FaultScore

1998 GMC Safari window and wiper problems

11 of the 111 complaints about the 1998 GMC Safari are about the glass, mirrors and wipers — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 80,000 miles.

A

11

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Motor 4 36.4%
Windshield Wiper/Washer 3 27.3%
Power Window Devices AND Controls 2 18.2%
Heater Core 1 9.1%
Rear Window Wiper/Washer 1 9.1%

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers across every GMC Safari year

1994 30 19.4%
1995 44 28.4%
1996 36 23.2%
1997 34 21.9%
1998 11 7.1%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 110,000 miles Tumwater, WA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SAFARI. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. HOWEVER, THEY BEGAN OPERATING AGAIN FIVE TO TEN MINUTES LATER. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT RAINFALL IS FREQUENT IN HIS STATE. NO WARNING INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE PRESENT DURING OR AFTER THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE IS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 03V159000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER). THE DEALER HAS NOT DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 143,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 05/06/08. *LJ UPDATED 05/06/08

NHTSA complaint #10195232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Warren, MI

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 GMC SAFARI. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 160,000. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON A RAINY NIGHT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BE UNABLE TO SEE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER SWERVING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ALMOST GETTING HIT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED UNTIL IT STOPPED RAINING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MOTOR STOPPED OPERATING BECAUSE THE SOLDER JOINT CRACKED.

NHTSA complaint #10189541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 85,000 miles Kimball, MI

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

1998 SAFARI VAN, RANDOM FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, THERE IS NO PATTERN TO IT, IT FAILS INTERMITTENTLY TO FUNCTION, WHICH IS KIND OF A SAFETY CONCERN, SINCE THE ONLY TIME I USE THE WIPERS IS DURING A RAINSTORM, WHICH REDUCES VISION GREATLY.

NHTSA complaint #10168485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Hazelwood, MO

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP AND DOWN, AND IT MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE. DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK INADVERTENTLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING. THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER ONLY OPERATE THROUGH THE DEFROSTER. ALSO, UNLESS CONSUMER KEEPS FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR THE BATTERY ALMOST DIES.

NHTSA complaint #10106831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,000 miles Hazelwood, MO

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP AND DOWN, AND IT MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE. DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK INADVERTENTLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING. THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER ONLY OPERATE THROUGH THE DEFROSTER. ALSO, UNLESS CONSUMER KEEPS FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR THE BATTERY ALMOST DIES.

NHTSA complaint #10106831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Martinez, GA

VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER

NUMEROUS FAILURE OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO OPERATE ( SOMETIMES THEY WORK SOMETIMES THEY DON'T, WHEN THEY DO FINALLY COME ON THEY WON'T TURN OFF). TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS DISABLED THE VEHICLE ON 3 OCCASIONS. *JB VEHICLE SHOWING SAME SYMPTOMS OF 1997 WHICH WAS RECALLED

NHTSA complaint #10100358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,850 miles LA Porte, IN

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WHILE USING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND WITHOUT WARNING THE WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. *AK THE CONSUMER WAITED 1 MINUTE AND THEN WAS ABLE TO TURN THEM BACK ON. THE 1992-1997 CHEVROLET TRUCKS WERE RECALLED FOR THE SAME WIPER SWITCH PROBLEM. THE 1998 WIPER SWITCH WAS BELIEVED TO BE THE SAME AS THE 1997 WIPER SWITCH. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10027324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 36,500 miles Port St.lucie, FL

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

WINDSHIELD WIPERS SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF PULSE MODULE.

NHTSA complaint #10025585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Fairfax, VA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

SINCE DECEMBER, 2002, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAIL TO TURN ON ABOUT ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. THE OPERATION IS TOTALLY UNPREDICTABLE. THEY HAVE FAILED TO COME ON IN THUNDERSTORMS TWICE CAUSING A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION, THEN WILL WORK RELIABLY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, ONLY TO UNEXPECTEDLY FAIL AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint #10020752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Unity, WI

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

BRAKES WERENT WORKING WELL, THEN NOTICED HEATER DIDNT WORK, SPEED ODEMTER DIDNT WORK. TOOK TO GMC REPAIR SHOP, WAS TOLD GMC AS A PROBLEM WITH FUEL INJECTORS LEAKING IN TO DASH OF VEHICLES. LARGE REPAIR BILL. NEEDS NEW WIRING HARNESS, FUEL INJECTORS, METERING BODY NOT SURE WHAT ELSE TIL THEY FIX DASH. RECOMMENDED NOT TO DRIVE MORE DAMAGE WILL OCCOR OR WILL SHORT OUT OTHER THINGS. OR CAUSE A FIRE. GMC WONT BACK UP THEIR VEHICLE. DEBBIE LULL

NHTSA complaint #741800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Santa Clarita, CA

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

POWER MIRRORS MALFUNCTIONED. YH

NHTSA complaint #605952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 GMC Safari problems

← Full 1998 GMC Safari report