GM Recalls Nearly a Half a Million Vehicles Over Seatbelt Issue

General Motors has announced a massive vehicle recall due to a seatbelt issue.

According to KATC TV3, the recall affects more thank 480,000 GM vehicles, including some Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC-branded SUVs.

The National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration announced the recall late last week.

The root of the recall, as explained by the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), is an object that is minuscule when compared to the vehilcle itself.

It's a rivet.

One rivet.

Okay, maybe two rivets, but they are rivets, nonetheless.

Do you know those things that hold the pocket seams of your Levis to the pants themselves? Those things that burn you if you put your jeans on fresh out of the dryer? Yes, those are rivets.

According to the NHTSA:

A seat belt with a deformed rivet may not properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash. - NHTSA

If you want to go to the NHTSA recall site and look up the information, you'll need to search for NHTSA Campaign Number 22V617000. That will bring you to this page.

The official count of the number of vehicles that may be affected is 484,155.

The brands/models affected include:

2021-2022 Cadillac Escalades

2021-2022 Cadillac ESV

2021-2022 Chevrolet Surburban

2021-2022 Chevrolet Tahoes

2021-2022 GMC Yukons

2021-2022 GMC Yukon XLs

NOTE: ONLY THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH THIRD-ROW SEATING ARE PART OF THIS RECALL

The NHTSA explains:

The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly formed. - NHTSA

It appears that there was something "off" with either the rivets, the tool used to install the rivets, or the person installing the rivets.

But, as they say: it's better to be safe than it is to be sorry.

So, what's the fix?

According to the NHTSA, your GM dealer will be looking at your vehicle to see if any repair/replacement on the seat belt assemblies needs to occur.

Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both the left and right side third-row seat belt buckle assemblies and replace seat belt buckle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. - NHTSA

For more information on your vehicle, you may contact:

• Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020
• Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006
• GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782.

The reference number given to this recall by General Motors is N222372380.

For complete information, visit the NHTSA website.