If there's one thing you don't want to fail when you're in an accident, it's your seatbelt. The first line of passive defense in a collision, the seatbelt is what keeps you in place to allow the rest of the car's safety mechanisms, such as airbags, crash structures, and active headrests, to work properly. That's why GM is acting quickly to remedy a problem with the seat belt anchors in three of its new crossovers.

About 97,800 units of the 2011 Cadillac SRX, 2011 Chevrolet Equinox, and 2011 GMC Terrain are affected by the recall. The problem: the seat belt anchor may fracture and come detached near its base, preventing the seatbelt from actually restraining occupants.

As usual, the fix is to replace the problematic part, free of charge, at dealerships. Owners  will be notified, with repairs to start on or before January 18, 2011. If you're concerned your vehicle could be subject to the recall, you can learn more at GM's Owner Center, by contacting the NHTSA at 1-888-327-4236, or by clicking the link below.

[NHTSA ODI]