NHTSA complaint #11721819

Owner complaint summary

The driver seatbelt latchplate binds and continually cinches tighter during normal driving. The issue occurs where the seatbelt webbing passes through the latchplate slot where the shoulder belt transitions to the lap belt. There appears to be insufficient clearance in the latchplate slot, allowing the webbing to slide easily in the tightening direction but not easily in the loosening direction. As a result, the belt continually tightens and specifically pulls the lap portion tighter, while slack cannot be easily fed back through the latchplate without excessive force. This creates a driver distraction because the belt must be forcibly loosened while driving to relieve pressure on the lap. When slack is created to restore comfort, the slack must be maintained because the belt will not easily slide back through the latchplate. This creates a safety trade-off between driving distraction from repeatedly loosening the belt or maintaining excess slack in the restraint system. Two Nissan dealerships inspected the vehicle and declined repair, stating the system is operating within specification.