General Motors will recall almost 9,000 Buick vehicles after discovering a potentially dangerous seatbelt defect.
The Warren, Michigan-based manufacturer notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on April 12, 2018 they will recall 8,738 2018 Buick Regal vehicles built between June 9, 2017 and Feb. 22, 2018.
The affected vehicles contain rear outboard seats with seatbelts improperly routed around the rear seat bolster bracket. Improperly routed seatbelts may not provide sufficient passenger restraint during a crash situation, increasing injury risk.
Engineers found a misrouted seatbelt during testing on January 16, 2018. Engineers filed the issue with GM’s “Speak Up for Safety” program on Jan. 22, 2018. GM’s Safety and Compliance Categorization Team reviewed the problem on Feb. 15, 2018 and flagged it for additional monitoring.
Testers at GM’s Milford, Michigan proving grounds found two additional vehicles with misrouted seatbelts.
GM learned on March 8, 2018 that German subsidiary Opel opened its own investigation into a similar problem with their vehicles, and on March 27 informed GM they would institute their own safety recall. GM later decided to open a formal investigation into the problem, and on April 5 the company decided on a safety recall.
GM will notify owners and dealers will inspect the rear outboard seat belts, correcting the routing of the seat belts as necessary free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 5, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM’s number for this recall is 18117. GM owners can also visit the NHTSA’s website and enter their VIN to see if their vehicle is included in any recalls.
Your vehicle’s manufacturer is legally required to fix any recalled problems for free. If the dealership refuses to fix the part or tries to charge you for the repair, contact the manufacturer immediately. The Highway Safety Act of 1970, which created the NHTSA, requires car manufacturers to pay for the recall and replacement of a defective part.
If the manufacturer fails to repair, replace, repurchase, or provide your recalled vehicle’s loss value, they are violating the warranty and a lawyer may be able to assist you.
Lemon law attorneys help their clients by dealing directly with the manufacturer on the clients’ behalf, working to promptly resolve the issue and get their clients back on the road. Thanks to the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, attorneys can seek their fees directly from the manufacturer, meaning a client can obtain legal counsel without having to pay attorneys’ fees directly out of pocket.