98 of the 1,537 complaints filed about the GMC Safari are about the electrical system — 6% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1996.
98
Complaints
6%
Share of all complaints
4
Crashes
13
Fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO DO LAUNDRY. I LOST ALL CONTROL OF THE POWER STEERING AND THE BRAKES WERE GONE. THIS SCARED ME TO DEATH ALSO MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS STAYING ON PLUS THE BATTERY LIGHT AND BRAKES
NHTSA complaint #11043230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER FUELING, COULD NOT RESTART VEHICLE. DASH LIGHTS. HAD TO WAIT 15 - 30 MINUTES UNTIL I WAS ABLE START VEHICLE. BATTERY 4 MONTHS OLD, INTERMITTENT ONGOING PROBLEM. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH DISCOVERED VIA WEB SEARCH LIST PROBLEM WITH "IGNITION PASSLOCK/PASSKEY SECURITY SYSTEM". THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT MY LOCAL GM DEALER WILL NOT ADDRESS OR FIX. ESTIMATED CONSUMER REPAIR COST OVER $1000,00.
NHTSA complaint #10618129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER RUNNING ERRANDS, VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. BRAKE & ABS INDICATOR LIT. WAIT 15- 30 MINUTES AND VEHICLE MAY RESTART. INDEPENDENT RESEARCH FOUND THAT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM. NOTED: PASSLOCK/PASSKEY SECURITY SYSTEM INTERMITTENT FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10618133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER RUNNING ERRANDS, VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. TIME IN BETWEEN ERRANDS 2 HOURS. OUTSIDE TEMP 95. HAD TO WAIT 15 - 30 MINUTES IN HOT VEHICLE TRYING TO START VEHICLE EVERY 20-30 SECONDS. PROBLEM WITH PASSLOCK/PASSKEY SECURITY SYSTEM AS LISTED ON VARIOUS WEB SITES. CHECKED WITH PERSONAL OBD II & CAN SCAN TOOL AND FOUND NO DTC'S. THIS PROBLEM IS BECOMING MORE CONSTANT AND OCCUPANT SAFETY IS A MAJOR CONCERN.
NHTSA complaint #10618144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AT TIMES VEHICLE WILL NOT START UNTIL THE STEERING COLUMN SHIFT LEVER IS MOVED. ALL POWER IS UP, TURN KEY AND NO RESPONSE. DEPRESS BRAKE PEDAL AND MOVE SHIFT LEVER FROM P TO D3 MAY CAUSE STARTER TO WORK. TOLD BY AAA DRIVER THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10593090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILS EVEN WITH NEW BATTERY, ALTERNATOR. WHEN I ATTEMPT TO START VEHICLE ALL POWER IS LOST. HAPPENED LAST YEAR IS HAPPENING AGAIN, ONLY IN WINTER. KILLS BATTERY AFTER BATTERY. HAVE BOUGHT 3 BATTERIES, NOW THE ELECTRICAL POWER JUST DOES NOT COME ON.
NHTSA complaint #10296435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2000 GMC SAFARI AT 55 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL. HE CAME TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND CONTACT PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TRYING TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT DISENGAGE. THE CONTACT HAD TO USE THE ON AND OFF SWITCH TO SHUT OFF CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE CRUISE CONTROL INCIDENT CRUISE CONTROL COULD NOT BE USED. ALSO, ALL OF HIS ELECTRONIC GAUGES DISPLAYED ERRONEOUS READINGS.
