Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEATS | ||||||
| PE97027 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. | 06/17/1997 | 10/31/1997 | DRIVERS SEAT FAILURE | ||
| The complainants allege the drivers seat mounting fails, allowing the seat to move or tip rearward into a reclined position. | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEATS | |||
| 11/10/2004 | 104200 | 1 | 05/26/1996 |
| Loss of vehicle control on interstate highway. inadvertant lane change during noon urban traffic due to sudden movement of driver seat to the rear. seat collapse caused by seat separation at left front seat track attachment to the bottom of the seat pan. material failure of seat frame resulting in bolt attachment ripping free of sheet metal seat bottom. the seat is unstable and right front mount failure is iminent. no repairs attempted yet but failure appears to be well known and prevalent across all gm truck lines in 94-96 year group. note: no operator of this vehicle since 1996 purchase has weighed more than 180 lbs and the seat has not been subjected to any collision or abuse. normal loading and usage is light to moderate duty. | |||
| 04/26/2003 | 130000 | 0 | 01/06/2001 |
| Metal body of driver's seat is fatigued and cracked near point of attachment to the mounting frame containing the power seat adjustment motors. point of failure is left front corner. *nlm | |||
| 01/07/2000 | 80000 | 09/01/1995 | |
| The seat bracket on the drivers side seat broke at the weld causing the seat to snap backwards. the dealer had the bracket part on hand which indicates to me that this is a common occurrence. it is potentially catastrophic. *nlm | |||
| 03/13/2003 | 87650 | 1 | 09/27/2001 |
| The front left corner of the driver's seat base failed at the point where the seat base attaches to the slider. as the second owner of the vehicle, i am unsure of the history. regardless, having the driver's seat so poorly attached is surely a safety issue that needs serious attention. i have read other complaints and i am disappointed with the apparent lack of attention to this matter. how many people must complain of the same failure of a safety device before the manufacturer is held accountable for the defect. we cannot all be making this up. it's not like the electric window or radio quit working. does someone have to get killed?! *jb | |||
| 02/09/2003 | 1 | 03/02/1995 | |
| Driver seat frame is broken, causing seat to rock back and forth.*jb *ts | |||
| 05/30/2002 | 1 | 06/01/1995 | |
| Driver side seat bolts are loose, causing seat to wobble or pull to rear of vehicle.*ak consumer states that a piece of metal which holds the driver seat suddenly broke.*yh | |||
| 03/18/2002 | 0 | ||
| Consumer leaned back to place something in back seat and part of seat bolt snapped. he s did not fall out or hurt himself in any way.*ak | |||
| 12/24/2001 | |||
| Consumer got into vehicle and driver's side front seat went back on her. there was a metal piece missing. dealership was aware of problem. *ak | |||
| 10/15/2001 | 1 | 05/01/1995 | |
| Front left corner of upper frame broke on driver seat while vehicle in motion. resulted in a severe rocking motion. inspection led to concern of imminent total failure. dealer service department claims to have seen this several times around this year of vehicle. total failure would have resulted in loss of control due to loss of presence of driver due to driver falling backward into rear seats. this corner of seat takes full load of driver on entry and exit and seems to be prone to failure. i would consider loss of driver seat a significant safety issue.*ak | |||
| Driver side seat frame is cracked and is separating from anchorage which causes seat to rock back and forth upon acceleration of vehicle. please give any further details.*ak | |||
| 03/01/2001 | 1 | 02/26/1996 | |
| Driver's seat frame separated from track and anchor. manufacturer has been notified. *ak metal in frame tore from metal fatigue, metal is too thin. *slc | |||
| 03/14/2001 | 1 | 01/01/1997 | |
| Left side of driver's bucket seat frame failed due to weak material. frame broke free of the left slider assembly. *ak | |||
| 08/01/2000 | 1 | ||
