NHTSA Investigation EA99019

REAR SHOULDER BELT MALFUNCTION

THE ALLEGED DEFECT CONCERNS TWO MAJOR SYMPTOMS:FAILURE TO RETRACT WEBBING AND INABILITY TO EXTEND THE WEBBINNG FOR USE. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THESE SYMPTOMS IS THE DESIGN OF THE TRIM BEZEL THROUGH WHICH THE SEBBING PASSES. BUILT INTO THE REAR PACKAGE SHELF, THE BEZEL INCLUDES A VERTICAL SLOT TO FACILITATE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY.THE SLOT IS POSITIONED SUCH THAT THE SHOULDER BELT WEBBING TENDS TO SLIP INTO IT.WEBBING INGESTION BY THE VERTICAL SLOT MAY RETARD WEBBING RETRACTION, OR ALLOW WEBBING TWISTS TO ACCUMULATE ON THE RETRACTOR SPOOL.IN EITHER CASE, THE RETRACTOR MAY FAIL TO MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE TENSION ON THE SEAT OCCUPANT.FAILURE OF THE SHOULDER BELT TO COMPLETELY RETRACT MAY ALSO RESULT IN AN INABILITY TO EXTEND IT FOR USE IF THE CHILD RESTRAINT CINCH FEATURE HAS BEEN INADVERTENTLY ENGAGE (BY EXTENDING THE WEBBING TO ITS MAXIMUM LENGTH).GM WILL REMEDY THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BY STRAIGHTENING AN TWISTED REAR SHOULDER BELT WEBBING AND THEM INSTALLING A PLASTIC COVER THAT WILL PREVENT FURTHER WEBBING INGESTION BY THE WEBBING GUIDE VERTICAL SLOT.THIS ENGINEERIGN ANANLYSIS IS CLOSED.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.