1994 Saturn SL seat belt problems

SEAT BELTS

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!

NHTSA complaint #10247213 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

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

NHTSA complaint #10166002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10105089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

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.

NHTSA complaint #10055821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

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.

NHTSA complaint #10044332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

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.

NHTSA complaint #10031296 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT

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.

NHTSA complaint #10028575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

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

NHTSA complaint #8014493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

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

NHTSA complaint #8014460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

MOTORIZED RETRACTOR FAILS TO RETRACT THE SHOULDER SAFETY BELT.

NHTSA complaint #754466 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #751417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #894384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

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 complaint #893081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #883590 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #741029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

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

NHTSA complaint #864367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #720450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

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

NHTSA complaint #856271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER HARNESS DOES NOT RELEASE WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IS OPENED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #549313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

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 .

NHTSA complaint #846368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

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.

NHTSA complaint #845188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

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 complaint #709839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

SEATBELT IS NO LONGER USABLE. THE GEAR IS STUCK INTHE MIDDLE OF THE TRACK AND INTHE WAY OF DRIVING. ALSO, BELL CHIMES IF THE SEATBELT ARE CONNECTED.

NHTSA complaint #707219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED/REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #544776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

SEAT BELTS MOVE BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVING AND THEY WON'T OPEN WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED. ALSO, SUN ROOF AND SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED/ NOISY ENGINE DUE TO TIMING CHAIN FAILURE. IN ADDITION, REPLACED EGR VALVE AND CANISTER.

NHTSA complaint #826207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT DOESN'T WORK AND THE SEAT BELT WON'T COME ACROSS THE CONSUMER'S CHEST. ALSO, THERE IS A LEAK COMING FROM THE SUN ROOF, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DOORS, AND THE BATTERY DIE OUT.

NHTSA complaint #834234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

SHOULDER BELT MOTOR ON DRIVERS SIDE WILL OPEN AND SLIDE FORWARD WHILE DRIVING, DEALER CONTACTED, AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. ALSO STATES MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. NO WARRANTY. REPAIRS WILL BE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.

NHTSA complaint #832255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

NTERMITTENTLY THE POWER SHOULDER BELT USED TO RETRACT. NOW SHOULDER BELT DOES NOT RETRACT AT ALL. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #830537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.