1994 Saturn Sl Seat belts Problems

I OWN A 1994 SATURN SL1 . THIS MODEL OF CAR EMPLOYS "AUTOMATIC" STYLE SEAT BELTS, THAT ARE BUILT INTO THE DOOR FRAME. WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR THE SEAT BELT IS SUPPOSED TO OPEN BY SLIDING UP THE TRACK. WHEN YOU GET IN THE CAR AND CLOSE THE DOOR, THE SEAT BELT IS SUPPOSED TO CLOSE BY SLIDING BACK ON THE TRACK. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC OPERATION DRIVEN BY A MECHANICAL MOTOR. THE TRACK OR SOMETHING IN THE MECHANISM HAS FAILED, AND THE SEAT BELT IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL WHAT SO EVER. I FEEL THIS IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A SAFETY RELATED ISSUE! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO DRIVE AROUND A CAR WITHOUT A WORKING SEAT BELT??? SATURN IS REFUSING TO REPAIR THE ISSUE BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT ACCORDING TO THE NHTSA "IF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE OR ITEM OF MOTOR VEHICLE EQUIPMENT, THE MANUFACTURER MUST FIX IT AT NO COST TO THE OWNER." THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO FIX THE ISSUE, AND ARE REFUSING TO COOPERATE WITH ME. IN THE MEANTIME I AM DRIVING AROUND A CAR WITHOUT A SEAT BELT!!! WHAT SHOULD I DO TO HAVE THIS CORRECTED? I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT SATURN DIRECTLY AS WELL TO NO AVAIL! *TR

NHTSA ID

10247213

Incident

Oct 27, 2008

Mileage

68,322 mi

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT WORKING. ONLY THE LAP BELT IS OPERATIONAL. *JB

NHTSA ID

10166002

Incident

Aug 1, 2006

Mileage

170,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BUCKLE BETWEEN THE LEGS FOR THE HARNESS WILL UNLATCH WHEN PULLED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. THIS IS AN EVENFLO 3252245P1 MANUFACTURED MAY 25, 2005.

NHTSA ID

10155076

Incident

Apr 11, 2006

Mileage

223,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, AND CHILD SITTING IN A CHILD SAFETY SEAT TOLD THE FATHER THAT THE SEAT BELT CAME COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BACK OF THE SEAT. HOWEVER, ALL SEAT BELTS IN THE BACK SEAT REMAINED UNSTITCHED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10105089

Incident

Nov 30, 2004

Mileage

69,870 mi

THE VEHICLE FAILED NEW YORK STATE INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN INDICATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT BELT MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10055821

Incident

Jan 26, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT WARNING BOTH SEAT BELTS FAILED TO RETRACT . DRIVER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10044332

Incident

Oct 20, 2003

CONSUMER STATES WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT RETRACTOR WAS MAKING A WIERD NOISE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, DEALER STATED THAT ELECTRICAL SEATBELT CABLE WAS BROKEN. *AK

NHTSA ID

10031296

Mileage

115,932 mi

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAS FAILED TO WORK. MOTORIZED PORTION DOES NOT RETRACT OVER SHOULDER AS IT SHOULD. WHY IS THIS MY PROBLEM TO FIX? IT LOOKS LIKE A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10028575

Incident

May 14, 2003

Mileage

125,000 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT INTO RETRACTOR. CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN HIMSELF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8014493

Incident

Jul 15, 2002

DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT HAS BEEN FULLY EXTENDED OUT. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DOESN'T RESTRAIN PROPERLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8014460

Incident

Jul 15, 2002

LTR WAS SENT DATED 1/29/02 W/ACCIDENT RPT. INJURY WAS FRACTURED STERNUM. AS I CHANGED LANES AT FREEWAY SPEED THE TRAFFIC IN THE LANE I ENTERED STOPPED. I BRAKED HARD BUT COULD NOT AVOID HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE SHOULDER RESTRAINT DID NOT LOCK (IT NEVER HAS AND I DIDN'T REALIZE IT SHOULD). I WAS WEARING THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS. THE LAP BELT HELD ME IN PLACE, BUT MY UPPER BODY HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. I HAD DAMAGE REPAIRS DONE AT A 21ST CENTURY INS RECOMMENDED SHOP. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE BELTS OR AIRBAG SINCE THE ACCIDENT IN CASE IT NEEDS TO BE ANALYZED BY NHTSA, & ONLY SATURN OF TORRANCE HAS EVER SERVICED MY CAR SINCE PURCHASE (EXCEPT FOR DAMAGE REPAIR FOR THIS ACCIDENT).*AK