NHTSA complaint #10181146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW GOES PART WAY DOWN, WILL NOT GO OUT - INTERMITTENT PROBLEM INCREASED TO PERMANENT PROBLEM. NOW GOES DOWN MAYBE 1/2 INCH, ONLY GOES UP 1/32 INCH AT A TIME. HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE, NEEDS REPAIR AGAIN. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN 6/03, NOT LONG AFTER THAT, PROBLEM SURFACED IN INCREASING REGULARITY. WHEN I HAD PROBLEM REPAIRED BY DEALER IN 1/04, I WAS TOLD THIS HAD BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE. ITEMS REPAIRED / REPLACED, WERE: 1314WSC95 - ELECTRICAL MISC. PO45391 - MOTOR PO45386 - ACTUATOR SEVERAL RIVETS. THE REPAIR FACILITY DESCRIBED THE WINDOW PROBLEM AS "BINDING", AND A ALSO FOUND THAT THE DOOR LOCK WAS NOT ACTIVATING PROPERLY DUE TO A DOOR LOCK MECHANISM PROBLEM (THE ACTUATOR) AS HAVING AN "INTERNAL SHORT". THE REPAIR OF 1/04 WAS GOOD FOR ABOUT 14 MONTHS (DEALER REFUSED TO WARRANT WORK), WHEN IN 3/05, THE PROBLEM HAD GRADUALLY RETURNED. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, HE SAID IT WAS NOT. I RECENTLY DECIDED TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM AS I AM ABOUT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AGAIN, AND SEE THAT THE PASSENGER WINDOWS ON GMC VANS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME. I BELIEVE THE MALFUNCTIONING WINDOW IS A HAZARD, AS IT CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE DRIVER WHEN DISTRACTED BY A MALFUNCTIONING WINDOW, WHICH IS USED TO PROTECT THE VEHICLES OCCUPANTS FROM WEATHER, SMOKE, DUST AND DIRT, WIND AND EVEN POTENTIAL CRIMINALS. MY ATTENTION HAS BEEN DRAWN AWAY FROM THE NORMAL HAZARDS OF URBAN AND HIGHWAY DRIVING BY THE DISTRACTION OF A MALFUNCTIONING WINDOW. WHY HAS THIS BEEN ALLOWED TO BE A PROLIFIC PROBLEM FOR SO LONG? I WONDER JUST HOW MANY COMPLAINTS YOU HAVE RECEIVED ON THIS ISSUE? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO ACTUALLY DIE BEFORE YOU TAKE ACTION?
NHTSA complaint #10163169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING RESPONSE DUE TO FAILURE OF ALTERNATOR BRACKET THAT RESULTED IN SERPENTINE BELT FALLING OFF THAT RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. VEHICLE DRIFTED INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE AND THEN OFF THE ROAD. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY THAT DAY. ALTERNATOR BRACKET WAS REPLACED THE FOLLOWING DAY. FAILED PART AT REPAIR FACILITY.
NHTSA complaint #10160220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
95 GMC SAFARI/95 CHEVY ASTRO I HAVE OWNED 3 OF THESE MODELS SINCE 1995 AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM WITH ALL 3 OF THEM. THE FUSIBLE LINK CONNECTION LOCATED BEHIND THE BATTERY WHERE POWER GOES INTO THE FUSE PANEL HAS ONE CONNECTION THAT OVERHEATS, MELTS THE PLASTIC MODULE AND CREATES A CIRCUIT PROBLEM. TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE DRIVING HAS OCCURRED, TOTALLY CRIPPLING THE VEHICLES. UPON SEARCHING SALVAGES FOR A REPLACEMENT CONNECTOR, I FOUND 4 OUT OF 5 HAD THE SAME OVERHEATED, MELTED PLASTIC, DANGEROUS CONNECTION. I HAVE THE CONNECTOR I REPLACED ON 1 OF THE VEHICLES AND CAN PROVIDE IT TO THE INVESTIGATION. THIS SITUATION COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A FATAL ACCIDENT. TOTAL ELECTRICAL POWER MEANS ENGINE QUITS, LIGHTS GO OUT AT NIGHT, POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES ARE INOPERABLE. THIS TRULY NEEDS FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF OWNERS/OPERATORS OF THESE VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #10137822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
AS FOR EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY. I OPENED THE DOOR OF MY VAN AND FOUND THE SMELL OF MELTING PLASTIC COMING OUT OF IT. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND THAT MY CIGARETTE LIGHTER, WHICH I USUALLY DON'T HAVE IN THE PLUG, BECAUSE I USE THE PLUG FOR TOO MANY OTHER THINGS HAS MELTED AND WAS STUCK INSIDE MY DASH. AFTER TAKING THAT PANEL OFF TO SEE IF I COULD GET THE LIGHTER OUT OF THE PLUG, I ATTEMPTED TO UNPLUG THE WIRES BUT WHILE DOING THIS THE SMALL AMOUNT OF THE PLUG THAT WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE DASH BROKE FREE AND STARTED SPARKING. AT THIS POINT IT BLEW A FUSE SO I CUT THE WIRES JUST TO BE SAFE AND TAPED THEM SEPARATELY WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE. LATER THAT NIGHT I COULD SMELL ANOTHER BURNING TYPE SMELL BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING THAT I FIGURED OUT WHAT IT WAS. 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. SO AS IT STANDS NOW THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER IS GONE, I HAVE NO INTERIOR LIGHTS AND I CAN'T USE MY HEATER OR A/C. I DID KEEP THE LIGHTER THAT WAS ALL MELTED.
