General Motors recalls 300,000 Impalas for faulty seat belts

General Motors Co. is recalling more than 300,000 Chevrolet Impalas because the car’s front seat belts are not doing their job of protecting passengers.

In the event of a car accident , the seat belt straps can separate from the anchor on the side of the doors, no longer restraining the passenger, according to GM.

Thirty-two reports of the faulty seatbelts have been recorded in the 2009 and 2010 models. GM initially thought the condition was limited to the Impalas models built between July 2008 and September 2008, but a product investigation engineer found the problem in later models.

While no injuries have been reported, GM is recalling 303,100 of the vehicles and reinstalling the seat belt anchors for free. Impalas owners will be notified by mail by Oct. 25 to bring their cars in for inspection and seat belt reinstallation.

As a South Carolina car accident lawyer , I suggest drivers and passengers pay close attention to the functionality of their seat belts. Proper restraint can protect passengers from injuries during a car accident and save lives. It is good that GM caught the problem and is working to fix the seat belt defect before any injuries occurred.