1999 GMC Jimmy

I REPLACED MY FRONT PADS AND ROTORS. BEEN FINE FOR A WEEK TILL YESTERDAY I STOPPED AT A LIGHT BRAKES FELT SLIGHTLY SPONGY, NOT LONG AFTER MAYBE TEN MINUTES THREE CARS AHEAD OF ME HAD STOPPED AS I HIT THE BRAKE MY FOOT WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND I SMACKED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME DOING APPX. 35-40 MPH. IT WAS A FOUR CAR PILEUP I TOOK HEAVY FRONT END DAMAGE MORE OR LESS TOTALED THE VEHICLE BUT THE AIRBAGS HAD FAILED TO DEPLOY CAUSING ME TO HIT MY HEAD ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND SUFFERING A CONCUSSION. THE SEATBELT DIDN'T LOCK AS IT SHOULD HAVE EITHER THEREFORE CAUSING MY WHIPLASH TO BE SEVERE. *TR

BOTH THE DRIVER & PASSENGER SEAT BELTS PREMATURELY LOCK WHEN VEHICLE IS MOVING. THIS OCCURS WHEN HITTING A BUMP OR MAKING A TURN. THE SEATBELT LOCKS AND DOES NOT ALWAYS RELEASE IMMEDIATELY; AT TIMES STAYS LOCKED UNTIL IT IS MANUALLY REMOVED. THE BELT WILL ALSO UPON LOCKING ACTIVATE THE RATCHET MECHANISM TO CONTINUALLY TIGHTEN WITH EVERY MOVEMENT OF THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER. THIS IN ITSELF CAN CAUSE A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION BECAUSE OF SEVERE RESTRICTION OF DRIVER MOVEMENT. THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER WHO HAS REPLACED THE SEATBELT AND MECHANISM TWICE. GMC HAS ALSO BEEN CONTACTED BUT WE WERE TOLD TO USE A SEATBELT EXTENDER OF WHICH WE DID, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT IF THE SEATBELT PREMATURELY LOCKS WHILE MOVING, WILL IT WORK IN AN ACCIDENT. WE REQUESTED GMC TO SEND A FACTORY REP WHICH WAS PROMISED BUT NEVER ACTED UPON. WHEN GMC WAS CALLED AGAIN, WE WERE TOLD TO TAKE IT TO ARBRITRATION. CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED THAT WE ARE FILING THIS COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA. THEIR ONLY OTHER SOLUTION WAS TO HELP ME MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ANOTHER DEALER RATHER THAN SEND SOMEONE OUT TO LOOK AT THE SEATBELT INERTIA MECHANISM. WE REALLY FEEL THIS IS A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES IF NOT LOOKED INTO AND CORRECTED. AT TIMES TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM, WE DO NOT USE THE RESTRAINTS OUT OF FRUSTRATION!*AK