2011 Chevrolet Colorado Seat Belts

VEHICLE WAS PARKED, DRIVER HAD JUST SAT DOWN AND CLOSED THE DOOR. A LOUD BANG WAS HEARD FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE SMELL OF GUNPOWDER FILLED THE CAB. DRIVER STEPPED OUT AND OPENED THE REAR DOOR WHICH HOLDS THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY. THE SEATBELT WAS FOUND TO BE THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL AND THE BELT WAS LOCKED UP TIGHT AND COULD NOT BE PULLED OUT. A NEW BELT ASSEMBLY WAS ORDERED THROUGH LOCAL DEALERSHIP AT A PRICE OF $261.35.

MY VEHICLE'S ELECTRONIC SAFETY SYSTEM BEGAN TO REPORT THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT WAS NOT LATCHED, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS. I TOOK IT IN FOR DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR AT MY LOCAL GM DEALER (BOB HOOK CHEVROLET, 4144 BARDSTOWN RD., LOUISVILLE KY 40218). HOWEVER, THE FIRST REPLACEMENT PART (DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT, WITH LATCH & WIRES) QUICKLY FAILED THE SAME WAY AS THE FIRST ONE DID. THEREFORE, I HAD TO TAKE THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE A SECOND TIME AND THE SAME PART WAS REPLACED AGAIN. FROM WHAT I'VE RESEARCHED ONLINE, IT SEEMS THAT THIS ISSUE MAY LIKELY BE THE SAME ONE THAT A RECALL ON THE 2012 COLORADO TRUCKS WAS ISSUED FOR ' REFER TO THE INFO. AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERREPORTS.ORG/CRO/NEWS/2011/11/GM-RECALLS-2012-CHEVROLET-COLORADO-AND-GMC-CANYON-PICKUP-TRUCKS-FOR-FAULTY-SEAT-BELT-ELECTRONICS/INDEX.HTM. IF IT IS, THEN I THINK THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE 2011 COLORADO TRUCKS, PARTICULARLY CONSIDERING MY EXPERIENCE WITH A FAULTY REPLACEMENT PART. IF THIS MAY INDEED BE DETERMINED TO BE THE CASE, I FEEL THAT I SHOULD ALSO BE REIMBURSED BY THE MANUFACTURER (GM) FOR THE AMOUNT I WAS CHARGED FOR A REPLACEMENT SEATBELT (~$200). *TR