| Bracket inside driver's seat underneath broke, causing seat to lean to side. *ak *slc | |||
| 11/23/2000 | 1 | 02/01/1999 | |
| Driver's side seat broke from tracks . manufacturer has been notified.*ak | |||
| 09/23/2000 | 1 | 07/01/1996 | |
| The lower seat frame is broken on the driver's seat in the front left corner. a 3 or 4 inch section of the steel plate broke in to 4 pieces where th bolt holds the seat to the base. this happened under normal use of the vehicle. it has not been in any accidents or been subject to any undue stress. we feel that this is a safety hazard. the steel is evidently of poor quality. we don't feel safe in driving this vehicle. if one corner broke what is to say that the rest won't, especially now that the seat isn't anchored properly. we hate to think what could and would have happened if this had broken during an accident. would any of our seats have held our family? seat belts wouldn't have been enough. chevy will not replace the frame because we are out of warranty. we feel that this is a defect and is not a warranty situation. it is a safety issue that needs to be addressed! | |||
| 1 | |||
| Tracks underneath driver's seat broke, causing seat to tilt to one side when applying brakes. dealer has been contacted.*ak the seat truck assembly and frame assembly were rewelded. *yh | |||
| 09/01/2000 | |||
| Consumer was traveling about 50mph on highway and driver's seat was making knocking noise. he stopped and got out of vehicle, and driver's side was rocking on it without prior warning. seat didn't break. | |||
| 07/05/2000 | |||
| Driver seat bracket inside the seat broke, causes seat to lean on one side. manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that vehicle was out of warranty, and nothing would be done unless cost go to consumer. please feel free to provide any further detail. *ak | |||
| No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 06/22/2000 | 01/01/1997 | ||
| No summary listd for above vehicle. *ak | |||
| 10/01/1997 | 2 | 10/01/1997 | |
| Frame on seat broken where seat mounts to track. seat flops back and forth. *ak | |||
| 02/19/2000 | 1 | 09/01/1995 | |
| Metal seat frame part #12472585 4 bolts through frame are used to connect driver seat. metal will break where the frame is attached allowing seat to pull up or drop down. | |||
| 05/01/1999 | 03/01/1999 | ||
| The front seat frame has a broken weld, and it is a dangerous situation. *ak | |||
| 01/01/1999 | 02/01/1997 | ||
| Seat track and anchors broke which caused the seat to collapse. seat had to be rewelded. dealer has not seen vehicle. *ak | |||
| Driver's seat bracket broke due to insufficent material and thin metal, causing seat to fall backwards into back seat, and resulting in shoulder injuries. vehicle has never been in an accident. | |||
| 07/21/1999 | 12/01/1995 | ||
| Driver's seat metal frame broke, causing seat to rock back and forth. *ak *yc | |||
| 06/01/1996 | 2 | 11/01/1995 | |
| The brace holding the driver seat to the floor broke off because of flaw in manufacturing. yh | |||
| 11/24/1999 | |||
| Driver's seat bolts separated from the track. dealer has been notified. *ak | |||
| 03/05/1999 | 1 | ||
| On march 05, 1999 at 7:14 p.m. i was the victim of a rear end collision. the drivers seat of my suburban, plate# 3slu868, collapsed. as a result i suffered injuries to my neck and right shoulder. as of today i have not recovered and continue to be under the care of stanford/ucsf medical center. the seat failed in a manner identical to what i have found on your test pages. it is my belief that this seat is defective and has directly and significantly contributed to my injuries. i implore you to look into this matter as every accident affects the lives of american citizens and our gnp. i have been unable to work since my accident and am constantly in great pain. typing this email is physically difficult for me. please respond with any information which you may have on this matter. *ak | |||
| 06/15/1995 | 50 | 12/01/1994 | |
| No summary | |||
| 08/04/1997 | 3 | 08/01/1997 | |
| The driver's seat pedestal has been replaced two times and has failed again, movement (not stable) seat due to failure. mjs | |||
| 07/15/1999 | |||
