GM Recalls 1997 Blazer, Jimmy, Bravada SUVs to Replace Seat Belt Buckle Assembly

DETROIT April 2, 2003; The AP reported that General Motors Corp. said Wednesday it is recalling 341,000 model year 1997 Chevrolet Blazer, GMC Jimmy and Oldsmobile Bravada sport utility vehicles to replace a driver seat belt buckle assembly.

Some 313,000 of the SUVs are in the United States, and another 19,000 are in Canada.

Beginning in July, GM will notify owners and instruct them to bring the vehicles to their Chevrolet, GMC and Oldsmobile dealers. Dealers will install a new seat belt buckle assembly at no cost to the customer.

The driver's buckle design in the 1997 midsize SUVs used an energy-absorbing loop that could result in reduced driver restraint if it were fully deployed during a rollover.