NHTSA Complaint #10240626 — 2003 PONTIAC VIBE

WHILE ON VACATION 900+ MILES AWAY FROM HOME, MY FRIEND REACHED OVER TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF MY 2003 PONTIAC VIBE (I'VE OWNED FOR 2 YEARS) AND THE ENTIRE LATCH APPARATUS CAME OFF, LEAVING NOTHING THERE BUT A THIN BLACK CORD. I REALLY THOUGHT SHE WAS JOKING, UNTIL I GOT INTO THE PASSENGER SEAT MYSELF AND TRIED TO BUCKLE IT. THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT TO BUCKLE THE BELT INTO. I KNOW THAT THINGS BREAK ON AN AUTOMOBILE BUT THE SEAT BELTS ARE SOMETHING THAT YOU HOPE YOU CAN TRUST WHEN YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON THEM. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM KNOWN WITH THIS BELT LATCH, AND AS A SINGLE PERSON WITH NO CHILDREN, THE PASSENGER BELT IS NOT EVEN USED FREQUENTLY. FORTUNATELY, WE DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT DURING THIS 3,000 MILE VACATION, BUT ANYONE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF A SEATBELT. I AM GETTING READY TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND/OR CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER TO SEE IF THEY WILL FIX THIS. I AM SURE THEY WILL FIX IT BUT AT MY EXPENSE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A HUGE SAFETY PROBLEM. A MINIMUM CONSEQUENCE WOULD BE THAT I COULD RECEIVE A TICKET FROM POLICE FOR THE PASSENGER NOT USING THE SEATBELT AND THE WORST CONSEQUENCE WOULD BE THAT THE UNBELTED PASSENGER COULD BE KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS DEFECT IS WORTHY OF FURTHER INVESTIGATION! *TR