1997 SATURN SL Seat Belts Problems

THE FRONT SIDE PASSENGER SEAT/SHOULDER BELT SYSTEM WOULD NOT RETRACT OR RELEASE ON MY 1997 SATURN 4-DOOR SEDAN. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THE RETRACTOR HAD "FROZEN" & I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW SEAT BELT REPLACEMENT. ALTHOUGH THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL OF THE '97 SATURN SEAT BELTS FOR RETRACTOR DOING THE SAME THING IN THE 2 DR COUPE MODEL; I WAS TOLD MY MODEL WAS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND RARELY DOES THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT HAVE AN OCCUPANT. THE SEAT BELT WILL BE REPLACED AS WE NEED IT TO ENSURE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS AS WELL AS COMPLY WITH THE IL STATE LAW. *JB

Mileage: 88,000

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT THE FRONT SEAT BELT PROBLEM. THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT AFTER USE. THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT EXTEND OUT FOR USE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WILL COST $900.00. *AK *SC

Mileage: 54,000

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED. *AK *MR

Mileage: 23,000

DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELTS LOCKED. *AK

Mileage: 79,000

THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE PASSENGER SEATBELT ASSEMBLY BROKE, DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE ON 12/30/2001 MILEAGE 120,000. *AK

THE REAR SEAT BELTS(OUTBOARD) DO NOT FIT A SMALLER ADULT(5 FT) PROPERLY. THERE IS NO ABILITY TO ADJUST THEM.

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT LOWER RETRACTOR FROZE W/ SEAT BELT IN RETRACTED POSITION, RENDERING SEAT BELT INOPERABLE. RETRACTOR IS NOT IN A LOCATION SERVICABLE BY THE OWNER, AND IS CURRENTLY STUCK FAST FOR NO APPARANT REASON. COST OF REPAIR NOT YET KNOWN. CAR IS A VERY LOW MILAGE VEHICLE, FORMERLY OWNED BY AN ELDERLY MAN. CAR HAD 10,200 MILES ON IT IN SEPT. 2000 WHEN PURCHASED DIRECTLY FROM ESTATE. PROBLEM FIRST APPEARED ON 3/9/01 AFTER I'VE DRIVEN THE CAR ABOUT 9000 MILES. *AK

FRONT PASSENGER'S SEATBELT STAYS RETRACTED. *AK SEAT BELT WOULD NOT EXTEND COMPLETELY AROUND PASSENGER. *YH

LEFT FRONT SEAT BELT WILL NOT DEPLOY. JAMS AND WILL NOT EXTEND. *AK

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT FAILED TO EXTEND, HAD TO BE REPLACED, P/N 21055604, FOR A TOTAL REPAIR COST OF $135. *AK

A DEFECTIVE LATCH ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT IS CAUSING THE SEAT BELT TO FAIL TO LOCK IN PLACE, CONSUMER REQUESTS DEFECT BE REPAIRED BY DEALER. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SLC

THE SATURN WAS STRUCK FROM THE REAR IN THE MERGE LANE WHILE PREPARING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC. THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO FUNCTION RESULTING IN DRIVER STRIKING THE STEERING WHEEL WITH HER FACE. LACERATIONS, STITCHES, BROKEN NOSE RESULTED. PASSENGER SEAT BELT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY.*AK

PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT FAILED TO RETRACT FROM RETRACTOR. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER. *AK

BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEATS AND SHOULDER BELTS DO NOT LOCK UP, AND ALLOW OCCUPANTS TO MOVE FORWARD EXCESSIVELY. BACK SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. MECHANIC HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK *ML

MY SEAT BELT LOCKS UP INTERMITTANTLY. IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN MORE IN BAD WEATHER. I THINK IT IS THE RETRACTOR SYSTEM, BUT I AM NOT SURE. I WILL CONTACT THE DEALER THIS WEEK. I HAVE SEARCHED THE NHTSA'S CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND FOUND 4 SIMILAR TO MINE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW, IF THIS IS SOMETHING SATURN SHOULD PAY FOR. *AK

THE LAP AND SHOULDER BELTS ON DRIVER'S SIDE HAVE GOTTEN STUCK, AND WILL NOT COME OUT. AS A RESULT, DRIVER CANNOT WEAR A SEATBELT. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

SEAT BELT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF HOLDER. THIS OCCURED WHILE ON VACATION DEALER AT MY VACATION LOCATION CHARGED FOR REPAIR I FELT SHOUD HAVE BEEN DONE FREE.

CONSUMER WAS AT A STOP WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT BROKE, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FAILED.MGM

SEAT BELT RETRACTOR EXPERIENCING FAILURE. *YC

SEAT BELT LOCK. BELT HAD TO BE REPLACED.

PASSENGER AND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FAILED, NOT RELEASING PROPERLY.

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT STUCK.

SEAT BELTS ARE DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE, THE LOCKS ARE NOT SECURE. *AK