2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade Seat Belt Fastener Recall (22V617)

Recall 22V617 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade in recall 22V617?

The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly formed.

General Motors, LLC (M) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly formed.

Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Escalade with recall 22V617?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A seat belt with a deformed rivet may not properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: A seat belt with a deformed rivet may not properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the critical fasteners.

Which vehicles are included in recall 22V617?

Recall 22V617 covers 484,155 vehicles: 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade; 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade Esv; 2021-2022 Chevrolet Suburban; 2021-2022 Chevrolet Tahoe; 2021-2022 GMC Yukon; 2021-2022 GMC Yukon XL.

NHTSA lists 484,155 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Escalade seat belt fastener recall?

Yes. Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both the left and right side third-row seat belt buckle assemblies and replace seat belt buckle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge.

Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both the left and right side third-row seat belt buckle assemblies and replace seat belt buckle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed September 28, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 1, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222372380.

When was recall 22V617 announced?

General Motors, LLC reported recall 22V617 to NHTSA on August 11, 2022.

This recall was filed 50 months ago. If your Escalade was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Escalade is part of recall 22V617?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V617 is open on your Escalade, it will be listed there.

The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021-2022 Escalade vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.

What should Escalade owners do about recall 22V617?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 22V617000 applies to your Escalade.
2. Call a Cadillac dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the critical fasteners happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are Escalade owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 2,152 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 41 of them about the seat belts.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 2,152 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 41 of them involve the seat belts. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe: 453 complaints in total, 13 about the seat belts
• 2021 GMC Yukon: 331 complaints in total, 4 about the seat belts
• 2021 GMC Yukon XL: 226 complaints in total, 3 about the seat belts
• 2021 Chevrolet Suburban: 198 complaints in total, 7 about the seat belts
• 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe: 189 complaints in total, 2 about the seat belts
• 2022 GMC Yukon: 181 complaints in total, 2 about the seat belts
• 2022 GMC Yukon XL: 168 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
• 2022 Chevrolet Suburban: 123 complaints in total, 6 about the seat belts

Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):

The rear seatbelt in my 2022 Chevrolet Suburban RST became dangerously tight around my daughter's waist while she was lying down in the seat. The belt would not release despite multiple attempts. She was hanging off the seat and in distress, and I was forced to cut the belt to prevent injury.

2022 Chevrolet Suburban owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11662246, filed May 21, 2025

Car says "service safety restraint system" and airbag light comes on intermittently. Dealer won't cover under safety restraint warranty. They site TSB about a wire that GM made too short but are not sure it will fix it. This car has 42,000.

2022 Chevrolet Suburban owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11707940, filed December 30, 2025

“Service safety restraint system” light came on. I feel this is a defect and a serious concern. I’ve seen where others are experiencing the same issue. I bought this vehicle specifically because I wanted to a safe vehicle to drive my 4 children around in.

2022 Chevrolet Suburban owner, AL, NHTSA complaint 11714022, filed January 28, 2026

Can recall 22V617 make my Escalade a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

Recall 22V617000 does not automatically make your Escalade a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?

Seat belt defects are safety defects. If the belt, buckle or pretensioner still does not work right after the recall repair, the repeat visit belongs in your records.

This campaign follows an earlier recall for the same issue. A second recall can mean the first remedy failed, and repeated repair attempts on the same defect are the core of most lemon law claims.

Earlier campaigns on these vehicles involving the same component: 20V792000, 20V811000.

For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Escalade went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 22V617