GEN 4 Seat Belt fraying

Thanks both, I spoke to dealer about it who added that Suzuki rejected it because they could not see any evidence of a manufacturing fault.
I'll have a look at the warranty small print and possibly issue proceedings against them or the dealer at the Sheriff Court. This tends to concentrate minds and would cost Suzuki much more to defend than to do the right thing and honour the warranty.
I would like to think others have better experience with Suzuki Head Office, this has not been impressive.

lightning wrote: How can it not be covered on a brand new vehicle?

Warranty is to cover manufacturing defects.

And tbh I'm sure it is clear that this would be that. If the dealer has had a look and can't see anything causing the damage to the belt. Then the likelihood is it is damaged caused by the end user. Which a warranty would not cover.

I know it isn't what the op wants to hear. But logically if there is nothing causing the damage now on the vehicle and the belt was not damaged when they accepted the vehicle. The only rational answer is, the damage has been caused by some other means. Of which there are many possibilities. It could have been vandalised, it could have caught on something the driver has been wearing. It might have been damaged when accessing the back seats, it could have been caught in the door.

I'm not sure threatening legal action is really the correct recourse. I suspect a difficult and challenging conversation with the Mrs (or others who have been in or use the vehicle) might well provide more light on the situation.



However if it transpires to a manufacturing fault, then yes Suzuki should honour hit.

But, as Lambert says. For the sake of safety and common sense you'd want to get it replaced ASAP if you still plan to use the vehicle. Driving around with the belt damaged like that is more than likely illegal as the car is "not roadworthy". Not only being dangerous but open to prosecution.

Resolving "fault" can always come after fitting a new seat belt..... aka Common Sense.

There is a new person at the helm in the service and warranty part of Suzuki UK

He seems to have a brief to reduce warranty claims. I know of some that have been turned down despite a clear issue.

I would keep escalating

Thanks for your thoughts, appreciated. I simply feel that it would be impossible for the end user to damage it in the way you imagine based on where the fraying is located. I believe that it must have been faulty when supplied in a way that would not be noticeable and that over the two years it developed in the way it did. Anyway that's the proposition I'll make to the sheriff court if it comes to that and he/she will make a decision after hearing Suzuki's defence.

Thanks also Martin for that info. Sounds a bit like a false economy to me. It might make that end of the business's numbers look better for a while but if it alienates existing and potential customers there's not much point and will be ultimately self defeating.

By the way of course I've ordered another belt, has to come from Germany and will take up to 10 days. And that's before Brexit!

Almost certainly this wear has occurred where the belt goes over a bearing or holder, but reading the posts it seems it is shoulder height when in use, so does it go into the trim and down to the reel when not in use or sits on the plastic covered D ring? I would be tempted to take the trim off, but guess you don't want to do that whilst it is a warranty claim.

If it stops at the d-ring, then it looks like this is the cause, but I suspect it is going down in to the trim and it is most likely catching on something behind the trim.

As it is the driver's side and sits around the shoulder when in use, I doubt your wife has metal blades on her clothes so it is normal use and when not in use the car isn't been driven so it can't be motion of the car with the belt rubbing against something.

As Lambert and other have said, this is dangerous and needs replacing.

I am not an expert on this but the warranty should cover failure of components like this whilst allowing for fair wear and tear. A seat belt failing after 2 years and 6,000 miles is not wear and tear, it just shouldn't happen in that time frame, even if it was trapped in the door a few times.

I think Suzuki are acting badly here, if you don't get anywhere you could tell the garage you are going on social media to express exactly what you think of their warranty and then if you don't get anywhere legal action, but you will need an independant inspection and you might not be able to use the car for a while.

It is probably an easy change, the sort of thing you could do yourself if you could get the part. It might be the same as a Gen 3 or other model if a Gen 4 is not available, does anyone know?