NHTSA Complaint #10053127 — 1988 GMC JIMMY

I AM AN ENGINEER. TWO OF THE REAR SEAT BELTS ON MY 1988 GMC JIMMY - FULL SIZE FAILED COMPLETELY. THE ANGLE BRACKET HAS A STEEL STRAP WHICH IS RIVETED IN PLACE TO IT AND THE TO THE END OF THE SEAT BELT(S). THIS STEEL STRAP BROKE IN COMPLETELY IN HALF , A VINYL COVERING HELD IT TOGETHER SUCH THAT THE USER IS UNAWARE THAT IT IS COMPLETELY BROKEN IN HALF. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SINCE THE SEAT BELT HAS NO STRENGTH LEFT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAPPENED TO TWO OF THE THREE REAR SEAT BELTS. THE MIDDLE SEAT BELT IS ATTACHED DIFFERENTLY AND DID NOT FAIL. I DISCOVERED THIS WHEN I WAS REBUILDING THE VEHICLE. NO REPLACEMENT SEAT BELTS ARE AVAILABLE AND I WOULD NOT BUY THE ORIGINAL BELTS IF THEY WERE AVAILABLE.THIS IS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS! I WILL REPLACE WITH AFTERMARKET BELTS. BUT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND A REDESIGN OF THESE BELTS. PART OF THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE REAR SEAT FOLDS UP AND DOWN. THE VINYL DOES NOT KEEP THE BELT OUT OF THE WAY WHEN THE SEAT IS PUT DOWN. THIS CAUSES BENDING OF THE STEEL STRAP WHICH IS NOT DESIGNED FOR BENDING. IT IS DESIGNED ONLY FOR TENSION. THIS NEED ONLY HAPPEN ONCE TO BREAK THE STEEL STRAP! I DO HOPE YOU FOLLOW UP ON THIS , BECAUSE PEOPLE MAY THINKK THE SEAT BELT IS OK AND NOT REALIZE IT IS BROKEN!