| The frame on the driver's side seat has sheared off, causing the seat to move back and fourth. the dealer was notified about the problem. the problem has not been corrected. *ak | |||
| 07/01/1999 | 1 | 02/01/1999 | |
| Seat anchor metal sheared apart causing seat to rock.. very unstable..driver must hold steering wheel to keep seat in place | |||
| 08/01/1998 | 1 | 05/01/1996 | |
| Seat loose on track. moves approx quarter inch when accelerating or braking. out of warranty. dealer will not fix. *ak | |||
| 06/28/1999 | 06/01/1998 | ||
| Consumer's seat bolt weld broke from the track. there is an open investigation at this time, ie-96-093. *ak *yc | |||
| The front drivers seat broke off the tracking and anchor system, leaving the seat free to rock back and fowards while driving. the seat mounts broke during a sudden brake to avoid a collision. manufaturer has been contacted. *ak | |||
| 04/14/1999 | 1 | 10/01/1996 | |
| The metal of the dirver's seat frame is cracking and splitering where it the left front corner is attached to the power seat rail/track. initially i reported a squeaking noise from seat to a md chevy dealer in 1996, who found nothing wrong and explained it off as normal wear and tear and seat would not be replaced. on april 14th, 1999 i discovered metal fractures after squeaking noise became increasingly louder and trying to figure out its cause. contacted chevrolet at their web site and expressed my concern over the appearent material failure occuring. i recieived an email asking that i contact a service representative at 800-222-1020. i was to give the representative my reference file number: 990206345. i spoke with a ms. pamela dorsey at extension 3732. ms. dorsey was very curt and indicated that chevrolet motor division wouldn't do anything about this problem. i researched the nhtsa data base on this vehicle and found 25 complaints on the same seat with the same symptoms. since i am a member of the u.s. armed forces, i don't make the kind of money to purchase another seat for this vehicle. notwithstanding the structural integrity of the seat frame failing in five years and unlike the other complaints, it's a just a matter of time when my seat detaches, worse yet, while driving. | |||
| 03/30/1998 | 1 | 11/01/1995 | |
| The seat frame for the left front drivers side seat failed. there was only 67,000 miles on it. i drove it for a while until i could get it fixed, if the otherbolt had failed the set would have tipped backwards while driving, i don't believe i would hav been able to control the vehicle if that happenned. i have kept the vehicle and it is about nine months later. teh replacement is beginning to fail in the same way. this seems unacceptable. the dealer has informed me htey have seen this problem in other suburbans, i have heard of the same problem from other owners and i see the same problem listed in your complaint summary. please make them conrrect the problem. it is simply a poor design and if both bolts fail at the same time, it seems very likely someone will get hurt. | |||
| 03/15/1999 | |||
| Consumer heard noises in the driver's seat from dec--98 through march 99 due to a metal part broking off from the seat. dealershiip replaced lower seat frame at consumer's cost. *ak | |||
| 07/18/1997 | 1 | 05/01/1995 | |
| The seat is improperly designed. the rivets break causing the driver to fall backwards. this causes loss of control of the vehicle especially at highway speeds . the seat breaks every year or so. it starts making a popping sound, rivets getting loose, then finally breaks causing the driver to fall backwards. i have been told by the dealer that this is a known design problem and that there is a t.s.b. out on it which i have not seen. i am told that they do not have a fix just put another seat frame in each time. the last time it broke it was repaired as a goodwill gesture. the dealer has told me that it will not be repaired again under warranty. this is a dangerous situation which causes a possible loss of control of the vehicle as it is a sudden failure. it just pops and you fall backwards. the problem is also described as seat popping. the revite get loose and cause the seat to start making a popping sound (which is happening to mine again now) then they finally break. a new truck sold by gm should not have a seat in which the seat frame breaks every year of so. gm just says tough.