Seat Belt complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Blazer. The contact was driving approximately 35 MPH, and crashed into an unoccupied parked vehicle. The air bags would not deploy with the level of impact in the crash. While the front driver side shoulder seat belt was being worn, it failed to function and caused the contact to move in a forward position as a result her face struck the steering wheel. The contact sustained a broken nose, bruises on both arms and shoulder area. The ambulance, fire and police department were called to the scene. A police report was filed of the incident. The vehicle was towed to a collision facility lot. The vehicle was completely destroyed. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. Updated 10/13/10 updated 10/14/10
Tl contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Blazer ls. The contact stated that the seat belt was partially pulled out and would not retract. The dealer was notified and stated that the seat belts were not covered under warranty. The engine size was unknown. The current mileage is 71,000 and failure mileage was 70,900.
A frontal impact occurred at 40 MPH as another motorist pulled out in front of me. The air bags did not deploy. The front driver seat belt did not properly restrain me and I was forced into the roof at the trim edge of the windshield, sustaining a minor scalp laceration, cervical disc damage, and a concussion. The vehicle was totaled by nationwide insurance.
2001 Chevrolet Blazer. Consumer writes in regards to ignition switch recall issues also airbags and seat belts malfunction during accident. The consumer and her son were involved in a roll over accident. As a result, her son died.
Tl* the contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Blazer. While the vehicle was stationary, the seat belt malfunctioned. The contact stated that the driver's seat belt would not retract when prompted and became undone on more than one occasion. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 126,000. ...updated 03/13/17 updated 08/10/2017
Driver lost control of the vehicle striking another and died on 12/29/14. Driver was 23 years old. The airbags failed to deploy as in ignition defect switch cases which May be the case with this vehicle and should be investigated. The seatbelt was also defective and inoperable, thus not worn at the time of death.
Front passengers seat belt is faulty! I was in a collision and rear ended by another driver. My mother was with me and in the passenger seat. Her seat belt at the shoulder did not lock and as a result she was thrown forward, causing a torn rotator cuff. She has doctors documents to back this up. Surgery was scheduled with no advail. We had other complications arise and the doctor canceled surgery in the operating prep. Room. We have been referred to specialist and are now awaiting for them to decide whether or not to again schedule surgery. In the mean time, the wave 3 trouble shooter, suggested I contact your office. Any help that you can be in this matter would be appreciated. My mother remains in pain on medication, and Chevrolet officials won't help my mother in any way. The vehicle in question is a 1999 Chevrolet Blazer, 4 door, 4x4. …
Tl contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Blazer. While driving 40 MPH, the contact was run off the road by another vehicle. The contact's vehicle struck a curb and flipped three times. The driver was ejected thirty nine feet from the vehicle. The vehicle was destroyed and a police report was filed. The driver sustained brain injury, left arm damage, and was in a coma for three weeks. The child passenger sustained a fractured shoulder, ribs, and a lung infection. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign id number 01V287000 (seat belts). The current and failure mileages were 173,456.
Related recalls (4)
Seat belts › Critical fasteners
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at…
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Certain sport utility vehicles were built with a driver's seat belt buckle assembly that contains an energy-absorbing loop. Sustained loads of sufficient magnitude and duration on the belt in severe crashes could fully deploy the buckle energy-absorbing loop, introducing a total of 10 additional inches of webbing into the seat…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the energy-absorbing seat belt assemblies with one that does not have the energy-absorbing loop. Owner notification began on August 8, 2003.
Seat belts
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and Mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the vehicle's safety belt buckle assembly date codes and, if necessary, will replace any safety belt buckle assembly.
Seat belts
Vehicle description: extended cab pickup trucks equipped with 60/40 front bench seats and extended cab pickup trucks and 2-door utility vehicles equipped with manual locking recliner bucket seats. The outboard safety belt webbing on the driver's and/or passenger's seat can separate during a frontal impact.
Remedy: Dealers will install a protective cover over the recliner mechanism.
NHTSA investigations
Seat belt webbing separation
NHTSA's new car assessment program (ncap) tested a 1997 Chevrolet s-10 extended cab pickup equipped with a driver-side air bag.the front passenger seat belt was completely cut during the test.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Blazer years have seat belt problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1995 (31), 1996 (30), 1997 (26), 1998 (18) and 2001 (11) model years. Seat Belt complaints make up 3% of all complaints for the 1995.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Blazer seat belt problems?
Yes — 4 recalls, including 20V-811 (critical fasteners, Dec 23, 2020); 03V-117 (buckle assembly, Mar 31, 2003); 00V228003 (seat belts, Aug 7, 2000). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Blazer seat belt problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 104,000 miles; 26% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front › buckle assembly (37 mentions), followed by the front › retractor (32).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.