A seatbelt retractor includes a frame and a spool rotatably supported by the frame. A ring is coaxial with the spool on a rotational axis and is selectively lockable with the spool. A locking device is operatively coupled between the spool and the ring to rotationally engage the spool with the ring in a locked position and rotationally disengage the spool from the ring in an unlocked position. One of the ring or the frame defines a recess and an arm is fixed to and extends from the other of the ring or the frame into the recess. When the locking device is in the locked position, the arm is elastically bendable relative to the ring and the frame when rotational force on the ring relative to the frame about the rotational axis exceeds a non-zero threshold to allow rotation of the ring relative to the frame.

The present invention relates to a belt retractor comprising a belt shaft (5), which is mounted rotatably in a frame (1) and on which a safety belt can be wound, and a force-limiting unit (61) which, when activated, enables a rotational movement of the belt shaft (5) in the extension direction of the safety belt, wherein the force-limiting unit (61) comprises an electric motor (4) and a first blocking device, and the first blocking device is configured to release and again block, in a manner actuated by the activation of the electric motor (4), a rotational movement of the belt shaft (5) in the extension direction in a repeating sequence.