Chevy van seatbelt issues

[Dartboy]

I'm having an ongoing issue with the driver's seatbelt on my work trucks, a fleet of Chevy 3500 Vans converted to mini-buses. What is happening is the driver's seatbelt reel is locking up. A little locking is common, go to put the belt on, give it a yank and it won't come out. So you let it reel back in again and pull it out slowly, no problem. Only these vans lock up, so you let it spool in a little, oops, it won't come out, let it spool in a little more. Nope, still stuck. Next thing you know, the belt is completely tight on the reel and won't budge. Off to the dealer for repair consisting of replacing the seatbelt assembly

So far this has happened to 4 different vans, one of them has now done it twice. All are fairly new, 2012-2014 and under 13K miles. I've actually gone so far as to file complaints with the NHTSA about it, actually got a reply looking for more info too. Dealer, of course, says he's never seen this issue before. One of the service writers actually gave me a TSB on the issue that blamed the driver for "helping the belt back onto the reel" apparently, this is a bad thing. Though I can't see how this could possibly cause the seatbelt to seize up.

Anyone else heard of this issue?

 

[OldCracker29]

I'm having an ongoing issue with the driver's seatbelt on my work trucks, a fleet of Chevy 3500 Vans converted to mini-buses. What is happening is the driver's seatbelt reel is locking up. A little locking is common, go to put the belt on, give it a yank and it won't come out. So you let it reel back in again and pull it out slowly, no problem. Only these vans lock up, so you let it spool in a little, oops, it won't come out, let it spool in a little more. Nope, still stuck. Next thing you know, the belt is completely tight on the reel and won't budge. Off to the dealer for repair consisting of replacing the seatbelt assembly

So far this has happened to 4 different vans, one of them has now done it twice. All are fairly new, 2012-2014 and under 13K miles. I've actually gone so far as to file complaints with the NHTSA about it, actually got a reply looking for more info too. Dealer, of course, says he's never seen this issue before. One of the service writers actually gave me a TSB on the issue that blamed the driver for "helping the belt back onto the reel" apparently, this is a bad thing. Though I can't see how this could possibly cause the seatbelt to seize up.

Anyone else heard of this issue?

The one in my truck sometimes sticks and I "help it back" so the damn buckle doesn't smack the window.

 

[Draenor]

The one in my truck sometimes sticks and I "help it back" so the damn buckle doesn't smack the window.

Same here. I've never had it to where it wont come out though.

I know it sucks taking it to the dealer, but then you can blame them when it happens again.

 

[dietz4ibanez]

I've never had this issue but I can tell you that my seat belts are in the newest condition of any part on my trucks that I drive.

 

[Shaggy]

I've never had this issue but I can tell you that my seat belts are in the newest condition of any part on my trucks that I drive.

You would actually change out seat belts when you bought a older vehicle?

 

[dietz4ibanez]

I've never had this issue but I can tell you that my seat belts are in the newest condition of any part on my trucks that I drive.

You would actually change out seat belts when you bought a older vehicle?

No, you missed the point completely. I have a bad habit of not wearing my seat belt driving from place to place all the time throughout the week. That being said I have a 2014 and 2015 trucks so I really don't know where "older trucks" came from.

 

[Dartboy]

I was thinking they were in "never used" condition

My trucks are basically school buses, and wearing seatbelts is required by law, so...

 

[Darkanion]

I was thinking they were in "never used" condition

That's what I was thinking, too. But, I waited to see if that's how he replied.