The problem
Certain vans fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "Seat belt assemblies." These vehicles may have been produced with seat belt buckle assemblies containing a latch with a brittle condition that may not withstand the force requirements of the standard.
The risk
The safety belt may not restrain the occupant as intended during a crash, which could result in injury to the occupant.
The fix
Dealers will replace the safety belt buckle. The recall beagn may 7, 2004. Owners should contact chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438 or gmc at 1-866-996-9463.
Contacts
Gm recall no. 04025. Customers can 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 Chevrolet, GMC dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 04V189000.
- 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.