Investigations
SEAT BELT WEBBING SEPARATION
NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA97004 - closed, opened 1997-02-28.
NHTSA investigation EA97004 is a Engineering Analysis opened on 1997-02-28 and currently closed. The subject is tracked inside the Office of Defects Investigation queue. Latest activity on this investigation was logged on 1997-08-05 - NHTSA updates that field whenever an Information Request goes out, a supplement is filed, or a status change is recorded in the public docket.
An Engineering Analysis like EA97004 is the deeper technical phase that follows a PE. NHTSA requests design, warranty, and field-failure data from the manufacturer, conducts its own testing when needed, and determines whether the evidence supports a safety defect finding that would compel a recall.
Investigators summarized the matter as follows: "GM WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (97V-096) OF APPROXIMATELY 475,000 VEHICLES WHICH INCLUDES THE "SUBJECT VEHICLES" LISTED ABOVE (230,474 VEHICLES) AND CERTAIN 1994-95 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES (S/T-10 AND SONOMA EXTENDED CAB PI..." Investigations are the early-warning layer of the federal auto-safety system, sitting upstream of formal recalls and defect orders. Whether this one closes without action or escalates into an Engineering Analysis, the full history stays in the ODI archive so researchers, litigators, and buyers can pull the paper trail at any time.
Investigation Summary
GM WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (97V-096) OF APPROXIMATELY 475,000 VEHICLES WHICH INCLUDES THE "SUBJECT VEHICLES" LISTED ABOVE (230,474 VEHICLES) AND CERTAIN 1994-95 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES (S/T-10 AND SONOMA EXTENDED CAB PICKUPS WITH 60/40 FRONT BENCH SEATS; APPROXIMATELY 245,000 VEHICLES). GM WILL INSTALL A PLASTIC COVER OVER THE LOWER PLATE OF THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BACK RECLINER ASSEMBLIES TO PREVENT POTENTIAL SEAT BELT WEBBING SEPARATION DURING FRONTAL OR ANGLE CRASHES. THE REGULAR CAB PICKUPS, S/T-10 AND SONOMA, AND THE 4-DOOR BLAZERS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE THESE VEHICLES HAVE DIFFERENT SEAT BELT CONFIGURATION THAN THE VEHICLES INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE ACTION TAKEN BY GM IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS. THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FUTURE ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
About This Investigation Type
An Engineering Analysis (EA) is the in-depth phase following a Preliminary Evaluation. NHTSA engineers conduct testing, collect data from manufacturers, and perform detailed technical analysis to determine whether a safety defect exists. An EA may lead to a voluntary recall by the manufacturer or, in rare cases, a mandatory recall order.
Data from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Cross-references: NHTSA recall campaign API and NHTSA FARS where fatality records overlap. PlainCars does not rate or recommend vehicles. about how PlainCars sources NHTSA data.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.