The problem
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, hearse, and limousines. Some of these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 209, "Seat belt assemblies." These vehicles have seat belts that may not meet the 30-pound push button release effort requirement of the standard.
The risk
High release efforts could make it more difficult for a crash victim to release the belt and exit the vehicle.
The fix
Dealers will inspect the seat belts and, if necessary, modify the latch plates or replace the retractor. Dealers will also add "snap on" latch clips to eliminate the potential of inverted latch plate insertion. Owner notification is being conducted in phases. The first phase began may 29, 2001, and the second phase began july 6, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact cadillac at 1-800-458-8006.
Contacts
Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
What to do
- Check your VIN. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls - it shows whether this recall applies to your vehicle and whether the repair has been done.
- Call a dealer. Any authorized Cadillac dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 00V347000.
- Ask about parts and a loaner. If parts aren't available yet, ask what to do in the meantime.
- Keep your paperwork. If you paid for this repair before the recall, you may be able to get reimbursed - here's how.