Our practice > Seat Belt and Seat Recalls

Safety defects can be very dangerous to consumers and their families. That is why the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) imposes requirements upon car companies and other product manufacturers to reveal at least some defects, and to recall and repair the affected vehicles. However, it is important to note that many defects are never subject to a recall, requiring the consumer to fight for justice in a court of law. Whether your vehicle was recalled or not, please feel free to contact us if you have a question about a defect in your car, van, SUV or truck. As a seat belt lawyer and former seat belt engineer, I would be pleased to answer any questions you may have.

Below is a brief summary of selected recalls relating to seat belt and seat defects:

Volvo is recalling 8,438 model year 2010 Volvo XC60 vehicles. The driver's seat side cover panel (seat control panel) in certain driver's side impacts may release the attachment of the seatbelt to the seat frame. Should this condition occur in a crash, the seatbelt may fail to properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury. The recall is expected to begin on or before December 15, 2009. 09V-445.

BMW is recalling certain model year 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive 30i and BMW Z4 35i vehicles manufactured between March 10, 2009 and March 19, 2009.  A defective crimp connector in a belt tensioner wiring plug may lead to increased electrical resistance of that connection.  Increased electrical resistance in that circuit could cause the safety belt tensioner to fail to deploy in a crash, possibly resulting in increased injury to the seat occupant.  09V-327.

Bentley is recalling 27 model year 2009 Continental Flying Spur and Continental Flying Spur Speed vehicles. There is the potential for the center rear seat belt upper guide bracket to distort in the event of a frontal impact. This distortion could result in the centre rear seat occupant traveling further forwards than the design intends. In the event of a crash, a seat occupant may not be properly restrained increasing the risk of personal injury. The recall is expected to begin on or before January 30, 2009. 09V-037.

General Motors Corp. (GM) is recalling 4,003 model year 2006 Chevrolet Express and 2006 GMC Savana full-size passenger, cargo, or cutaway vans. The front and rear seat belt buckles will not latch or will not unlatch. In the event of a crash, a seat occupant may not be properly restrained increasing the risk of personal injury. The recall began on April 30, 2008. 08V-238.

Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) is recalling 90,189 model year 2008 Toyota Highlander and Toyota Highlander Hybrid passenger vehicles equipped with a third row seat. These vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." The non-driver Designated Seating Positions (DSP) on these vehicles are equipped with seat belt assemblies that have a feature that converts the retractor from an Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) to an Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR). The belts convert to the ALR mode after the webbing has been fully withdrawn from the retractor. The system is designed so that as the belt is released into the retractor, the system remains in the ALR mode so that a Child Restraint System (CRS) can be tightly secured. However, for the two third row DSPs on these vehicles, the ALR mode deactivates before the webbing is fully retracted, so that it will not lock when certain rear-facing CRSs that have a short seat belt routing path are installed in the vehicle. This can allow the seat belt webbing to spool out during normal driving maneuvers, which could affect the stability of a child restraint installed at those seating positions. As such, this could discourage the use of a child restraint and in the event of a crash, the child may not be adequately protected possibly resulting in injury. 08V-181.

Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc. is recalling 7,340 model year 2006-2007 Mitsubishi Endeavor vehicles. On certain passenger vehicles, the right side lower seat belt anchor may separate during a severe vehicle crash. Breakage of the mounting bracket in a severe crash could allow the seat belt to not properly restrain the passenger and potentially result in injury or death. The recall is expected to begin during February 2008. 08V-022.

Mercedes-Benz is recalling 5,823 model year 2008 Mercedes Benz C-Class vehicles for failing to comply with some of the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." The rear outboard seat belts do not comply with the lap-belt lockability requirement which enables the lap belt portion of the belt to be locked by the user to facilitate the use of older non-latch design child restraint devices. Under certain circumstances, this situation may cause the locking mechanism not to perform as required by the standard for use with older non-latch child restraints. Dealers will replace all potentially affected seat belts. The recall is expected to begin during November 2007. 07V-465.

General Motors (GM) is recalling 531 model year 2008 Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 207, "Seating Systems." and Standard No. 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages." These vehicles may have one to four inboard seat stud fasteners that do not meet strength specification. In the event of a crash, the seat and seat belt assembly may not restrain the occupant as intended and could result in injury to the occupant. Dealers will inspect the inboard seat studs and, if necessary, remove the stud and install a bolt. The recall is expected to begin on or about October 10, 2007. 07V-454.

Nissan is recalling 3,564 MY 2007 Nissan Armada sport utility vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 210, “Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages.” The driver's side third row seat belt upper anchor bracket may be cracked. In the event of a crash, a seat occupant may not be properly restrained increasing the risk of personal injury. Dealers will replace the seat belt bracket. The recall is expected to begin on or about November 1, 2007. 07V-449.

KIA is recalling 189,706 model year 1995-1998 Kia Sephia and 1995-1998 Kia Sportage vehicles.On certain passenger vehicles, the safety belt buckle may "false latch" and expose the driver to unrestrained movement during a crash. In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury. Owner notification began December 20, 2002. 02V-216.

Ford Motor Company is recalling 95,000 model year 2000-2001 Ford Focus station wagons and 3-door vehicles. The subject vehicles have a folding 60/40 second seat that becomes a load floor in the folded position. When the 60% portion of the seat is folded down and a load is applied to the front edge of the load floor, the outboard hinge pivot could disengage from the hinge. If the seat is then returned to the upright position without re-engaging the hinge pivot, the seat and seat belts may not provide the intended level of performance in the event of a crash. Owner notification began January 24, 2001. 00V-418.

Chrysler is recalling 1.1 million model year 1991-1993 Chrysler Town & Country, 1991-1993 Dodge Caravan, 1991-1993 Dodge Grand Caravan, 1991-1993 Plymouth Voyager and 1991-1993 Plymouth Grand Voyager vehicles. The center rear seat, right outboard side, safety belt anchor hook can become unattached from the body anchor position. In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained increasing the risk of personal injury. Dealers will replace the anchor hook retaining clip with a revised profile clip and a cover plate. Owner notification began December 8, 1997. 97V-149.

Chrysler is recalling 1.1 million model year 1991-1993 Chrysler Town & Country, 1991-1993 Dodge Caravan, 1991-1993 Dodge Grand Caravan, 1991-1993 Plymouth Voyager and 1991-1993 Plymouth Grand Voyager vehicles. Covers on the solid stalk mounted seat belt buckles can become dislodged causing the release button to stick inside the cover. The buckle would then be only partially latched. In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained increasing the risk of personal injury. Dealers will install a cover retaining clip to the stalk mounted buckle cover to prevent dislocation of the buckle cover. Owner notification began December 8, 1997. 97V-148.

General Motors (GM) Corporation is recalling 50,709 model year 1995 Buick Regal, 1995 Chevrolet Lumina, 1995 Chevrolet Monte Carlo, 1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass and 1995 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. The center rear seat belt anchor plate exhibits stress cracks. In the event of a vehicle crash, the seat belt system can fracture and injury to the seat occupant can occur. Dealers will replace the center rear seat belt system. Owner notification began May 13, 1997. 97V-065.