GM recalls 250K vehicles; seat belts may not latch

WASHINGTON: General Motors Co. is recalling nearly 250,000 crossover vehicles worldwide to inspect second-row seat belts that could be damaged and not latch.

GM said Tuesday the recall affects 2009-2010 models of the Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook.

Most of the 243,403 recalled vehicles are in the United States but some are also in Canada and Mexico.

The Detroit automaker said the seat-belt buckle could be damaged when the seat back is returned to an upright position. That could make the buckle appear to latch when it isn't.

GM said it did not know of any cases where the second-row seat belts failed to perform properly in a crash.

GM spokesman Alan Adler said the plastic shield around the seat belt release button could get caught on some trim and not return to its normal position after the seats are folded flat. If enough force is applied when the seats are pushed back to their normal position, the shield around the release button could be pushed onto the button and make it malfunction.

Owners will be notified this month by mail and told to make an appointment with their dealer to get the problem fixed. Mechanics will trim the shield to allow more space for the buckle to return to its normal position and stay clear of the seats, Adler said.