Federal Government Investigates Chrysler for Unsafe Seat Belts Minivans

07/26/96

On the basis of consumer complaints and warranty claims, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating the seat belts of approximately 1.2 million 1991-1993 Chrysler Minivans. Complaints from consumers and warranty claims both indicate that the seat belts in question sometimes fail to buckle or unbuckle or that they unlatch during driving. Chrysler says it doesn't believe there is a defect in the belts.

Chrysler has been in the hot seat for safety problems lately, as they are currently fielding flack for mishandling the replacement of rear door latches on 4.5 million minivans. The company promised to replace the latches as part of a deal with the NHTSA, but they have replaced latches in less than one quarter of the vans since they started the program more than a year ago.

Here are some facts that the associated press compiled about the seat belts:

The NHTSA reports more than 110 complaints about the belts and one lawsuit involving a death.

NHTSA's investigation focuses on the so-called GEN2 belt buckle. 11,361 warranty claims have been filed for replacement of that buckle.

NHTSA reports that More than 8,100 of the warranty claims involved GEN2 buckles on the front bucket seat. About 44 percent of those belts were replaced because they did not always work, about 35 percent were replaced for a broken or cracked buckle and the rest were replaced because the release button was broken.

A design change was made on the buckle's release button in the summer of 1993. Chrysler officials say the belts are safe and that the switch to a GEN3 belt buckle was made to improve customer satisfaction by correcting a rattling noise and making them easier to use.

Paul Dever -- The Auto Channel