Seat Belt complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2023 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2021 | 3 | 1% | — |
| 2020 | 2 | 0% | 1,000 miles |
| 2019 | 4 | 1% | 74,000 miles |
| 2018 | 5 | 2% | 60,000 miles |
| 2017 | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2016 | 2 | 1% | 109,000 miles |
| 2015 | 16 | 2% | 75,000 miles |
| 2014 | 19 | 3% | 80,000 miles |
| 2013 | 2 | 2% | 55,000 miles |
| 2012 | 2 | 2% | 52,000 miles |
| 2011 | 4 | 1% | 58,000 miles |
| 2010 | 2 | 1% | 155,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 0% | 65,000 miles |
| 2008 | 13 | 3% | 84,000 miles |
| 2007 | 8 | 3% | 77,000 miles |
| 2005 | 1 | 1% | 200,000 miles |
| 2004 | 1 | 0% | 0 miles |
| 2003 | 2 | 1% | 145,000 miles |
| 2002 | 2 | 1% | 130,000 miles |
| 2001 | 1 | 1% | 173,000 miles |
| 2000 | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1999 | 3 | 2% | 158,000 miles |
| 1998 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 1997 | 4 | 5% | 36,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (buckles, retractors, anchors and pretensioners).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Airbag light and "Service Safety Restraint System" keep flashing on and off intermittently. Sometimes every 5 seconds. Sometimes once or twice a day. This is a known issue with 2021 GM trucks and SUVs. Trying to get vehicle in for service but dealer said they are booked 2 weeks out and won't given loaner vehicles at all anymore. The vehicle has less than 2000 miles on it.
I get a "Service Safety Restraint System" warning sporadically when driving. No known cause and the vehicle has never been in an accident. This started happening after my last service at Capital Buick GMC in Smyrna, GA on January 6th, 2023.
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed with her in the front passenger seat, he noticed that the vehicle in front of his had stopped. The contact stated that her husband immediately depressed the brake pedal, causing the vehicle to forcefully stop. The contact stated that the front passenger's side seat belt pretensioner failed to retract, causing her to hit the back of her head against the headrest. The contact stated that she sustained neck injuries but did not seek medical attention. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, but the failure could not be determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 73,833.
System that failed was the air bag system , Yes it can be available for inspection with notification, My family and friend were put at risk when the air bag system deployed in a parked car and seat belt restraints were deployed pulling them back into the seats , not moving and no other cars around it or near it went off Randomly it was NOT IN AN ACCIDENT , injuring the 3 occupants. The problem is still pending , At the dealer, and General motors has been notified . Case 9-6893265248, General Motors Product Assistance Claims (PAC) There has been a police report filled with local officials, I don't think the dealership has inspected , Buy recommendation of GM, since this is none accident related to the air bag system going off randomly, Very freighting to me and my family. …
The contact owns a 2018 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that the seat belt straps for the rear driver's and passenger's side seats would no longer retract and were stuck between the seat cushions. The cause of the failure was not determined however, the local dealer informed the contact that the seat belt retractors were likely defective and would need to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.
Driver's side seat belt receptacle does not hold. It is difficult to get seatbelt to latch properly. Sometimes it latches and releases later. Dealer confirmed seat belt receptacle needed to be replaced.
The contact owns a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, there was no audible chime or alert heard. After driving and then restarting the vehicle there was still no audible sound from the electrical system. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who informed the contact that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact replaced the battery, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V301000 (Electrical System, Seat Belts) however, the VIN was not included. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
The contact owns a 2015 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated the front passenger's seat belt was difficult to buckle, and it recently started unbuckling while a passenger was seated in the passenger's seat with the seat belt buckled. The contact stated that when the seat belt was unbuckled, the seat belt warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
Related recalls (7)
Seat belts › Front
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe, and 2014-2015 GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles that may have received an incorrect replacement tensioner cable assembly as part of a previous recall remedy or a subsequent repair.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver seat belt lap pretensioner, free of charge. The recall began on May 5, 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 › Pretensioner
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and 2020 Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 vehicles equipped with carpet floor covering.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will close off the opening in the pretensioner bracket, free of charge. The recall began December 13, 2019.
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.
Show 2 more recalls
Seat belts
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 trucks manufactured January 29, 2013, to January 21, 2015. While entering the vehicle, the seat belt tensioner cable may be positioned such that the driver slides over it.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will modify the vehicles to prevent the tensioner from being damaged. Any tensioner that has already been damaged will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on August 11, 2016.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Which GMC Sierra 1500 years have seat belt problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2014 (19), 2015 (16), 2008 (13), 2007 (8) and 2018 (5) model years. Seat Belt complaints make up 3% of all complaints for the 2014.
Is there a recall for GMC Sierra 1500 seat belt problems?
Yes — 7 recalls, including 21V-245 (front, Apr 8, 2021); 20V-811 (critical fasteners, Dec 23, 2020); 20V-792 (critical fasteners, Dec 17, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do GMC Sierra 1500 seat belt problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles; 37% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front (4 mentions), followed by the front › retractor (3).
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.