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 AUTOMA…
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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
NHTSA ODI #10247213
170,000 miles · Aug 19, 2006
Seat Belts
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE IS NOT WORKING. ONLY THE LAP BELT IS OPERATIONAL. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10166002
69,870 miles · Dec 20, 2004
Seat Belts
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
NHTSA ODI #10105089
Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2004
Seat Belts
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
NHTSA ODI #10055821
Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 2003
Seat Belts
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
NHTSA ODI #10044332
115,932 miles · Jul 28, 2003
Seat Belts
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
NHTSA ODI #10031296
125,000 miles · Jul 18, 2003
Seat Belts
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
NHTSA ODI #10028575
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2002
Seat Belts
DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT RETRACT INTO RETRACTOR. CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN HIMSELF. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8014493
Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2002
Seat Belts
DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT HAS BEEN FULLY EXTENDED OUT. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE DOESN'T RESTRAIN PROPERLY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8014460
Mileage unknown · Mar 23, 2002
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
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 …
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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
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME FRONT SEAT BACK RECLINER GEAR TEETH MAY WEAR EXCESSIVELY THROUGH REPEATED USE, AND COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BACK TO SLIP PARTIALLY REARWARD WHEN FORCE IS APPLIED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN, IT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SEAT RECLINER MECHANISMS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
4
RQ00005 · Front Seat Back Can Recline Or Collapse
Opened Feb 16, 2000 · Closed Aug 19, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
No summary supplied.
EA98017 · Seat Back Failures
Opened Jul 31, 1998 · Closed Mar 16, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 5, 1999, GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT IT WILL RECALL 136,300 MODEL YEAR 1994 AND 1995 SATURN VEHICLE (ALL MODELS) BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1994 AND AUGUST 1994.DURING THIS PERIOD, SATURN'S SEAT SUPPLIER MANUFACTURED RECLINER ASSEMBLIES WHICH WERE OUT OF DESIGN SPECIFICATION, ALLOWING THE FRONT SEAT BACKS TO RECLINE OR COLLAPSE INADVERTENTLY.TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, SATURN DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK RECLINER ASSEMBLIES.SEE NHTSA'S SAFETY RECALL FILL 99V-045 FOR DETAILS.
EA95003 · Cruise Control Failures
Opened Feb 24, 1995 · Closed May 31, 1996
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
THIS INVESTIGATION DOCUMENTED HTE FUNCTIONAL ABERATIONS THAT HAVE OCCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SUBJECT CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM.MOST OF THE MALFUNCTIONS INVOLVED FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO PROPERLY REGULATE VEHICLE SPEED WHEN ENGAGED, FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO ENGAGE, OR SELF-DISENGAGEMENT OF THE SYSTEM. THESE PROBLEMS WERE INVESTIGATED AND STEPS TAKEN BY THE MANUFACTURER TO REMEDY THEIR OCCURRENCES.SERVICE PROCEDURES WERE ISSUED FOR VEHICLES IN USE, AND A DESIGN MODIFICATION MADE FOR NEW VEHICLES.NO CONFIRMED ALLEGATIONS OF FAILURE OF THE SYSTEM TO DISENGAGE UPON COMMAND WERE IDENTIFIED.IMPROVED QUALITY CONTROL PROCEDURES AND DESIGN MODIFICATIONSIN THE SYSTEM WERE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE A MORE CONSISTENT LEVEL OF SYSTEM PERFORMANCE.THE DETAILS OF THESE FINDINGS AND THE RESULTING CONCLUSIONS ARE CONTAINED INTHE SUBJECT ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CLOSING REPORT.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND WAS NOT IDENTIFIED AT EHIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
PE94079 · Cruise Control Failure
Opened Nov 7, 1994 · Closed Feb 24, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment
There is no summary currently available
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