GM recall of 250,000 vehicles due to seat belt problems

General Motors Co. is recalling nearly 250,000 crossover vehicles worldwide to inspect second-row seat belts that could be damaged and not latch.

GM said Tuesday the recall affects 2009-2010 models of the Chevrolet Traverse, Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook.

There are 243,403 vehicles involved in the recall, the majority in the United States with several thousand exported vehicles in Canada, Mexico, China and Saudi Arabia, according to a GM release.

IN PICTURES: Major product recalls

The Detroit automaker said the seat-belt buckle could be damaged when the seat back is returned to an upright position. That could make the buckle appear to latch when it isn't.

GM said it did not know of any cases where the second-row seat belts failed to perform properly in a crash.

GM spokesman Alan Adler said the plastic shield around the seat belt release button could get caught on some trim and not return to its normal position after the seats are folded flat. If enough force is applied when the seats are pushed back to their normal position, the shield around the release button could be pushed onto the button and make it malfunction.

Owners will be notified this month by mail and told to make an appointment with their dealer to get the problem fixed. Mechanics will trim the shield to allow more space for the buckle to return to its normal position and stay clear of the seats, Adler said.

IN PICTURES: Major product recalls