16 of the 751 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier are about the seat belts — 2% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 111,000 miles.
16
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
5
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELTS, BY BUCKELS HAVE A PLASTIC PIECE THAT HAS CRACKED FROM HEAT AND PROVENTS IT TO STAY TIGHT ON ALL 4 BELTS. THIS ALSO PROVENTS ME, PASENGER, AND MY CHILDRENS CAR SEATS FROM BEING TIGHT AND SECURLEY FASTEND. PORE DESIGN ON THESE.
NHTSA complaint #10070927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PLASTIC SLIDE ON THE REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE CRACKED AND BROKE. THE SEAT BELTS CANNOT BE USED TO SECURE A CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #10041918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEATBELT BUCKLE PLASTIC PIECE FELL-OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10033157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
HAVE PUT 3 ALTERNATORS ON THIS CAR, EVEN WHEN UNDER WARRANTY BEFORE 12,000 MILES (APPROXIMATELY). BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. NOW, THE BRAKES HAVE FAILED COMPLETELY AND THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER SAYS NO RECALLS, EXCEPT FOR THE IGNITION SYSTEM. SCHEDULED THAT FOR REPAIR 7/23/02. SEAT BELT PLASTIC COVERS SNAPPED OFF (BELT LOOSE ON ONE AND HIT BY CAR DOOR WHEN SHUTTING IT. THE OTHER ONE JUST POPPED OFF. BELT CONTINUES TO SLIP OFF ENGINE, CAUSES STALLING EVEN IF DRIVING 55 MPH. NOW BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY FAILING. LEFT FRONT BRAKE CONTINUES TO HAVE BRAKE DUST ACCUMULATE ON WHEEL COVER. CAR HAS 110,000 MILES ON IT (ENGINE REPAIRED LAST YEAR). CAR IS ALSO OVERHEATING; HAS HAD TSTAT REPLACED, RADIATOR FLUID. WHAT ELSE COULD CAUSE THIS, I DON'T KNOW.
NHTSA complaint #764429 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEATBELT BUCKLES COMPLETELY FELL APART, PIECES OF METAL FELL OFF. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND THEY REPLACED BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGER'S SEATBELT BUCKLES. DEALER PUT SAME MODEL OF BUCKLE THAT HAD FALLEN APART ON PASSENGER'S SIDE, AND REPLACED DRIVER'S SIDE WITH A NEW MODEL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #896877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
THE CINCH PLATES ON BOTH REAR SEAT BELTS IN MY VEHICLE ARE BROKEN. BECAUSE OF THIS, I CANNOT PROPERLY INSTALL MY CHILD'S CAR SEAT. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE RUN-AROUND BY TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ENTIRE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST TO ME OF OVER $200. I E-MAILED GM TODAY REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. THE CINCH PLATES SHOULD BE MADE OF METAL SO THEY CANNOT BREAK. ADDITIONALLY, SAFETY BELT DEFECTS SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER. MY CHILD AND I HAVE NOT BEEN IN CAR ACCIDENT, BUT IT'S VERY SCARY KNOWING THAT THE LOCKING CLIP THAT I HAVE TO USE ON THE SEAT BELT TO TRY TO GET THE CAR SEAT IN TIGHT ENOUGH, MAY NOT WORK IN CASE OF A COLLISION. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, AND I HOPE THAT A RECALL CAN BE ISSUED TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED. THANK YOU VERY MUCH, KAREN NEWSOME
NHTSA complaint #744685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT FRAYED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #549499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER
REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT FRAYED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #549499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT FRAYED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #549499 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
ALSO HAD TO HAVE DRIVER'S DOOR REALIGNED, SIDE MIRROR REALIGNED, SEAT BELTS REPLACED, SEAT BELT COVERS REPLACED, WINDSHIELD WIPERS REPLACED, AND THE AIRBAGS WERE RECALLED. ALSO, THIS CAR STILL RUNS ROUGH BUT, THEY CAN'T SEEM TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #713574 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH CONSUMER SPUN VEHICLE, MAKING A 180 DEGREE TURN DRIVER'S SEATBELT UNBUCKLED AND DID NOT RETRACT, CAUSING INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #829106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH CONSUMER SPUN VEHICLE, MAKING A 180 DEGREE TURN DRIVER'S SEATBELT UNBUCKLED AND DID NOT RETRACT, CAUSING INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #829106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND SEAT BELTS BROKE.
NHTSA complaint #539174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
CENTER SEAT BELT DID NOT SECURE CHILD SEAT PROPERLY CAUSING SEAT TO FALL OVER.
NHTSA complaint #537257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
DRIVING IN OUTSIDE LANE A TRANSFER TRUCK CROSSED INTO CAVALIER'S LANE. WENT OFF ROAD & ROLLED 3 TIMES SIDE TO SIDE & THEN FRONT TO BACK 2 TIMES. DRIVER THROWN ABOUT 30 FT FROM REAR WINDOW. SHOULDER/LAP BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER. PASSENGER BELTS HELD. BOTH INJURED. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.
NHTSA complaint #823079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS
AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK UNLESS SEATS ARE ALL THE WAY FORWARD OR ALL THE WAY BACK. PASSENGER'S SIDE OCCUPANT HIT HEAD ON WINDSHIELD WHEN A SUDDEN STOP WAS MADE, SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN OCCUPANT, RESULTING IN AN INJURY.
NHTSA complaint #819659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.