2006 Chevrolet Suburban 1500

NOTIFICATION OF FAULTY SEAT BELT IN CHEVY SUBURBAN I AM WRITING TO NOTIFY YOU ABOUT A SEAT BELT DEFECT IN OUR 2006 CHEVY SUBURBAN THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE INJURY OR DEATH OF OUR 8-YEAR OLD SON. MY WIFE LEFT TWO OF OUR KIDS READING IN THE MIDDLE ROW BUCKET SEATS OF THE CAR WITH THEIR SEAT BELTS ON, AND WAS GONE VERY BRIEFLY. WHEN SHE GOT BACK OUR SON WAS ALL ENTANGLED IN THE SEAT BELT AND WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY BREATHING BECAUSE OF THE TIGHTNESS OF THE BELT'S COILS AROUND HIS LOWER ABDOMEN. THE SON LATER EXPLAINED THAT HE GOT ENTANGLED WHEN HIS BOOK FELL INSIDE THE CAR AND HE TRIED TO RETRIEVE IT BEFORE RELEASING THE SEAT BELT. MY WIFE'S ATTEMPTS TO GET THE BELT TO RELEASE ONLY SEEMED TO MAKE IT TIGHTER. SHE FLAGGED DOWN TWO OFF-DUTY POLICE OFFICERS WHO ALSO FAILED TO GET THE BELT LATCH TO RELEASE. IN THE END, THE POLICE OFFICERS OPTED TO SIMPLY CUT THE BELT AND FREE THE BOY. WE ARE THANKFUL THAT THIS INCIDENT HAD A HAPPY ENDING, BUT HOPE YOU CAN LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND TAKE ANY NECESSARY CORRECTIVE ACTION. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED; A CHILD IN THE REAR SEAT, OUTSIDE OF A CHILD SAFETY SEAT, BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELT LOCKED AND ALL ATTEMPTS TO FREE THE CHILD ONLY MADE THE BELT TIGHTER. ASSISTANCE WAS OBTAINED FROM AN OUTSIDE SOURCE THAT PROVIDED SCISSORS TO CUT THE BELT AND FREE THE CHILD. THE CHILD SUSTAINED BRUISES TO THE NECK. TOOK THE CHILD TO THE DOCTOR TO CHECK THE NECK BRUISES. THE DOCTOR STATED THAT THEY WILL WARN OTHER PATIENTS OF THE DANGER ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEAT BELTS. THE CONTACT STATED THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RELEASE TO ELIMINATE A SERIOUS SITUATION, A RELEASE BUTTON HAS TO BE ADDED. UPDATED 06/05/2006. *AK *TS