Questions and Answers

Grand Cherokee Seat Belts Q. Hi, we just purchased a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Sport. Automatic Transmission with ABS Brakes. It has about 1200 miles on it. When you pull the seat belt for the front passenger seat all the way out and then either fasten it or just let it return, you can hear a ratchet type sound.

If you fasten it, then it locks against you and you can not pull it away from your body unless you unfasten it and let it return all the way and then pull it back out. It happens every single time you pull it out. For example, now that it is cooler outside and we are wearing heavier coats, I tend to pull the seat belt out quite a bit and then let it slide back. If you pull the driver's side seat belt out, that does not happen.

We took it to our dealer and they said that is the way it is made. We tried two other Jeeps in the show room and the same thing happens. Can you give me some logical reason why it is manufactured that way? It just doesn't make sense.

Thanks in advance for helping me understand why it would be set up like that.
Sandy

A. There was a recall on them. You might want to ask your dealer about it.

Recall 01V119000: Seat Belt Retractor

Vehicle Description: Certain van, wagon, pickup trucks, passenger and sport utility vehicles, fail to comply with requirements of FMVSS No. 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies." The front seat belt retractor may not comply with the requirements of the standard.

If the retractor does not work properly, it will not adequately protect occupants in the event of a crash.

Dealers will replace the seat belt retractor. DaimlerChrysler has not yet provided NHTSA with an owner notification schedule for this campaign.

It is possible that it has the new retractor in it and this is normal for it. The fact the other trucks you tried made the same noise tends to indicate this is the nature of the beast. But I would check the recall out anyway.

And if you are looking for logic for why Chrysler does the things they do, you're in for a long search. Only God and Chrysler understands that.