NHTSA complaint #10131869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
AT 90000 MILES, WINDSHIELD WIPERS ON MY 97 GMC SAFARI SUDDENLY STARTED TO FAIL WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN. 10 MINUTES LATER THEY MIGHT WORK FOR A WHILE. THIS STARTED HAPPENING REGULARLY. I HAD SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS ON THE FREEWAYS OF LOS ANGELES AS A RESULT. I WAS TOLD BY ONE WEB FORUM IT WAS FAULTY LEADS DUE TO WIRE HARNESS STRESS. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOW AVOID THE FREEWAYS IN THE RAIN.
NHTSA complaint #10129852 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CONSUMER 1996 GMC SAFARI VAN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH FUEL PUMP. *BF THE FUEL PUMP DID NOT PUMP FUEL. THE FUEL PUMP SUFFERED ELECTRICAL DAMAGE. THE FUEL FILTER WAS CHANGED WHEN THE REBUILT ENGINE WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE. THE MAIN BEARING WAS SHOT.
NHTSA complaint #10112837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
ENGINE FIRE. STARTED BY A FAULTY IGNITION MODULE.
NHTSA complaint #10106366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
I HAVE A 98 GMC SAFARI, I HAVE HAD THREE (3) REAR AC BLOWER CONTROL SWITCHES BURN UP IN IT SIX (6) YEARS. THE SWITCHES ARE MELTED FROM OVERHEATING. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OVER THIS ISSUE? THE DATE LISTED BELOW IS THE LAST ONE.
NHTSA complaint #10104100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS ON CONSUMER'S TWO VANS. EACH VAN HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH IT'S TRANSMISSION, ALTERNATOR, MOTORS FOR DOOR AND WINDOWS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, FUEL PUMP, OXYGEN SENSORS AND WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR. *LA THE CONSUMER HAS TWO GMC SAFARI'S BOTH 1997 MODELS. THEIR VIN'S ARE [XXX] AND [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10059141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE POWER WINDOWS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DO NOT WORK AT ALL. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. IF THE WINDOW GOES DOWN, IT WILL NOT GO BACK UP. THE POWER LOCKS DO NOT LOCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, AND WORKS INTERMITTENTLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. ALSO, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS AT TIMES. THE BRAKE PEDAL VIBRATES AT TIMES WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP, THE VEHICLE GOES TO ONE SIDE. IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO STOP. WE HAVE NOT SEEN A DEALER DUE TO A FINANCIAL SITUATION.
NHTSA complaint #10098841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION THAT RESULTS IN STOP LAMPS AND REAR HAZARD LAMPS BECOMING INOPERATIVE. CENTER HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP AND TURN SIGNAL FUNCTIONS ARE NOT AFFECTED. THE LOSS OF STOP LAMPS AND REAR HAZARD LAMPS COULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING AND OR IS STOPPED AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. THIS DESCRIPTION WAS TAKEN FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID # 01V364000 AND IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING WITH MY 2001 GMC SAFARI VAN. THE LOCAL GMC DEALER WANTS ALMOST $500.00 TO REPAIR THIS ITEM. I FEEL GMC SHOULD REPAIR THIS AT NO CHARGE 1ST BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY DEFECT WHICH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND 2ND THEY HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS ON SEVERAL OTHER MODELS AS PER YOUR CAMPAIGN ID # 01V364000. GMC SAY'S THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE SAFARI VAN SO THEY WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! THANK YOU, [XXX]. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10095545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.