Seat Belt complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 | 1% | 130,000 miles |
| 2007 | 4 | 2% | 145,000 miles |
| 2006 | 3 | 1% | 82,000 miles |
| 2005 | 1 | 1% | 54,000 miles |
| 2004 | 8 | 2% | 40,000 miles |
| 2003 | 1 | 1% | 139,000 miles |
| 2002 | 6 | 2% | 168,000 miles |
| 2001 | 2 | 1% | 179,000 miles |
| 2000 | 7 | 2% | 98,000 miles |
| 1999 | 5 | 1% | 99,000 miles |
| 1998 | 14 | 3% | 72,000 miles |
| 1997 | 11 | 1% | — |
| 1996 | 4 | 5% | 34,000 miles |
| 1995 | 11 | 7% | 100,000 miles |
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 2007 Pontiac Grand Prix. While driving 35 MPH, the contact's vehicle accelerated independently without warning and crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The contact then veered off the road, crashed into a pine tree, and flipped over. The air bags did not deploy and the seat belt snapped as the vehicle flipped. The contact and other driver were both evaluated at the scene. The contact later sought medical attention for a broken arm. A police report was filed. The vehicle was initially towed to a tow yard and then to the contact's home. The vehicle was not destroyed; however, the vehicle was deemed inoperable. The manufacturer and dealer were not notified of the crash or the air bag failure. The cause of the failures was not diagnosed. The failure mileage was 256,000.
Husband was driving home from work, coming around curve and could not turn the wheel/ steer to the right to make the turn.... Crashed head on with a Dodge Ram 3500 truck. Car is totalled. Husband was rushed to emergency room with a concussion, cervical sprain, and hip contusion. Thank god my children were not in the car.
Tl* the contact owned a 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belt failed to secure the contact in place. A police report was filed. The contact was knocked unconscious and sustained injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was unknown.
The vehicle slid on ice therefore spinning into a 360 whereupon the vehicle impacted with a bridge then the opposite side of the bridge with the initial impact at 70 MPH. The vehicle hit the bridge with the front end and the rear end, however the airbag never deployed and the seatbelt did not tighten.
Tl* the contact owned a 2004 Pontiac Grand Prix. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH downhill, the vehicle stalled and the contact lost all control of the vehicle. The vehicle continued downhill into an intersection, jumped a curb, and crashed into the bushes. The contact sustained neck, leg, and shoulder injuries that required medical attention. The passenger, who was pregnant, was released from the seat belt and thrown from the vehicle. The passenger sustained abdominal injuries that required medical attention and resulted in premature birth. A police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 14V400000 (electrical system). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 10,000.
On March 16th 2016 while on the way to a doctors appt. We tried to used the right rear seat belt,however we could not get the seat belt to pull out so we could use it. On the way to the drs. Office we smelled a strong odor of oil and antifreeze in the car. When we got to drs. Office we noticed smoke coming from under the hood. So we let the car sit there until after the appt. When we got back to car we checked under the hood and could not find any oil of water leak, so my wife was driving me back home when the car completely cut off and stopped running,she had no control of the car at all. So I helped he turn the car off to road to the shoulder until it stopped. After looking I noticed the key was in the off position, I tried to start the car and it started right up I drove the car on home, and that's where it sits now!!! Please help!!! [redacted] ' '
While driving 30 MPH and attempting to avoid an accident, the driver slammed on the brakes. The brakes failed and a result the vehicle dipped down in the from and crash under a trucks rear crash bar. On impact the driver hit his chest on the steering wheel. The seat belt did not restrain him properly nor did either of the frontal air bags deploy. The passenger's seat belt didn't lock until it had already come out about 1 1/2 feet. The driver sustained a fractured sternum and chest trauma. The passenger sustained sever hand injuries and chest trauma. The consumer had all four seat belts replaced.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Pontiac Grand Prix. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the contact was involved in a vehicle crash. The air bags failed to deploy and the seat belts failed to provide restraint. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure mileage was 168,000. Updated 11/12/14 the consumer stated the crash was a head on collision. The driver and passenger received head injuries, headaches, low back and leg pain. The consumer had a herniated disc. Updated 4/30/2015
Related recalls (3)
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 › Front › Anchorage
The center rear seat belt anchor plate exhibits stress cracks.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the center rear seat belt system.
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
The center rear seat belt anchor plate exhibits stress cracks.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the center rear seat belt system.
Frequently asked questions
Which Pontiac Grand Prix years have seat belt problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1998 (14), 1995 (11), 1997 (11), 2004 (8) and 2000 (7) model years. Seat Belt complaints make up 3% of all complaints for the 1998.
Is there a recall for Pontiac Grand Prix seat belt problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 00V228003 (seat belts, Aug 7, 2000); 98V-306 (anchorage, Dec 1, 1998); 97V-065 (anchorage, Apr 18, 1997). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Pontiac Grand Prix seat belt problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 99,000 miles; 32% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the front › retractor (13 mentions), followed by the front › anchorage (11).
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.