Recall 15V399 covers 47,042 Chevrolet Caprice and Pontiac G8 vehicles for seat belt cable breakage. Repair is free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer.
Chevrolet recall 15V399 covers 47,042 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2013 Caprice and G8 vehicles because repeated bending can break the flexible steel seat belt cables at the outside front seats. If a cable breaks, the seat belt cannot restrain the occupant as designed in a crash, and the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The affected Caprice and G8 seat belts use flexible steel cables at the outside edge of the driver seat and front passenger seat. Those cables anchor the lower end of each belt to the vehicle body. In a crash or hard stop, the belt depends on that anchor staying attached so it can hold the occupant in the seat.
On these 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 vehicles, the cable sits where a person can press down on it while climbing into the vehicle. That loading bends the steel cable. Repeated bending fatigues the metal until the cable breaks, leaving the belt anchor unable to do its job.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner is unlikely to feel a change while buckling the belt unless the cable has already broken or is visibly damaged.
Who's affected?
Covers Caprice and G8 sedans across the listed model years, all tied to the same seat belt component.
| 2013 Chevrolet Caprice | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2011 Chevrolet Caprice | seat belt |
| 2012 Chevrolet Caprice | seat belt |
| 2009 Pontiac G8 | seat belt |
| 2008 Pontiac G8 | seat belt |
| Units affected | 47,042 |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific sedan is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the tensioner cable breaks, the seat belt can fail to restrain the occupant correctly in a crash, increasing injury risk. If your VIN is included, keep using the seat belt and arrange the dealer repair without delay. Repair will be free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 Chevrolet Caprice or G8 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer and ask whether the free seat belt tensioner assembly replacement is open for your VIN.
- Reference recall number 15V399 when you call, and mention that the repair moves the break-prone seat belt cable away from the entry path.
- Bring the recall notice if Chevrolet or Pontiac mailed one. If you no longer have it, the dealer can use your VIN and recall number.
- Avoid putting weight on the front seat belt cables when entering the vehicle until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
Once the dealer repair is available, a Chevrolet technician will replace the seat belt tensioner assembly, including the steel cable, for the affected front seating positions. The replacement moves the tensioner cable out of the normal entry path and uses a more flexible cable set at a more upright angle. The dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall.
Timeline
| June 23, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 5, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V399?
Recall 15V399 covers 47,042 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 Chevrolet Caprice and G8 vehicles with front seat belt tensioner cables that can break after repeated bending during entry. If a cable breaks, the occupant is not properly restrained in a crash, increasing injury risk.
What should I do if my 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 Chevrolet Caprice or G8 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 15V399. If it is, contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer and ask for the seat belt tensioner assembly replacement under recall number 15206. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 15V399, dealers replace the seat belt tensioner assembly, including the steel cable, free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is loss of proper restraint in a crash. The flexible steel cable that connects the front seat belt to the vehicle can break after repeated bending. If it breaks, the driver or front passenger is not held as designed during a crash.
What if I bought this vehicle used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN, then call a franchised Chevrolet dealer with recall number 15206 so the service desk can confirm parts and scheduling.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V399000 |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet customer service | 1-800-222-1020 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V399 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V399000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 1, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →