Recall 14V488 covers 48,114 2013 Cadillac Ats and Encore vehicles for front seat belt pretensioner cables that fail to lock. Repair will be free once available.
Cadillac is recalling 48,114 2013 Ats and Encore vehicles because the driver and passenger lap belt pretensioner cables can fail to stay locked in the retracted position. If the belts extend under load, occupants are not adequately restrained in a crash, which raises injury risk; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The front seat belt system in the 2013 Cadillac Ats and Encore uses lap belt pretensioner cables to help keep the belt tight against the driver or passenger. The pretensioner cable is part of the restraint system that removes slack and holds the lap belt in position when force is applied.
In this recall, the cable lock function is the problem. The driver or passenger lap belt pretensioner cable does not lock in the retracted position, so the belt can extend when it is pulled. That extra belt movement means the lap belt does not stay as tight as designed when the restraint system needs to hold an occupant in place.
There is no warning sign before failure. The belt can look normal during everyday use, so the VIN decides whether this recall applies.
Who's affected?
Both listed models share the same front seat belt component category in this campaign.
| 2013 Cadillac Ats | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2013 Buick Encore | seat belt |
| Units affected | 48,114 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
A front seat belt that does not stay locked under load leaves the occupant without full restraint in a crash, increasing injury risk. Call a Cadillac dealer to confirm remedy availability, and use extra care with front-seat passengers until the work is complete. Repair will be free at any franchised Cadillac dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2013 Cadillac Ats or 2013 Buick Encore is included in this recall.
- Watch for the owner notice if it has not arrived, then call a franchised Cadillac dealer with your VIN.
- Reference recall number 14V488 when you call the dealer.
- Ask the dealer about the free lap belt pretensioner replacement that fixes the seat belt lockup problem.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, and keep using the seat belt normally until the dealer gives you vehicle-specific instructions.
What happens at the repair
GM first sent owners an interim notice because parts were not available at that stage. The final dealer repair is to replace the front driver's and passenger's lap belt pretensioners. Once the remedy is available, a Cadillac technician performs that replacement at no charge under the recall. The repair is meant to address pretensioner cables that fail to stay locked in the retracted position, so the belt hardware is replaced rather than adjusted.
Timeline
| August 8, 2014 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 20, 2014 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 14V488?
Recall 14V488 covers 48,114 2013 Cadillac Ats and Encore vehicles with front lap belt pretensioner cables that fail to stay locked in a retracted position. If the belt extends under load in a crash, the occupant is not held properly, increasing injury risk.
What should I do if my 2013 Cadillac Ats or Encore is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 14V488. If it is, call a franchised Cadillac dealer and ask to schedule replacement of both front lap belt pretensioners. Reference recall number 14V488 and GM recall number 14171 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 14V488, the dealer replaces both the driver's and passenger's front lap belt pretensioners free of charge, including covered parts and labor.
What is the safety risk in recall 14V488?
The safety risk is reduced crash restraint. The affected front lap belt pretensioner cables fail to hold the belt locked in a retracted position under load. If that happens during a crash, the seat occupant is not adequately restrained, increasing the risk of injury.
What if I bought this vehicle used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2013 Cadillac Ats or Encore is included, then call a franchised Cadillac dealer with recall number 14V488.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/14V488000 |
|---|---|
| Cadillac customer service | 1-800-521-7300 |
| NHTSA recall # | 14V488 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 14V488000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →