NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation

Engineering Analysis EA99-019: REAR SHOULDER BELT MALFUNCTION

Closed

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Engineering Analysis EA99-019 on July 7, 1999 and closed it on February 22, 2000. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1998–1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue for it and links recall 00V-044 to it.

Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file

Key facts

NHTSA number: EA99-019 (also written EA99019)
Investigation type: Engineering Analysis A more detailed stage of a defect investigation, opened when NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation decides an issue merits further review, often after a Preliminary Evaluation or a Recall Query; it can include vehicle testing, surveys and further information requests.
Status: Closed February 22, 2000
Opened: July 7, 1999
Closed: February 22, 2000
Vehicle or equipment manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Component: Seat Belts — Rear/Other
Recall linked by NHTSA: 00V-044: GM/REAR SEAT BELT, reported February 16, 2000
Vehicles and equipment: 1998–1999 Oldsmobile Intrigue

NHTSA's summary

As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Engineering Analysis EA99-019.

THE ALLEGED DEFECT CONCERNS TWO MAJOR SYMPTOMS:FAILURE TO RETRACT WEBBING AND INABILITY TO EXTEND THE WEBBINNG FOR USE. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THESE SYMPTOMS IS THE DESIGN OF THE TRIM BEZEL THROUGH WHICH THE SEBBING PASSES. BUILT INTO THE REAR PACKAGE SHELF, THE BEZEL INCLUDES A VERTICAL SLOT TO FACILITATE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY.THE SLOT IS POSITIONED SUCH THAT THE SHOULDER BELT WEBBING TENDS TO SLIP INTO IT.WEBBING INGESTION BY THE VERTICAL SLOT MAY RETARD WEBBING RETRACTION, OR ALLOW WEBBING TWISTS TO ACCUMULATE ON THE RETRACTOR SPOOL.IN EITHER CASE, THE RETRACTOR MAY FAIL TO MAINTAIN APPROPRIATE TENSION ON THE SEAT OCCUPANT.FAILURE OF THE SHOULDER BELT TO COMPLETELY RETRACT MAY ALSO RESULT IN AN INABILITY TO EXTEND IT FOR USE IF THE CHILD RESTRAINT CINCH FEATURE HAS BEEN INADVERTENTLY ENGAGE (BY EXTENDING THE WEBBING TO ITS MAXIMUM LENGTH).

GM WILL REMEDY THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BY STRAIGHTENING AN TWISTED REAR SHOULDER BELT WEBBING AND THEM INSTALLING A PLASTIC COVER THAT WILL PREVENT FURTHER WEBBING INGESTION BY THE WEBBING GUIDE VERTICAL SLOT.THIS ENGINEERIGN ANANLYSIS IS CLOSED.

Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation

NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Engineering Analysis EA99-019. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.

Oldsmobile

Oldsmobile Intrigue
- 1998, 1999

All Oldsmobile recalls

What an NHTSA investigation is

NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.

An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.

Sources

NHTSA's investigation record for EA99-019

Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.