AI DamageGMC Safari: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the GMC Safari across 22 model years: 1,137 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 29% of all complaints
- 2 Visibility 14% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 11% of all complaints
- 4 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 8% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 332 complaints (29% of all), 53 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Visibility: 159 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 123 complaints (11% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 92 complaints (8% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 89 complaints (8% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1985–1990
- 4.3 L · petrol · 6 cyl 1985–2005named in 1 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed 1985–2005
- manual, 4-speed 1985–1987
- manual, 5-speed 1985–1990
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 1,137 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 332 | 53 | 0 |
| Visibility | 159 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 123 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 92 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 89 | 2 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 89 | 5 | 0 |
| Steering | 87 | 5 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 65 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 65 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 56 | 9 | 0 |
| Air bags | 47 | 36 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 47 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment | 40 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 39 | 4 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained lower back pain, a bruised toe, a forehead gash, and damage to the ribs. Medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not notified.
Also my headlights and tail lights r always shorting out. My dash lights don't work now
There were two cases: first I was involved in a wreck with a car hitting me in the rear so hard that my back compartments wont open and now the air bag light is on and wont go off. Another case was as I was driving slowly to the laundry matt my power steering quit while my brakes went to the floor.
The contact stated that while driving 45 mph, he crashed head-on into another vehicle and the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was destroyed. There were no injuries reported. A police report was not filed. The failure and current mileage was 126,000.
1997 gmc safari brake failed completely no rear no front suspect it was the anti lock control under the drivers seat . No leaks visible.
Pulling into a parking slot, without warning brakes failed and hit parking meter. Took it to mechanic who could not replicate the problem and couldn't find anything wrong. Vehicle drove fine for awhile, and then again, without warning brakes failed... Again in a parking lot and another vehicle was hit.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.