Government Motors: another recall over seatbelts

The "new" GM (as reported by the Detroit News today):

General Motors Co. is recalling nearly 100,000 2011 crossovers over potentially faulty safety belts — its third similar recall this year.

In total, GM has recalled more than 600,000 vehicles worldwide this year over varying safety belt issues.

GM said today it will recall 97,843 2011 Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain vehicles over concerns the driver and or front passenger safety belt buckle anchor may fracture and separate during a crash. That could disable the restraint system and send a driver or passenger flying in a crash.

The recall was prompted by seat belt tests at GM's Milford proving grounds in September. In two of the tests, the seat belt buckle separated from the anchor.

GM's investigation found an "unauthorized change to the anchor tooling" that "reduced anchor strength."

The affected vehicles were built between February and late-November.

In October, GM recalled 303,100 2009-10 Chevrolet Impala models over different concerns about the vehicle's safety belts.

GM said the "front safety belt webbing may not have been properly secured to the lap belt anchor."

In August, GM said it would recall 243,000 2009-2010 models of the Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook vehicles "to inspect second-row safety belts for damage that in rare cases could make an occupant think the belt is properly latched when it isn't."

We may have the makings of a new version of that old saying, "The compassion of the IRS, the efficiency of the Postal Service and the pricing structure of a Pentagon toilet seat."