The problem
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. Appropriate use of a child seat or booster seat, as recommended for small children, does improve the fit condition for this user group. In addition to instructions on proper infant and young child restraint (with child seats or boosters), special verbiage for restraining older child is included in the owner's manual. Also, the suggested seat belt fit/routing for adults, irrespective of seating position, is described in the owner's manual text.
The risk
A lap portion of the seat belt routing that is not low and snug on the hips can allow the lap belt to ride up on an occupant's abdomen instead of fitting low around their hipbones, and therefore, can expose them to more risk of abdominal and internal organ injury.
The fix
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. Owners May contact Cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, Chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, GMC at 1-866-996-9463, or Hummer at 1-800-732-5493.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 05V-163 (05V163000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer number | 05037 |
| Manufacturer | General Motors, LLC |
| Component | Seat belts › Rear/other |
| Report date | April 22, 2005 |
| Owners notified | July 21, 2005 |
| Vehicles affected | 1,359,824 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
- 2003 Cadillac Escalade
- 2004 Cadillac Escalade
- 2005 Cadillac Escalade
- 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche
- 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche
- 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche
- 2003 Chevrolet Silverado
- 2004 Chevrolet Silverado
- 2005 Chevrolet Silverado
- 2003 Chevrolet Suburban
- 2004 Chevrolet Suburban
- 2005 Chevrolet Suburban
- 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe
- 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe
- 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe
- 2003 GMC Sierra
- 2004 GMC Sierra
- 2005 GMC Sierra
- 2003 GMC Yukon
- 2004 GMC Yukon
- 2005 GMC Yukon
- 2004 Hummer H2
- 2005 Hummer H2
Owner complaints about the seat belts
- 2003 Cadillac Escalade seat belt problems 1
- 2004 Cadillac Escalade seat belt problems 3
- 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche seat belt problems 1
- 2004 Chevrolet Avalanche seat belt problems 2
- 2005 Chevrolet Avalanche seat belt problems 2
- 2003 Chevrolet Silverado seat belt problems 10
- 2004 Chevrolet Silverado seat belt problems 3
- 2005 Chevrolet Silverado seat belt problems 4
- 2003 Chevrolet Suburban seat belt problems 10
- 2004 Chevrolet Suburban seat belt problems 2
- 2005 Chevrolet Suburban seat belt problems 1
- 2003 Chevrolet Tahoe seat belt problems 10
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 05V-163 repair free?
Yes. Cadillac dealers will fix the problem at no cost: 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.
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 1,359,824 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.