GM

GM recalls 469,000 Malibus for seat belt cables

David Shepardson
Detroit News Washington Bureau

Washington — General Motors Co. announced two recalls Tuesday, for problems with seat belts and with seats that may not be properly anchored.

The automaker is calling back nearly 469,000 2011-12 Chevrolet Malibus because a steel cable connected to the safety belt can fail. It is GM’s largest recall of the year.

The flexible steel cable that connects the safety belt to the vehicle can fatigue and separate over time. Dealers will replace the outboard lap mounting bracket to relocate the tensioner slightly rearward. Dealers will inspect the cable and, if necessary, replace the lap pretensioner.

GM knows of 36 claims, no crashes or fatalities and one minor injury reportedly related to the condition — when a taxi driver bumped his head.

The Detroit automaker said the latest recall includes 437,045 cars in the United States and about 32,000 in Canada, Mexico and around the world.

In May 2014, GM said it was calling back about 1.51 million 2009-14 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia full-size crossovers and 2009-10 Saturn Outlooks worldwide because of similar problems with front seat belt cables can fatigue and separate over time. That earlier recall included about 1.07 million vehicles in the United States.

Separately, GM is recalling 52,930 2015 model-year Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize pickup trucks in the U.S. because certain seat frame attachment hooks were not properly attached to the body. Dealers will inspect the seats for proper installation and repair if necessary.

GM knows of no crashes, injuries or fatalities; the recall includes about 48,000 vehicles in the United States.

The number of vehicles the automaker has recalled this year has fallen sharply after its record-setting 26.95 million vehicles last year in the United States.