NHTSA Complaint #10610354 — 1995 CHEVROLET K1500

THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SEAT BELTS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THE SEAT HEIGHT. THE LAP BELT PORTION EXITS THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY AT AN EXTREME ANGLE THUS CAUSING EXCESS WEAR IN BOTH THE BELT FABRIC AND THE RETRACTOR COVER. THE BELT ALSO BECOMES ENTRAPPED IN THE SLIT CUT IN THE BELT RETRACTOR SO IT WON'T RETRACT AND BECOMES ENTANGLED IN THE DOOR AS IT'S CLOSED. DUE TO THIS DESIGN FLAW ALL THE AVAILABLE REPLACEMENT DRIVERS SIDE PARTS HAVE BEEN CONSUMED AND NO REDESIGNED PARTS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED. EVEN IF THE REPLACEMENT PART WERE AVAILABLE IT TOO WOULD SOON BECOME WORN TO THE POINT OF QUESTIONABLE SERVICEABILITY WITHIN A FAIRLY SHORT TIME. I CONTACTED CHEVROLET AND WAS GIVEN REFERENCE # 71-1330000620. THE REPRESENTATIVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER WHO CONFIRMED PARTS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. THE REPRESENTATIVE REFUSED TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE MATTER SIMPLY STATING PARTS DON'T LAST FOREVER. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF THESE PICKUPS STILL ON THE ROAD AND ANY OF THEM DRIVEN BY TALL DRIVERS WITH THE SEAT FULLY BACK WILL HAVE THE SAME WEAR PATTERN. I TRIED GETTING THE PART FROM SALVAGE SOURCES AND FOUND ALL COMPATIBLE PARTS WERE EITHER SOLD OR IN THE SAME CONDITION AS MY WORN PART. I DID MAKE A MODIFICATION TO THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR HOUSING WITH SOME DIAGONAL CUTTERS TO ALLEVIATE THE BELT BECOMING ENTRAPPED IN THE SLIT BUT THE BELT IS WORN BEYOND SAFE LIMITS AND SINCE THE EXIT ANGLE IS STILL INCORRECT THE WEAR WILL CONTINUE DESPITE THE COVER MODIFICATION. I AGREE PARTS DON'T LAST FOREVER BUT A POOR DESIGN RAPIDLY ACCELERATES THEIR FAILURE AND PUTS THOUSANDS IN JEOPARDY, ESPECIALLY IN LOCATIONS THAT DON'T HAVE A VEHICLE INSPECTION PROGRAM IN PLACE. *TR