general problems of the 1999 Chevrolet Silverado

The contact owns a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 00v097000 (seat belts); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware that the driver's side seat belt was not functioning properly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the driver's side seat belt assembly had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the parts not being available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 418,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

The contact owned a 1999 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving at 55 mph, he dozed off as the vehicle drifted off to the right shoulder of the highway. The contact regained alertness once the vehicle drove over the highway's rumble strip. As the contact attempted to regain control of the vehicle; the vehicle crashed into a tree. The contact's face smashed into the steering wheel as both the driver's seat belt shoulder strap and the driver's air bag failed to operate as needed. Moments after smashing his head into the steering, the contact stated that the air bag deployed which cause severe cuts to the contact's face. The contact was taken to the hospital by ambulance where he was treated for multiple severe injuries. Due to the air bag failure, the contact suffered a severe laceration that started from right corner of the contact's mouth and extended to the contact's left earlobe. The contact suffered another laceration that started from the center of his bottom lip and curved down to the left side of the his chin. In addition, the contact suffered a right orbital socket fracture, two vertebrae fractures in the neck, a torn right shoulder, multiple torn tendons in the right arm and five broken teeth. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to an independent tow yard where it was destroyed. The dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000.

The driver side seat belt will not release and can not be worn while driving.

Consumer 1999 Silverado arm rest does not lock into place. After the seat belt recall was performed, the consumer discovered the problem with the arm rest, which was not a problem previously.

Driver's side safety belt will not extend so it can be used. Will not come out of the reel. The other concern were the abs brakes. Had situations while in traffic the abs activated on their own. This removes control from the driver, and is startling when it happens. There is a vibration from the abs. Tried to corrrespond with gm, but feot concerns have fallen on deaf ears. No repair has been made as of yet. The seat belt began to fail on 1-1-03, and the abs system began to malfunction on 2-10-05.

Driver's seatbelt will intermittently not pull out.

Center interior seatbelt will not hold. Seatbelt buckle will contact. But, when loosening up belt it will not retract at all.

Consumer contacted champion Chevrolet 707 n sepulveda blvd. Manhattan beach, CA 90266 phone# 310-316-1234 on may 25,2001 that parts were not available. Since then consumer has contacted dealer and the manufacturer in June, and they both could not say when parts would become available.

Seat belts were replaced by manufacturer under a recall, replacement belts were of such design that they would not release with slight movement. When going over a bump they would tighten. When first putting on belts consumer has to try a few times first before belt extends enough to be buckled up.

Seat belt was never corrected by dealer. Consumer has received another recall for a different problem.

On going problem with the seat belt would lock up on the passenger that they are unable to move, not unless you release the buckle; only the passenger side. Dealer notified and made repairs/ replacement and condition still reoccurring. Please provide any further details:.