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
I had no ideal this car had so many recalls, I purchased the car used about a year ago my daughter complained about gas fumes in the back seat, and the front end has popped and cracked since I got it the mechanic couldn't find anything wrong and my signal lights tore up completely on halloween night, no signal would work however my emergency flashes did the mechanic checked them and told me it was in the switch that controlled my signal and emergency flashers . It has a short in it after working on it about an hour he got the signal lights working and told me not to turn my emergency flashers on again because my signal lights would tare up again also they are a issue with my headlights where one headlight won't burn, it goes out sometimes and sometimes it burns the garage could not find anything wrong with it they said it must be in the wiring my fog lights also will not work it seems …
On July 21, 2011 we drove to the store. When we came out and got into the car (2005 Pontiac Grand AM se, the passenger side seat belt would not pull out. It is completely retracted and will not budge. We did not damage it in any way. Now we cannot legally have anyone in the front seat because the seat belt will not engage. I scheduled a repair appointment with the dealer I bought the car from, who tells me it is our responsibility to repair it. Rough estimate on cost is $300.00!!! I AM certain the garage will want to replace the unit to get full money out of us. I will keep the defective one.
Driver hit gas instead of brake exiting from a parking lot and drove into the rear wheels of a flat bed tractor and trailer truck. Airbags did not deploy and driver's seat belt popped loose. Driver sustained a mild concussion. Passenger suffered chest pain and has since been diagnosed with torn cartilage and 2 cracks in sternum.
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Pontiac Grand AM. The contact stated that the driver and passenger side front seat belts failed. The driver's side seat belt buckle would not secure into the seat belt clip, causing the belt to become loose. The passenger's seat belt would tighten excessively and the contact was concerned that the belt could cause injury. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 140,000 and the current mileage was 190,000. ...updated 07-10-13
I was traveling about 60-70 miles per hour and lost control of my vehicle. I slammed into the guard rail. The crash totally pushed the front end of the car up towards the windshield. Neither air bag came out and I had my seat belt on. I can't remember the wreck or what cause me to lose control of my car. Fight for life had to fly me out and my jaw was completely shattered. I also had no bruising or injuries from my seat belt. I don't believe my seat belt restrained me either.
Driver's seat belt is designed in a way that it cannot be adjusted on frame of vehicle, when worn it goes across driver's neck. Consumer also stated the driver side door closes on its own after being opened when on an incline, consumer also stated the tire experienced a flat.
Every three months I ended up replacing brake pads and rotors on my 2001 Grand AM. Then one morning I was going to work traveling at the speed of around 60 MPH when the car started to drift left uncontrollably. I ended up jerking the wheel to avoid a head-on collision, which resulted in a end to end roll over crash. At which time the part of the seat belt that you buckle in to broke causing me to become unbuckled and thrown to the back seat of the car.
Dt: the contact stated while driving the electrical system would go on and off intermittently. This happens every time the vehicle was driven on rough roads. The vehicle was taken to a certified dealer for diagnosis. The problem could not be duplicated. Also, the rear seat belt material fell apart. This was inspected by the dealer, they offered no free repair.
Frequently asked questions
Which Pontiac Grand AM years have seat belt problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1999 (17), 1995 (10), 1997 (10), 1998 (7) and 2001 (6) model years. Seat Belt complaints make up 2% of all complaints for the 1999.
Is there a recall for Pontiac Grand AM seat belt problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seat belts recall for any Pontiac Grand AM model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Pontiac Grand AM seat belt problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 91,000 miles; 19% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front › anchorage (18 mentions), followed by the front › buckle assembly (15).
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.