENED IN BECAUSE THIS SEAT BELT SHOULD FUNCTION. ALSO MY BACK HATCHBACK DOOR DOESN'T LATCH PROPERLY UNLESS I SLAM IT DOWN HARD. IF I DON'T GATE AJAR LIGHT COMES ON AND I HEAR IT LOOSE. THE LATCH SYSTEM HAS FALLEN APART DUE TO THE SLAMMING. WINDOW PART ALSO DOES THIS SO I DON'T USE IT. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE ARE NO RECALLS TO FIX THESE SAFETY HAZARDS. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC ENVOY. WHILE DRIVING 19 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. SHE STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HER DURING THE CRASH. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, WHIPLASH, AND MULTIPLE CONTUSIONS. THE MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 29,000.
2003 GMC ENVOY WITH A LIST OF PROBLEMS **NAR**CC THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO HEAR A KNOCKING AND PINGING IN THE ENGINE ON COLD STARTS AND FELT A HESITATION WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO GEAR. AFTER MANY COMPLAINTS, IT WAS FINALLY DISCOVERED THE ENGINE KNOCK WAS DUE TO SHORTER PISTONS IN THE RE-DESIGNED ENGINE AND THE HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING REQUIRED REPROGRAMMING. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD HE WOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE ENGINE KNOCK, BECAUSE IT COULD BE MORE TROUBLE TAKING THE ENGINE APART. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE ENGINE STALLED DUE TO THE BATTERY DYING. FROM APRIL 2004 TO OCTOBER 2004 THE BATTERY FAILED SEVERAL TIMES AND HAD TO BE RE-CHARGED. DURING THAT SAME TIME THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND EACH TIME IT HAPPENED, THE DEALER WOULD HAVE TO REPROGRAM THE ENGINE COMPUTER. THE RADIO WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY WHICH PRIMARILY CONSISTED OF STATIC. THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER CONTROL KNOBS AS WELL AS THE RADIO KNOBS WORE OUT. THE FRONT CENTER CONSOLE WAS LOOSE. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS COMING ON BECAUSE THE THIRD STOP LIGHT THAT'S ON THE TOP OF THE LIFTGATE MALFUNCTIONED. THERE WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE STOP LIGHT. THE COOLING FAN BROKE, THE BRAKES AND THE LEFT FRONT HEAD LAMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE REAR TAIL LIGHTS, DIRECTIONAL AND SIGNAL LIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE LUG NUT BROKE WHILE A REPLACEMENT TIRE WAS BEING MOUNTED ON THE VEHICLE. THE FRONT STABILIZER LINKAGE WAS REPLACED. THE GAS TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE FUEL LINES AND A SEAL ON THE TANK DUE TO A LEAK. THE SEAT BELT WAS DESIGNED POORLY AND THE BELT CUTS INTO THE CONSUMERS NECK. THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DIDN'T CLOSE PROPERLY, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE REPLACED WITHIN THE FIRST 2 YEARS. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE TRIED TO PULL THE REAR CENTER SEAT BELT IT ONLY CAME OUT ABOUT THREE INCHES AND STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. HE NOTICED THE PROBLEM A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO WHEN HE WAS TRYING TO MOVE A CHILD SAFETY SEAT OVER. GM STATED THE WARRANTY DID NOT COVER SEAT BELTS AND THERE WAS NO RECALL, BUT THEY MAY REIMBURSE HIM FOR THE SEAT BELT. *AK UPDATED 11/29/2005 - THE CONSUMER HAD NEVER USED THE CENTER SEAT BELT BEFORE. *NM UPDATED 11/29/2005 - THE CONSUMER STILL HAS THE OLD SEAT BELT IN HIS POSSESSION. THE PART NUMBER IS 88950971. *NM
THE CONSUMER INVOLVED IN A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT FAILED, THE PASSENGER WAS EJECTED FROM THE SEAT AND WAS KILLED. THE SEAT BELT AND AIR BAG EFFECTIVENESS WAS QUESTIONABLE. *AK *SC THIS COMPLAINT WAS NOT FILED BY THE CONSUMER. ODI FOLLOWED UP WITH THE PERSONAL INFORMATION PROVIDED AND THE CONSUMER WAS NOT AWARE OF THIS COMPLAINT. THE CONSUMER WHO WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WAS JUST RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL. THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS KILLED IN THE CRASH AND COULD NOT REMEMBER THE DETAILS OF THE INCIDENT. CW POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED BY ODI. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 68 MPH. MULTIPLE ROLLOVER. SEAT BELT ON PASS SIDE BUCKLED AFTER CRASH WITH SOME LOAD MARKS ON THE WEBBING. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR TORE FROM THE HINGE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. OFFICER INVESTIGATING CRASH DID NOT THINK A VEHICLE DEFECT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FATALITY. CRASH EXTREMEMLY SEVERE.
WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK IN THE REAR, CAUSING IT TO STRIKE A ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE REAR. CONSUMER SUSTAINED TORN LIGAMENTS IN THE NECK. REAR MIDDLE SEAT POSITION SEAT BELT HOLDING A CSS BECAME DETACHED ALMOST DISLODGING THE CSS WHICH WAS ANCHORED AT THE TOP BY A TETHER STRAP ATTACHED TO THE SEAT. *AK THE LATCH PLATE CAME OUT OF THE BUCKLE. SON CAN NOT REACH THE BUCKLE WHEN SEAT IN THE CSS. VEHICLE NOT TOTALED IN THE CRASH. ESTIMATED SPEED AT IMPACT WAS 30 MPH. JUST MINOR DAMAGE TO THE REAR BUMPER AND HATCH. STRIKING VEHICLE UNDER ROAD THE ENVOY. DEALER INSPECTED BUCKLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE OF A POSSIBLE FALSE LATCHING.CW
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WAS INOPERATIVE. THE BELT CONTINUOUSLY STUCK IN THE HOLSTER. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENTIRE SEAT BELT SYSTEM, BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED. *AK THE SEAT BELT LOCKED INTO PLACE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. *SCC *JB
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT-BELT WOULD LOCK-UP IN THE FULLY RETRACTED POSITION. DRIVER IS UNABLE TO PULL THE SEAT-BELT FROM THE "LOCKED" POSITION. MUST WAIT A FEW SECONDS/MINUTES BEFORE SEAT-BELT WILL RELEASE ITSELF SO THAT THE DRIVER CAN PUT IT ON. THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT AT (WAGNER-BUICK GMC IN BELLEVILLE, IL) REPLACED THE SEAT-BELT AT 5XXX MILES AND NOW THEY'VE PUT IN A SECOND ONE AT 82XX MILES TODAY (8/11/03). *NLM
WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2003 GMC ENVOY WITH A THIRD ROW OF SEATS. IN THE MANUAL IT INDICATES THAT THERE ARE SEAT BELT ADJUSTERS ON THE BACK OF THE SEATS TO SHORTEN THE HEIGHT AT WHICH THE SEATBELT COMES ACROSS THE PASSENGER. THESE ADJUSTERS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN OUR CAR. WE NOTICED THIS ISSUE WHEN A CHILD SAT IN THE BACK SEAT (ONE OF THE REASONS FOR PURCHASING A 7 PASSENGER VEHICLE) AND THE SEATBELT CAME ACROSS THEIR FACE. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO A DEALER ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT WE WERE CORRECT THE ADJUSTERS WERE NOT INSTALLED (A MANUFACTURER'S DEFAULT), BUT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE TO INSTALL THEM AT THIS POINT. WE NOW HAVE A BRAND NEW CAR THAT WE CANNOT USE FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH IT WAS PURCHASED. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND WE STRONGLY CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. I KNOW OF A COUPLE OF OTHER OWNERS THAT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IF I CHILD (OR EVEN AN ADULT) WERE TO SIT IN THOSE SEATS WITHOUT ADJUSTING THE HEIGHT OF THE SEAT BELT IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS.*AK
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED, WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND THE SEAT BELT LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE SEAT BELT WAS REPLACED ON JULY 1, 2003. *AK *CB *NLM
GMC ENVOY, 2003. COMPLAINT: REAR CENTER SEAT/SHOULDER BELT LOCKS UP 100% OF THE TIME. BECAUSE OF THIS ANYONE WEARING IT IS "PINNED" AGAINST THE SEAT. THAT IS, THERE IS NO MOVEMENT ALLOWED - YOU CANNOT LEAN FOREWARD. THIS SITUATION MAKES THE BACK CENTER POSITION BELT UN-USABLE. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER, (AND THEY AGREE THAT IT IS UN-WEARABLE), BUT SAY THAT THERE IS NO FIX. THEY ALSO SHOWED ME THAT THE SAME SITUATION CAN BE FOUND ON OTHER ENVOYS ON THEIR LOT. I FREQUENTLY CARRY 5 PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE AND I BELIEVE IT'S DANGERIOUS HAVE ONE OF THE SEATING POSITONS WITH AN UN-WEARABLE SEAT/SHOULDER BELT.
WHILE DRIVING FRONT SEAT BELTS GIVE TOO MUCH ATTENTION CROSS THE CHEST. TS. *AK
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.
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