2023 Chevrolet Suburban Seat Belts

The drivers side, female end, of the seatbelt comes undone when cold. This is reproduced every single time it is cold for approximately 5 minutes of driving until the inside of the vehicle warms up. This happens with both primary divers of the vehicle. We took it to the dealership we bought it from but because there is not a current recall and they cannot reproduce the issue since our current temperature is in the 40s, they won’t replace it under warranty. No warning systems go on when this happens while driving.

While driving a 2023 Chevrolet Suburban (VIN: [XXX] ), my [XXX] son was seated in the second-row center seat and was properly buckled in with the factory shoulder/lap belt. He turned around briefly to grab something from the back of the vehicle, and during that movement the seatbelt fully extended and then locked in the automatic locking mode. The retractor would not release tension afterward. The belt continued tightening around his torso, and no amount of slack could be pulled back out. The belt became so tight that he was unable to breathe comfortably or free himself, and the locking mechanism would not disengage even after the vehicle was stopped and turned off. The seatbelt remained fully cinched and would not retract or loosen under any circumstances. Because the belt created a serious entrapment hazard and my child could not safely be removed, I was forced to cut the seatbelt to free him. This appears to be a dangerous malfunction of the seatbelt retractor/locking system and presents a significant safety risk, especially for children who may shift or turn in their seats during normal use. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The vehicle was purchased brand new from the manufacturer. Because the third-row seating was rarely used, it was not immediately apparent that the car was delivered without one of the required seatbelts. Once the issue was discovered, it was promptly reported to the manufacturer. However, the customer service representative refused to address the problem, stating that the warranty period had expired. This is a serious safety hazard. A missing seatbelt poses a significant risk of severe injury or death in the event of an accident, and it requires immediate corrective action.