NHTSA safety investigation
NHTSA Investigation PE04060
Preliminary Evaluation · General Motors, LLC · SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
An investigation is not a finding that a defect exists.
NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
What NHTSA is examining
The agency's own description of the inquiry, quoted as published
FAILING SEAT BELT BUCKLES
ON AUGUST 17, 2004, ODI OPENED AN INVESTIGATION BASED ON TWO COMPLAINTS AND ONE INSURANCE COMPANY REPORT ALLEGING DRIVER AND/OR FRONT PASSENGER SEATBELT UNBUCKLING DURING CRASHES ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000 AND 2001 CADILLAC DEVILLE SEDANS.ON OCTOBER 8, 2004, GM SUBMITTED DATA TO ODI RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.THIS DATA CONTAINED INFORMATION ABOUT SYSTEM DESIGN, SYSTEM OPERATION, SEAT BELT BUCKLE TESTING AND CONSUMER COMPLAINTS.BASED ON ITS ANALYSIS OF THE DATA, ODI HAS DETERMINED THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED REGARDING SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS OF UNWANTED SEATBELT UNBUCKLING DURING A CRASH.AT THIS TIME, FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCESSEE ATTACHED SUMMARY REPORT
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.
Investigation details
Identifiers, dates and outcome as recorded by NHTSA
- Action number
- PE04060
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation (PE)
- Status
- Closed
- Manufacturer
- General Motors, LLC
- Component
- SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
- Opened
- Aug 17, 2004
- Closed
- Feb 3, 2005
- Associated recall campaign
- None recorded
Vehicles named in this investigation
2 model years across 1 model
Being named here means NHTSA included the vehicle in the scope of its inquiry. It is not a statement that these vehicles have a defect.