NHTSA ID

759714

Incident

Oct 8, 2001

MOTORIZED RETRACTOR FAILS TO RETRACT THE SHOULDER SAFETY BELT.*AK

NHTSA ID

754466

Incident

Nov 8, 2001

THE ELECTRONICS FOR THE MOTORIZED SEATBELTS ARE LOCATED IN THE CENTER CONSOLE DIRECTLY BENEATH THE DRINK HOLDER. WHAT I AM SURE HAPPENED IS THAT CONDENSATION FROM THE DRINK DRIPPED DOWN AND ENTERED THE PANEL FOR THE SEATBELTS RENDERING THEM INOPERABLE. THEY ARE NOW STUCK IN THE POSITION THAT THEY WERE AT THE TIME AND THERE IS NO MANUAL OVERIDE TO GET THEM BACK TO THE FULLY BACK POSITION. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A GREAT RISK TO MYSELF AND THOSE WHO RIDE IN MY CAR. I WENT TO A SATURN DEALERSHIP TO ASK THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THAT IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME...THAT IS ALL I NEEDED TO HEAR. THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD COST ROUGHLY 350 DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM WHICH I FEEL LIKE IS A DESIGN FLAW. I REALLY THINK THAT THIS IS NOT MY FAULT AND IS THE MANUFACTURERS RESPONSABILITY.*AK

NHTSA ID

751417

Incident

Aug 24, 2001

MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS ON PASSENGER SIDE AND DRIVER'S SIDE HAVE MALFUNCTIONED. WHILE DRIVING SEAT BELTS BECAME DISENGAGED, NO PRIOR WARNINGS. HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

NHTSA ID

894384

Incident

Aug 8, 2001

DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS DO NOT ALWAYS RETRACT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES BELTS HAVE ALSO RETRACTED WHILE DRIVING. *SLC

NHTSA ID

893081

Incident

Aug 1, 1999

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT WAS DESIGNED WITHOUT A SAFETY FEATURE TO RETRACT BACKWARDS WHEN IT HITS AN OBJECT. ODOMETER WAS FAILING TO REGISTER CORRECT MILEAGE. MECHANIC REFUSED TO DO ANY REPAIRS DUE TO VEHICLE BEING OUT OF WARRANTY.*AK

NHTSA ID

883590

THE PASSIVE SHOULDER HARNESS MOTOR HAS FAILED TO OPERATE WHEN THE DOORS WERE EITHER OPENED OR CLOSED INTERMITANLY ON BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICAL FOR SOME TIME NOW. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT SAID THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND IT WAS EXPENSIVE SO TRY TO LIVE WITH IT UNTIL IT FAILED COMPLETELY. NOW THE DRIVERS SIDE SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD OR BACK WITHOUT IT BEING PUSHED OR PULLED ALONG THE TRACK MANUALLY. THE THE MOTOR DOES RUN BUT THE BELT JUST DOESN'T MOVE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTUER ABOUT ANY TSB'S OR SILENT RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE AND AM AWAITING A REPLY AT THIS TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID

741029

Incident

Jan 15, 2001

DRIVER'S SIDE RESTRAINT WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO POSITION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

864367

DEALER SAYS THAT THIS SYSTEM FAILS OFTEN, BECAUSE THE ELECTONING CONTROLER IS UNDER THE SPOT FOR THE CUP HOLDER AND IS NOT WATERPROOF. IF THIS IS FAILING AND SEAT BELTS ARE NOT WORKING ON A LOT OF THESE CARS, I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT AND MAKE THEM FIX THE ONES, LIKE MINE, THAT HAVE FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

720450

Incident

May 1, 1999

DRIVER'S SIDE MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO POSTION,IT IS STUCK IN MIDDLE OF TRACK, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION. *AK

NHTSA ID

856271

TIMING CHAIN FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ID

549313

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HE CAME TO A STOP SIGN, AND HIS SEATBELT CAME A LOOSE, AND AND HIS CHEST WENT INTO THE STEERING WHEEL . *AK

NHTSA ID

846368

Incident

Jan 11, 1999

THIS VEHICLE HAS THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT AND IT DOES NOT WORK. WHEN DOOR IS SHUT IT IS SUPPOSE TO RETRACT ACROSS THE DRIVER'S SHOULDER, AS IT SHOULD IT STAY IN THE RELEASE POSITION AS IF THE DOOR WERE OPENED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

845188

DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT BEGAN TO ONLY MOVE SLOWLY THEN WOULD ONLY MOVE UP 2 INCHES FROM THE CLOSED DOOR POSITION- TODAY THE MOTOR DIED(THE GEARS ARE BURNED OUT). CRUISE CONTROL WOULD ACCELERATE WHEN DEPRESSED AT 60 MPH UNTIL BRAKES APPLIED- I STOPPED USING IT COMPLETELY FOR SAFETY REASONS.

NHTSA ID

709839

Incident

Jul 30, 1999

LOCKING MECHANISM NOT HOLDING ROD ON BACK OF CAR SEAT. *YC

NHTSA ID

547402

Incident

May 1, 1998