--------- as to the brake issue i only included it because i ha d so many problems trying to get it repaired. the brake hoses colapse causing the brakes to stay applied. numerous visits about breaks squeaking/applying were to no avail. even after they would stay applied it took several visits to get them repaired. while driving on the highway theyy apparently would heat up causing the problem to be worse. th ebreaks would get so hot smoke would come off them and the vehicle would hardly move. the dealers replace almost every break part before replacing the hoses which were colapsed inside. | |||
| 01/09/1999 | 1 | ||
| Driver seat became unattached to frame. taken to local dealer for service and contacted area service representative to have manufacturer cover repair. refused coverage due to mileage, fact that we were not original owner, and did not own other gm products. spoke with supervisor stating this was a huge safety issue. manager refused coverage also. seat rewelded to frame by non-manufacturer repair shop (due to high cost of repair at dealer). repair shop identified problem over phone, stating he had repaired same problem numerous times on suburbans. | |||
| 04/26/1995 | |||
| Bucket seat frame is cracking, causing a potential safety hazard. *ak | |||
| Driver's side seat frame broke while driving down the road. steel ripped apart in a no load situation. | |||
| Driver's seat frame broke while driving down the road. | |||
| 2 | |||
| Windshield wipers will suddenly stop, after a period of time they will recover, intermittent problem. also, driver's seat mounting bracket that holds seat is broken, causing the consumer to have lack of support of seat. dealer replaced bracket. *ak | |||
| 12/25/1998 | 2 | 06/01/1996 | |
| No summary | |||
| 08/07/1998 | 1 | 05/07/1996 | |
| Seat mounting bracket, where seat mount to the seat track failed. | |||
| 1 | |||
| Front seat slips into recline position. | |||
| 03/15/1998 | 1 | 09/01/1995 | |
| Seat frame mounts broke. (first vehicle on doc# 605847) | |||
| 1 | 07/21/1995 | ||
| Lower seat frame bracket on the drivers side experiencing problems with the metal bracket tearing loose due to poor reinforcement and the light gauge materal used in the component. | |||
| 04/16/1998 | |||
| While driving driver's side seat mounts broke,cause unknown. owner is very concerned for safety. *ak | |||
| 1 | 04/15/1995 | ||
| Driver's seat frame/track broke from mounts and rocked back and forth making it difficult to drive the vehicle. | |||
| 10 | 04/15/1995 | ||
| Windshield wipers fail to operate in wet weather. | |||
| Diriver's side seat broke and that it was sheet metal thin, resulting in driver's seat breaking from the base. owner is very concerned for safety. *ak | |||
| 12/15/1996 | |||
| Driving the truck and the bolts that attach the seat to the anchorage broke and the seat went backwards. this was the second time that the seat had broken on the driver's side. *ak | |||
| 08/15/1997 | 1 | 09/25/1995 | |
| Driver's seat bolt that attaches to metal bracket on floor of vehicle broke. metal cracked. owner has not taken vehicle dealers. *ak | |||
| 03/05/1997 | 1 | ||
| The driver's side front right corner of the seat anchor mount broke. owner repaired the problem , and the dealer was not contacted. *ak | |||
| 1 | 10/01/1994 | ||
| Driver's seat failed. | |||
| The lumbar system in the vehicle started shooting sparks from under the seat. dealer fixed it. *ak | |||
| 1 | 03/01/1995 | ||
| The driver's seat frame broke. | |||
| 1 | 03/01/1995 | ||
| The middle back seat has a particular spot that a hole keeps wearing through. | |||
| 12/22/1996 | 1 | 11/05/1996 | |
| Two bolts broke under driver's seat, causing the driver's seat to tilt backwards. *ak | |||
| 07/06/1995 | 1 | ||
| Seat track replaced. | |||
| 12/01/1994 | 1 | ||
| Seat track failed. *dh | |||
| 03/29/1996 | |||
| Drivers side seat broke while driving. *ak | |||
| 01/11/1996 | 1 | ||
| Seat track failed, preventing seats from being adjusted, *aw | |||
| Brakes failed twice on auto causing consumer to crash into her garage door. also driver seat shifts back and forth while driving. tt | |||
