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

Mileage: 68,322

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

Mileage: 170,000

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

Mileage: 69,870

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

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

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

Mileage: 115,932

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

Mileage: 125,000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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. *AK

DRIVER SEAT BELT SYSTEM SEAMS FELL APART IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED/REPLACED.

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. *AK

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. *AK

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

LEFT SIDE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY.

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. *AK

SEAT BELTS MOVE BACK AND FORTH WHILE DRIVIMG AND THEY WON'T OPEN WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED, DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

MOTOR BELT FAILED.

SEAT BELTS FAILED IN A COLLISION.

LIGHTER FELL OUT OF SOCKET, THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE SHIFTS HARD INTO GEAR AND HAS NO REVERSE GEAR THE DEALER REMOVED ANF RECONDITIONED THE TRANSMISSION, THE SEATBELT PULLED BACK WHILE THE DOOR WAS OPED AND THE SEATBELT FAILED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE DRIVER DURING AN ACCIDENT CAUSING HIM TO HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, THE BRAKE PEDAL FEELS LOW DEALER RESURFACED THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, THE BRAKES ALSO MAKE NOISE, THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM BEING MOVED, HORN FAILED. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45-50 MPH VHEICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BLET DID NOT HOLD UPON IMPACT, RESULTING IN OWNER BEING EJECTED FROM PASSENGER SEAT.CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS PERIODICALLY LOCK UP AND CONTRACT. *AK

DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP; ALSO, POWER STEERING MOTOR/SEAT BELT/TIMING CHAIN/FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED. *AK

THREE FRONT SEAT BELT STRAPS HAVE TORN SUDDENLY JUST ABOVE SHOULDER (NOT AT A SEWN POINT.)

THREE FRONT SEAT BELT STRAPS HAVE TORN SUDDENLY JUST ABOVE SHOULDER (NOT AT A SEWN POINT.)

OWNER STATES THAT HE HAS DIFFICULTY WITH FRONT SEAT BELTS , HE NOTES THAT WHEN KEY IS OUT OF INGNITION, SEAT BELTS TIGHTEN.

ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE SEAT BELT CONTROL MODULE, BELT GLIDES UP AND DOWN THE TRACK WHILE DRIVING.*AK

ERRATIC OPERATION OF DRIVER SEAT BELT MODULE. BELT GLIDES UP AND DOW THE TRACK WHILE DRIVING.

DRIVER'S FINGER STUCK IN MOTORIZED SHOULDER BELT HOOK.

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED TO LOCK DURING ACCIDENT, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT STEERING WHEEL/INJURY, ALSO BELT INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTIONS.

LAP BELTS CANNOT BE REACHED WITHOUT OPENING DOORS, ONCE DOORS ARE OPEN DIRVER/PASSENGERS ARE STRUCK BY AUTOMATIC BELT. *SKD

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR MODULE REPLACED DUE TO RETRACTOR FAILURE. *SKD

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS LOCK UP TIGHTLY ALMOST CRUSHING THE PERSON. *AK

AUTOMATIC SEATBELT CHOKES 5'2" OCCUPANT CUTTING ACROSS NECK. TT