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
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Envoy. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked on several occasions with the driver's side seat belt latched, while attempting to release the seat belt, the seat belt remained locked in the buckle. The contact depressed the release button and wiggled the seat belt several times before the seat belt released. On one occasion while the passenger's seat was occupied, the seat belt failed to release while depressing the seat belt release button. The contact exited the driver's seat and attempted to assist the passenger to release the seat belt; however, the seat belt tightened around the abdomen. The contact stated that a bystander attempted to assist, but the seat belt failed to release and became tighter around passenger's abdomen. The contact used a pair of scissors to cut the seat belt webbing to release the passenger. …
Passenger front seat belt does not work properly after attaching to proper seat connector seat belt locks up and no forward movement is allowed in non emergency situations. Seat belt must be detached as it is in a locked position. Upon unlocking belt returns to normal action. Belt must be reconnected and positioning must be retried sometimes requiring disconnection yet again. Belt was replaced at owners cost. Replacement belt has the same issues but not as frequently as original belt. Total cost to owner approx. 500.00 and not much improvement if any. I feel this can be a safety concern issue. Vehicle can be stationary or moving makes no difference.
I just want to add to my recent complaint made December 2021 file number 11444000 when our left side brake failed to disengage completely causing the vehicle to vear left into 2 traffic light poles. recently have the front end rebuilt and noticed the seat belts needs to be replaced or rebuilt but the passenger side belt is retracted so hard I cant get it off the seat, it is crushing the seat basically and I see other complaints of this happening and almost suffocating the passenger. I was lucky my wife was not with or the belt would have pinned her in, the driver belt is stuck as it was when i removed it.
My accident was May 25th 2018, my back passenger went off of a soft shoulder throwing me into 2 trees, I hit first one and seatbelt came apart but still over one shoulder hitting second tree and only thing that saved me was my right foot was under the brake and not on it, I hit my head on windshield causing me to have vision problems, severe whiplash, and rsd in right leg, I have to have cane, walker, or powerchair, my husband wants a divorce bc of my depression, my kids get fustrasted bc I forget I said something and I continue to repeatedly say thing, I never had none of this wrong with me till this accident and monique hill in claims says none of my injuries nor my family problems have nothing to do with general motors and I didn't hit sensors, I never had a seatbelt on but if that was the case that ding sound wouldn't have stopped! …
: no air bag/[ deployment failure] front/ side/ rear [ side designed to deploy in rollover or side impact crashes] air bag's failure / deployment complete roll all four sides landed back on wheels. I was slammed onto left driver side window left side face broke the window and glass and dirt filled vehicle seat belt failure: left/drivers only rolled four times landed back on all fours I flailed around head butted the passenger as the force over took my body onsite officer acknowledged the indications seat belt friction burns all on around neck and shoulder traumatic brain injury torn rotator cuff shoulder issues/ also bladder damage as the driver's side seat belt failed to lock during crash dealer should have been cited for seat belt failure worst things of all time ...it was a test drive engine stall failure : at high speed/ heard noise and boom lost all power steering loud noise loss …
Tl contact owns a 2004 GMC Envoy. While driving 35 MPH, the contact rear ended another vehicle. His vehicle was destroyed. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belts did not retract for both occupants seated in the front. The contact and the passenger struck the steering wheel with their chests and shoulders. Both were severely injured. The contact, passenger, and other driver were transported to the hospital. The vehicle was towed to a repair shop and is awaiting an investigation. A police report was filed. The failure mileage was 60,000.
My spouse was driving down s/b on rt 313 @ rt 290 maryland. He hit a deer and rolled my Envoy and the air bags never deployed. My son was in front passager set with a set belt on and when the Envoy rolled his set belt did not hold him on. My spouse told me the anit-lock breaks did not engage when he slam on the breaks .
The consumer involved in a roll over accident. Upon impact, the air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained injuries and the front passenger's seat belt failed, the passenger was ejected from the seat and was killed. The seat belt and air bag effectiveness was questionable. This complaint was not filed by the consumer. Odi followed up with the personal information provided and the consumer was not aware of this complaint. The consumer who was driving the vehicle was just released from the hospital. The consumers wife was killed in the crash and could not remember the details of the incident. Cw police department was contacted by odi. The driver lost control while traveling about 68 MPH. Multiple rollover. Seat belt on pass side buckled after crash with some load marks on the webbing. Passenger side door tore from the hinge. Cause unknown. …
Related recalls (1)
Seat belts
Certain light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt assemblies." one of the two sensors in the driver's and front passenger's seat belt retractors could be inoperative.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the driver and front passenger safety belt retractors, and replace them if necessary. Owner notification began on June 24, 2004.
Frequently asked questions
Which GMC Envoy years have seat belt problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2002 (17), 2003 (15), 2004 (10) and 2008 (5) model years. Seat Belt complaints make up 3% of all complaints for the 2002.
Is there a recall for GMC Envoy seat belt problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 04V-201 (seat belts, Apr 28, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do GMC Envoy seat belt problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles; 58% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front › retractor (9 mentions), followed by the rear/other (6).
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.