1997 Gmc SAFARI: complaints, problems and recalls

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT ON A BACK ROAD I WAS CROSSING OVER A RAILROAD TRACK AND THE VEHICLE CUT OUT. I WAS ABLE TO DRIFT OVER THE TRACKS TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH MY 2 CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. THE GAS GAUGE READ THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A QUARTER OF A TANK OF GAS, WHEN IN FACT THE TANK WAS EMPTY. THE GAS GAUGE HAS NOT WORKED EVER SINCE.

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000427 at NHTSA ↗

THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM FAILED, WHICH CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011391 at NHTSA ↗

97 SAFARI CONSISTENTLY SETS P1870 CODE, TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN WARMED UP. THE VEHICLE SHIFT EXTREMELY HARD (ACTUALLY SLIP)1ST-2ND-3RD. HARD ENOUGH A SIGNIFICANT CHANCE OF U-JOINT BREAKAGE, UNCONTROLLED TIRE SPINNING ON ICE/SLICK ROADS, (I HAVE EXPERIENCED),WHIPLASH TYPE EXPERIENCE UNDER MODERATE ACCELERATION. THIS SUDDEN SHIFT ALSO ATTRIBUTED TO CAUSING INTERIOR COMPONENTS SUCH AS CENTER CONSOLE TO SHAKE LOOSE. SEVERAL INSTANCES HAVE CAUSED ITEMS IN CENTER COLUMN CUP HOLDER TO FALL OUT AND SPILL. GM HAS TSB ON RECORD AND RECOGNIZES THIS A…

Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016477 at NHTSA ↗

ANTILOCK BRAKES FAIL WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE ANTILOCK SYSTEM STARTS TO FUNCTION AND THEN AT ABOUT 2 MPH THE PEDAL GOES DOWN COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. YOU COULD ONLY REGAIN BRAKING ABILITY IF YOU TOOK YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKES WHILE THE ABS SYSTEM RESET ITSELF. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS AND THE LEFT FRONT HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY (PART COST $864) WAS REPLACED. THE DEALER'S SERVICE INVOICE INDICATED A TEST DRIVE FOUND THE LEFT FRONT ABS SENSOR "DROPPING OUT" AND "TESTED CIRCUIT SENSOR OPEN". THE SERVICE ADVISOR …

Owner-reported narrative. 27,860 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025829 at NHTSA ↗

1997 GMC SAFARI COMPLETE POWER FAILURE WHICH NEGATES POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, AND IS A DANGER TO ME AND MY FAMILY! I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE POWER WILL GO OUT. IT HAS GONE OUT ON AT LEAST 10 OCCASIONS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION "SLAMS" INTO GEAR ON OCCASION AT NO SPECIFIC INTERVAL. THERE CAN BE SEVERAL DAYS SEPERATING THE INCIDENTS; NO LOGICAL PATTERN. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO MARTIN CADILLAC IN LOS ANGELES AT LEAST 4 TIMES TO HAVE THESE PROBLEMS FIXED AND SO FAR THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS AN…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030456 at NHTSA ↗

THE LEVER THAT MADE THE SEAT RECLINE BACKWARDS/FORWARD BROKE OFF ALTHOUGH EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS NOT USED. THIS RESULTED IN THE SEATS RECLINING BACKWARDS BY THEMSELVES DRIVING. *PH *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031762 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE TRAVELING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033753 at NHTSA ↗

THE THROTTLE BODY ON OUR 1997 GMC SAFARI CAME APART SENDING PIECES INTO THE ENGINE AND FAILING IN A WIDE OPEN THROTTLE CONDITION THAT WAS NOT CONTROLLABLE BY THE DRIVER. THIS OCCURRED WHEN THE DRIVER ENTERED THE FREEWAY AND THE CAR ACCELERATED THROUGH 85 MILES PER HOUR WITHOUT ANY DEPRESSION OF THE ACCELERTOR. THE DRIVER HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE TO KEEP SPEED SOMEWHAT UNDER CONTROL. THE ONLY MEANS TO CONTROL THE ENGINE WAS TO TURN IT OFF.

Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039372 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2001-04-10 (April 10, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE "FASTEN SAFETY-BELT" AUDIBLE WARNING OCCASIONALLY MAY NOT COME ON OR MAY TERMINATE IN LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ALARM MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 27, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

Reported: 2003-04-28 (April 28, 2003)

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.

Reported: 1997-04-08 (April 8, 1997)

THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE RIGHT-HAND REAR BUCKET SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A VEHICLE CRASH.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR ON THE REAR SEAT CUSHION FRAME.

Reported: 1999-01-20 (January 20, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED DUAL CHILD SEATS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY BE MISSING A SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CLUTCH SPRING AND/OR PAWL SPRING IN THE CHILD SEAT. IF THE CLUTCH SPRING WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK IN THE RETRACTED POSITION AND COULD NOT BE USED. IF THE PAWL SPRING WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT WOULD CONTINUALLY PLAY OUT AND WOULD NOT LOCK.

Consequence: THESE CONDITIONS COULD INCREASE THE OCCUPANT'S RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELTS ON THE CHILD SEATS, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CHILD SEAT.