Gmc SAFARI problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
779 owner complaints analyzed
15 distinct recall campaigns
71,292 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1985 to 2005 model years. Data snapshot: . 214 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip is the most frequently named component, appearing in 113 of 779 complaints (14.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 245 | 31.5% |
| Steering behavior | 71 | 9.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 47 | 6.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 36 | 4.6% |
| Engine operation | 23 | 3.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 22 | 2.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 113 |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Torsion Bar | 61 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 46 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 41 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 29 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 24 |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 24 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 21 |
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 113; Suspension:Front:Springs:Torsion Bar: 61; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 46; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 41; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 29; Structure:Body:Door: 24; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 24; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 21
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 27 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 44 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 40 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 42 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 36 |
| 150,000 and above | 25 |
Under 25,000: 27; 25,000 to 49,999: 44; 50,000 to 74,999: 40; 75,000 to 99,999: 42; 100,000 to 149,999: 36; 150,000 and above: 25
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (44). 565 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 84 |
| 1996 | 43 |
| 2000 | 153 |
| 2001 | 112 |
| 2002 | 97 |
| 2003 | 91 |
| 2004 | 72 |
| 2005 | 57 |
| 2006 | 21 |
| 2007 | 13 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 6 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 8 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 5 |
1995: 84; 1996: 43; 2000: 153; 2001: 112; 2002: 97; 2003: 91; 2004: 72; 2005: 57; 2006: 21; 2007: 13; 2008: 6; 2009: 6; 2011: 7; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 8; 2015: 1; 2017: 5
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 245 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 71 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 47 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 483065 · 1995-08-15 (August 15, 1995)
IRREGULAR WEAR OF B F GOODRICH TIRE TREADS, CONTRIBUTING TO BRAKING/STEERING PROBLEMS. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 868475 · 2000-08-23 (August 23, 2000)
CONSUMER WAS BACKING INTO GARAGE, PUT GEAR SHIFT INTO PARK AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF BACKWARDS SECOND TIME WHILE WAITING FOR SOME PEOPLE TO CROSS. CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKES AND TIRES WERE SPINNING. CONSUMER HAD TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL TO GET IT TO STOP.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 868475 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 965393 · 1995-05-16 (May 16, 1995)
ERRATIC OPERATION OF STEERING WHEEL. RESULTING IN POOR STABILITY. PLEASE DESCRIBE IN MORE DETAIL. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 965393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10070717 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
I HAVE HAD MORE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM MY 1991 GMC SAFARI MINI VAN THAN ALL OTHER PREVIOUS VEHICLES I'VE EVER OWNED. I'M LOOKING AT MY THIRD TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL SOON (SEEMS LIKE ONE EVERY TWO YEARS) AND I DON'T DRIVE FAST AND DON'T HAVE A HITCH TO "PULL" ANYTHING. CURRENTLY, MY TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM 2ND TO DRIVE. IT WENT FROM HAPPENING ONCE A MONTH TO APPROXIMATELY 4-6 TIMES A DAY. THE TRANSMISSIONS SHOPS I'VE SEEN SAY I NEED AN OVERHAUL AGAIN. I HATE THIS GMC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.…
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070717 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036634 · 2003-08-26 (August 26, 2003)
NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS IDENTICAL TO THOSE EXPERIENCED BY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE TYPE. TWICE NOW WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN A PANIC SITUATION THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED AND WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. REPLACED ECU ON BRAKE SYSTEM ONCE NOW DEALER INFORMS THAT IS MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN AT A COST OF $1200. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN EXTRAVAGANT MAINTENANCE EXPENSE EVERY TIME YOU NEED THE ANTI-LOCK PORTION OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT DUE TO FAILURE, MUST REPLACE IDLER ARMS EVERY TWO YEARS DUE TO FAILURE AND ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE E…
Owner-reported narrative. 128,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036634 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10131869 · 2005-08-08 (August 8, 2005)
AS FOR EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY. I OPENED THE DOOR OF MY VAN AND FOUND THE SMELL OF MELTING PLASTIC COMING OUT OF IT. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND THAT MY CIGARETTE LIGHTER, WHICH I USUALLY DON'T HAVE IN THE PLUG, BECAUSE I USE THE PLUG FOR TOO MANY OTHER THINGS HAS MELTED AND WAS STUCK INSIDE MY DASH. AFTER TAKING THAT PANEL OFF TO SEE IF I COULD GET THE LIGHTER OUT OF THE PLUG, I ATTEMPTED TO UNPLUG THE WIRES BUT WHILE DOING THIS THE SMALL AMOUNT OF THE PLUG THAT WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE DASH BROKE FREE AN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10131869 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 480965 · 1995-01-10 (January 10, 1995)
IGNITION COIL FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480965 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 973700 · 1995-10-20 (October 20, 1995)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. TT CONSUMER STATES THIS HAPPENS WHEN EVERIT WANTS, WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, THE VEHICLE JUST STALLS WITH NO DAHS WARNING LIGHTS, TO RESTART CONSUMER HAS TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND IT WILL RESTART, CONSUMER STATES THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES, ALSO ABS HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING CORRECTLY IT HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE TWICE BUT NOTHING WAS REPORTED TO BE WRONG CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WILL JERK, OR SHAKE AND SOMETIMES PULL TO THE RIGHT, THEN LEFT.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 973700 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 885609 · 2001-04-10 (April 10, 2001)
FUEL INJECTOR LEAKAGE. TOOK OUT DIPSTICK AND SMELLED FUEL ON IT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND FOUND OUT LEAKAGE. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT A FIRE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 885609 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026134 · 2003-07-15 (July 15, 2003)
1995 GMC SAFARI AWD, GAS TANK FIRE, REAR DIFFERENTIAL SIEZED, DRIVESHAFT SNAPPED OFF.NO WARNING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026134 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1989 | 3 |
| 1990 | 4 |
| 1991 | 3 |
| 1992 | 1 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 1 |
| 1995 | 3 |
| 1996 | 4 |
| 1997 | 4 |
| 1998 | 3 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
1989: 3; 1990: 4; 1991: 3; 1992: 1; 1993: 0; 1994: 1; 1995: 3; 1996: 4; 1997: 4; 1998: 3; 1999: 1; 2000: 0; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 0; 2005: 0