| 11/13/1995 | |||
| Front seat shifts back and forth on mounting rails while starting and braking. tt | |||
| SEATS - FRONT ASSEMBLY - POWER ADJUST | |||
| 03/07/2003 | 100833 | 1 | 04/19/1995 |
| The driver side seat bottom frame assembly broke apart on my 1995 chev. suburban. this caused the seat to tip backwards. fortunately i was able to catch myself using the steering wheel and balance in the seat and get the car under control. i did not crash, but this is a very unsafe design. | |||
| 04/01/2000 | |||
| Driver side electrical seat broke. seat frame welding would come apart without prior warning, no cracking or noise. dealer has called this a common problem but will not cover under warranty.*ak | |||
| 08/23/2000 | 1 | 01/01/1995 | |
| The metal seat frame has failed at the left front corner and separated from the power seat track. initially the seat appeared to be slightly loose, but the instability of the seat has increased. not only is it uncomfortable to drive, but i am concerned that the if i were involved in a crash, the seat frame would fail at other points and possibly cause injury. i am the primary driver of this vehicle and am 6'1 and weigh 185 lbs. my wife occasionally drives the vehicle but she weighs less than i do. the vehicle has never been in an accident and i cannot envision why the metal seat frame would fail absent a defect. | |||
| 07/22/1999 | |||
| Driver's seat motor was engaging and disengaging on its own.consumer contacted dealer and manufacturer. *ak | |||
| 03/25/1999 | 08/01/1995 | ||
| Pe90056, power seat was a little loose and caused it to cut the wires. then small fire under the seat broke out. after wires melted fire extinguished by itself. dealer's service manager reported problem and directed consumer to call gmc. gmc indicated they would act according to what the service manager reported. service manger reported not much of a fire caused by normal wear and tear. seat appeared to be loose. *ak | |||
| 1 | 04/01/1995 | ||
| Driver's seat makes noise and feels as if not secured properly. | |||
| 3 | 10/01/1995 | ||
| The driver's side power bucket seat began to lift slightly off the track within one-year of ownership. *ak | |||
| 1 | 03/01/1995 | ||
| The driver's seat wires caught on fire. | |||
| 09/01/1995 | 1 | 12/01/1994 | |
| Driver's power seat caught on fire due to short. | |||
| 1 | 03/02/1995 | ||
| There is an odor when the power seat is engaged. | |||
| Driver's leather bucket power seat detached from frame. seat broke upon acceleration, lost control. *ak | |||
| 09/25/1996 | 1 | 11/01/1994 | |
| The driver's side, 6 way power seat has broken where the seat attaches to the rails. the problem has taken place twice. *ak | |||
| 07/13/1996 | |||
| Truck was driving and parked, caught on fire which came from the driver seat. please descibe*ak | |||
| Driver's leather bucket power seat detached from frame. tt | |||
| SEATS - FRONT ASSEMBLY - RECLINER | |||
| 08/01/2001 | |||
| Driver's seat is very loose. a bolt must have broken off. currently, seat is not stationary. dealer has been contacted.please provide any further information.*ak | |||
| 08/30/2000 | |||
| Driver's seat back broke while vehicle was in motion. dealer has repaired vehicle.*ak | |||
| 04/01/1999 | |||
| Consumer was driving at approximately 50 mph when the mounting bracket broke, causing the front driver seat to break loose from the mounting and fall backwards, which could have resulted in an accident. *ak | |||
| 11/23/1998 | 1 | ||
| While adjusting lab coat in driver's seat, the bucket seat broke from the anchors attached to the floor. vehicle not under warranty for seats. *ak | |||
| 1 | |||
| Front seat slips into reclining position. | |||
| 0 | |||
| While driving at a very low speed front seat broke at the frame , not the track. consumer states he found himself lying on his back. *ak | |||
| 07/06/1996 | 2 | ||
| Seat back collapsed. | |||
| SEATS - MID/REAR ASSEMBLY | |||
| 12/21/1998 | |||
| Consumer was traveling approimately. 35mph when she broadsided another vehicle. in the imediate rear on the third seat on the passenger's side there were three large suit cases. upon impact, the third seat collapsed due to a bolt shearing off. *ak | |||