1989 Gmc SAFARI: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
117,260 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1989 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 9 complaints (22.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 3 | 33.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 1 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust | 1 |
| Steering | 1 |
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Column Shift: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Power Adjust: 1; Steering: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 7 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 | 4 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
1995: 4; 1996: 1; 2000: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Retractor leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10013978 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
FRONT VAN CAPTAINS CHAIR FRAME AND TRACK, HAS HAD TO BE REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES. SEAT LIFTS UP, DOES NOT STAY SECURED TO TRACK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 168,520 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013978 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072366 · 2004-05-10 (May 10, 2004)
RANDOM FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. VERY SPOOKY WHEN IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT. WHEN QUESTIONED THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEM. BUT THEY KNEW JUST WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND THEY HAVE A FIX. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 66,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072366 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10420867 · 2011-08-21 (August 21, 2011)
THE BRACKETS ON THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAVE BROKEN 3+ TIMES AND HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED, PUMP, SERPENTINE BELT, BRACKETS, FLUID, AND HOSE TO BE REPLACED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THE MOST RECENT WAS LAST WEEK. 08/18/2011 *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10420867 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 721472 · 2000-04-14 (April 14, 2000)
THE ALUMINUM OR SIMILAR MATERIAL BRACKET WHICH CONNECTS THE ELECTRONICALLY-CONTROLLED DRIVER'S SEAT TO THE FLOOR GUIDES IS "RIPPED" --- NOT COMPLETELY BUT ENOUGH TO MAKE THE SEAT INSECURE AND DEFINITELY UNSAFE IN A SUDDEN STOP OR IMPACT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 721472 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 961781 · 1995-03-13 (March 13, 1995)
VEHICLE REAR MIDDLE BENCH OUTSIDE SEAT BELTS RETRACTOR MECHANISM HAD BROKEN PARTS JAMMING IN A FIXED POSITION. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 961781 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 964495 · 1995-04-28 (April 28, 1995)
THE AUX PULLEY THAT HOLD CRANKSHAFT AND THE TIMING GEAR PULLEY BROKE TWO TIME. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 964495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 971583 · 1995-09-05 (September 5, 1995)
BOLT THAT CONNECTS THE POWER STEERING UNIT TO THE MOTOR SHEARED OFF, REPLACED WITH STEEL BOLT, THEN THE BRACKET CRACKED CAUSING POWER STEERING UNIT TO COME OFF.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 971583 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 972681 · 1995-09-29 (September 29, 1995)
THE DRIVER AND BUCKLE WILL NOT LOCK WHEN PULLING FORWARD AND GO BACKWARDS THE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DON'T TIGHTEN UP . TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 972681 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
91V164000 · Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage
Reported: 1991-09-20 (September 20, 1991)
SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BAR FOR REAR SOFA FAILED TO SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210.
Consequence: VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210.
Remedy: REPLACE NONCOMPLYING SOFA BAR WITH BAR THAT MEETS REQUIREMENTS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗93V119000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
Reported: 1993-08-02 (August 2, 1993)
SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.
Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH NEW ROTORS WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COATING. HOWEVER, IF REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LININGS ARE NECESSARY, IT WILL BE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE SINCE BRAKE LININGS ARE NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗93V187000 · Seats
Reported: 1993-11-16 (November 16, 1993)
THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL BETWEEN THEM, CREATING A "SOFT" JOINT. THIS "SOFT" JOINT RESULTS IN LOWER THAN SPECIFIED BOLT TORQUE WHICH LEADS TO JOINT LOOSENESS, CAUSING BOLT FATIGUE AND EVENTUAL BOLT FAILURE.
Consequence: IF BOLT FAILURE OCCURS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WOULDALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FOAM AND/OR VINYL FROM BETWEEN THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME "SOFT" JOINT AND REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