AI Damage1992 GMC Safari: common problems
Owners of the 1992 GMC Safari filed 59 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and suspension. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 59
- involving a crash
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 47% of all complaints
- 2 Suspension 19% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
- 5 Seat belts 5% of all complaints
- 6 Seats 3% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 3% of all complaints
- 8 Child seat 2% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 28 complaints (47% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Suspension: 11 complaints (19% of all).
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (10% of all).
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (5% of all).
- Seat belts: 3 complaints (5% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 4.3 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 59 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 | 28 | 4 | 0 |
| Suspension | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Child seat | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While stopping and trying to merge into traffic vehicle was rear ended from the back due to brake failure.
Abs failure, while driving on normal road conditions the brake pedal went to the floor and driver could hear the brakes making a roaring noise, but the vehicle would not stop. This caused a rear-end crash. Vehicle was repaired at a body shop.
Abs: brakes failed to stop vehicle; caused rearend collision. Tt
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle's front suspension dropped onto the front tires while the vehicle was parked and not in use. The contact attempted to replace the shocks to resolve the issue but the shocks did not resolve the problem. The dealer was not contacted. There was nothing that led up to the occurrence.
Now whenever I use my heater/ac there is smoke that comes out from behind that instrument panel. When the fuse blew I lost all the interior lights and I am afraid that if I replace the fuse that the cigarette plug will start sparking again.
I have a 1992 gmc safari van. It has no anchor system for a child seat and gmc customer service indicates no requirement for such a system. It is my opion that just like other vehicles the van should have an anchor system for the child seat and the manufacturer should be required to supply such a system.
While wife an family were in van, passenger side torsion bar snapped, slamming right front of vehicle down. Awd difficult to control and causing family to become stranded. Gm has discontinued replacements, a conversion is available from them for over $500.00 and both sides need to be replaced/modified.
The consumer noticed that the front stabilizer bar snapped in two places, causing the vehicle to become inoperative. The dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 4,893 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 13% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Safari has 52 complaints (22 years in the data). This year has 59, about average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
- Safari 19867 sources
- Safari 198711 sources
- Safari 19887 sources
- Safari 198918 sources
- Safari 199035 sources
- Safari 199139 sources
- Safari 199361 sources
- Safari 1994119 sources
- Safari 1995195 sources
- Safari 1996139 sources
- Safari 1997135 sources
- Safari 199889 sources
- Safari 199961 sources
- Safari 200068 sources
- Safari 200139 sources
- Safari 200225 sources
- Safari 200318 sources
- Safari 20045 sources
- Safari 20054 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1992 GMC Safari?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, suspension, electrical system. Total complaints: 59. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (10%), warning lights, check engine (8%), smoke, burning smell, fire (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1992 GMC Safari?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1992 GMC Safari from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1992 models
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.