Seat Belt complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 | 3% | — |
| 2022 | 6 | 5% | 70,000 miles |
| 2021 | 7 | 4% | — |
| 2019 | 5 | 6% | 38,000 miles |
| 2018 | 5 | 6% | 42,000 miles |
| 2017 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2016 | 4 | 2% | 192,000 miles |
| 2015 | 8 | 2% | 56,000 miles |
| 2014 | 2 | 3% | 35,000 miles |
| 2013 | 1 | 1% | 6,000 miles |
| 2012 | 1 | 1% | 76,000 miles |
| 2011 | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2010 | 2 | 2% | 59,000 miles |
| 2008 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2007 | 9 | 3% | 135,000 miles |
| 2005 | 1 | 1% | 27,000 miles |
| 2004 | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2003 | 10 | 3% | 23,000 miles |
| 2002 | 13 | 5% | 3,000 miles |
| 2001 | 23 | 5% | 46,000 miles |
| 2000 | 13 | 5% | 5,000 miles |
| 1999 | 13 | 2% | 96,000 miles |
| 1998 | 5 | 2% | — |
| 1997 | 6 | 1% | 10,000 miles |
| 1996 | 9 | 3% | — |
| 1995 | 11 | 2% | 120,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
While driving a 2023 Chevrolet Suburban (VIN: [redacted] ), my [redacted] son was seated in the second-row center seat and was properly buckled in with the factory shoulder/lap belt. He turned around briefly to grab something from the back of the vehicle, and during that movement the seatbelt fully extended and then locked in the automatic locking mode. The retractor would not release tension afterward. The belt continued tightening around his torso, and no amount of slack could be pulled back out. The belt became so tight that he was unable to breathe comfortably or free himself, and the locking mechanism would not disengage even after the vehicle was stopped and turned off. The seatbelt remained fully cinched and would not retract or loosen under any circumstances. …
The vehicle was purchased brand new from the manufacturer. Because the third-row seating was rarely used, it was not immediately apparent that the car was delivered without one of the required seatbelts. Once the issue was discovered, it was promptly reported to the manufacturer. However, the customer service representative refused to address the problem, stating that the warranty period had expired. This is a serious safety hazard. A missing seatbelt poses a significant risk of severe injury or death in the event of an accident, and it requires immediate corrective action.
The contact owned a 2022 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while his wife was driving at approximately 30 MPH she crashed into another vehicle striking the driver's side door of the other vehicle, which then crashed into another vehicle in the rear having been redirected from the force of the impact. The vehicle had been moved in the same direction that the wife's vehicle was traveling. The vehicle that the wife had crashed into had run a stop sign. The contact stated that all the front air bags deployed, however, the wife told him that the passenger side air bag had begun to emit smoke after deploying and then a fire started. The contact stated that the vehicle had stopped after the impact and that his wife was having difficulty unbuckling her seat belt. …
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the second-row middle seat belt was latched; however, the seat belt failed to lock as intended. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 27,000.
Sat may 3rd We went for tire change from that date since that day, every time we try to start the car there's always a different warning light The warning light is never the same issue. On may 15 when we received a warning light about transmission we went to the dealership that day they said they were about two weeks backed up but flushed the transmission and paid $504 for the service. Since that day we also received numerous warning light which include. Driver window. Esc. Winshield fluid. Tire pressure. Lift gate open. Forward Collision System Unavailable. Your 2021 Chevrolet Suburban detects a battery, starter or connection issue. Lastly the check engine light came on and the car won't start.
I'm writing to complain about the proposed temporary resolution of the recall. I received a letter today advising me that repair parts were unavailable and that I should simply not use the third row seats until the inspection/repairs are completed. Like many people who own Suburbans, I bought this vehicle because we are a family of six. This is the only vehicle in our home that can fit both adults and all four children. Not using the third row is simply not an option for us. This is an unacceptable solution, no matter how temporary.
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that the middle row seat belts failed to retract, and the seat belts became inoperable. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic and to two dealers, and the contact was informed that the seat belts could not be replaced because parts were no longer manufactured. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
Received a safety restraint warning message. Took the vehicle into the dealership and we were told that the passenger side seatbelt and front airbag needed to be replaced. We had it fixed, however it cost us $1400. The dealership would not replace it at no cost, even though we are shortly out of the warranty period and only at 51k miles.
Related recalls (9)
Seat belts › Critical fasteners
General Motors, LLC (M) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both the left and right side third-row seat belt buckle assemblies and replace seat belt buckle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge.
Seat belts › Rear/other
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Suburban, and Tahoe vehicles with third-row seating. The third-row outboard seat belts may have been entrapped or misrouted behind the outboard seat-folding mechanism, which could result in damaged seat belts.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third-row outboard seat belts, replacing any damaged seat belts, and rerouting them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 21, 2021.
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 › Critical fasteners
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-side front-row center seat-belt bracket attachments and reassemble it correctly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021.
Seat belts › Rear/other
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly preventing a child seat from…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seatbelt retractors and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2018.
Show 4 more recalls
Seat belts › Pretensioner
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge.
Seat belts › Rear/other
On certain crew cab pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, the 2nd row center occupant seat belt routing May make it difficult to position the lap portion of the safety belt low around the hips of occupants, especially smaller occupants, seated in this position.
Remedy: Dealers will cut open the guide loop, remove a portion of the loop, and then the remaining two sides should be folded over and secured with a retainer free of charge. The recall began on July 21, 2005.
Seat belts › Front › Retractor
Vehicle description: pickup and utility trucks. Some of these vehicles have an internal component in the outboard seat belt retractors for the 2nd and 3rd row of seats that could be cracked. With repeated actuation of the locking mechanism, the crack could spread to the point such that the seat belt would no longer lock.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the outboard seat belts for specific lot numbers and replace the belts if necessary. GM is enclosing an inspection procedure for the owners to use or they can have their dealers do the inspections.
Seat belts › Front › Webbing
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. These vehicles do not comply with the occupant protection requirements of FMVSS no. 208, "occupant crash protection."
Remedy: Dealers will install a tray insert on the top of the passenger side of the instrument panel. The tray insert corrects the noncompliance.
NHTSA investigations
Alleged failure of 2nd row seatbelt alr
The automatic locking retractor (alr) is a feature incorporated in the subject vehicle for locking the webbing to properly secure a child safety seat into a vehicle.this pe was opened based on a GM technical service bulletin stating that with certain child safety seats the webbing May not remain locked.there are no complaints in the odi database and only two complaints to GM.GM's instructions state for the final…
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Suburban years have seat belt problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2001 (23), 1999 (13), 2000 (13), 2002 (13) and 1995 (11) model years. Seat Belt complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 2001.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Suburban seat belt problems?
Yes — 9 recalls, including 22V-617 (critical fasteners, Aug 11, 2022); 21V-190 (rear/other, Mar 18, 2021); 20V-811 (critical fasteners, Dec 23, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Suburban seat belt problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 55,000 miles; 62% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front › retractor (25 mentions), followed by the rear/other (17).
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.