On August 11th 2022, General Motors (GM) announced a recall that impacts nearly half a million late-model SUVs. The “Third-Row Seatbelt Buckle Retention” recall not only raises serious immediate safety implications, but also begs longer-term questions about how we think about the future of automotive safety features.

What Caused the GM Recall?

It's all about rivets.

A pop rivet against a light background

Imagine you're putting on your seatbelt. You grab the part with the metal latch plate and plug it into the buckle. You hear a reassuring click and assume you're safe. But what if those buckles weren't properly secured?

This recall involves the rivets that secure the third-row seatbelt buckles to the mounting brackets beneath. These rivets may not have been properly manufactured or installed. If these rivets don't function as designed, the passengers in the third-row seat may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash.

How Do Rivets Work?

Rivets are old technology; Egyptians used them 5,000 years ago to affix handles to clay jars. From the Eiffel Tower to tanks, rivets are everywhere. You might even be wearing some right now if you’re in jeans. While there are different kinds of rivets, the basic idea is they have a "head" and "tail" and act similarly to a nut and bolt in that they bind two things together.

A close-up of a jean pocket with copper rivets

Squishing the rivet from either end (a process known as upsetting) expands its tail into a head and, unlike the more temporary union of a nut and bolt, permanently marries together whatever is in between. The result is a bond that can support both tension and shear loads. If it goes right...

Why Did This Recall Happen?

It's not entirely clear. Consumer Reports states that “third-row seat belts may have been installed incorrectly at the factory.” GM, however, in its Technical Service Bulletin (TSB), a document with repair guidance for dealership technicians, explains "the left or right side third-row seatbelt buckle assembly may not have been properly formed during the manufacturing process."

Though we have yet to see anyone else connect the dots, there could be a connection between this incident and last year's recall# N202313000 "Third Row Seat Belt Damage." That recall afflicted the same models and involved third-row seatbelt assemblies as well.

While it may be coincidental, it reminds us that even as blind-spot monitors and lane-keeping technologies become commonplace, it's sometimes the simplest things that can go wrong at the factory level.

What the Recall Means for You

​​​​​Even with over-the-air updates, certain hardware-related issues will require us to return our vehicles to the dealership for the foreseeable future. The current TSB makes it sound like the parts are not yet widely available: "the bulletin will be updated when the remedy and required parts become available."

It also advises dealers to tell owners of affected units not to allow anyone to use the third-row seats until the repairs are performed. Seeing as it’s typically children who sit in third row seats, it’s extra horrifying to think of one of these seat belt assemblies failing to restrain an occupant. Which leads to...

How to Determine if You’re Driving a Recalled SUV

Certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESVs, 2021-2022 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoes, and 2021-2022 GMC Yukon and Yukon XLs are affected by GM recall #N222372380. Note the GM language: only "certain" vehicles.

To find out if yours is one, start by finding your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Next, enter your VIN into the National Highway Safety Administration recall website. If your vehicle is part of the recall, schedule an appointment with a GM dealer in which: “Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both the left and right side third row seatbelt buckle assemblies and replace seatbelt buckle assemblies as necessary.”

Moving Forward Beyond the Recall

While this seems like an easy fix, the fact that the parts are currently unavailable is disconcerting. These are rivets after all, not computer chips. Given the six-figure price point for these SUVs, it seems odd there weren’t quality assurance checks in place to prevent this.

Ultimately, this recall serves as a reminder to keep your contact information current with manufacturers and check the news frequently. Be sure to request that the dealer provides a loaner vehicle or other accommodations to lessen your inconvenience.

Whether it's the latest tech innovations or age-old technology, things you wrong. Educating yourself is one of the strongest automotive safety technology available.