FaultScore

GMC Safari engine problems

104 of the 1,537 complaints filed about the GMC Safari are about the engine — 7% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.

104

Complaints

7%

Share of all complaints

3

Crashes

1

Fires

Engine & Cooling complaints by model year

1985 Safari 1 1.0%
1986 Safari 2 1.9%
1987 Safari 6 5.8%
1988 Safari 1 1.0%
1989 Safari 3 2.9%
1990 Safari 2 1.9%
1991 Safari 4 3.8%

Median failure at 150,000 miles

1992 Safari 1 1.0%
1993 Safari 3 2.9%
1994 Safari 6 5.8%

Median failure at 123,000 miles

1995 Safari 18 17.3%

Median failure at 112,000 miles

1996 Safari 11 10.6%

Median failure at 87,000 miles

1997 Safari 20 19.2%

Median failure at 100,000 miles

1998 Safari 6 5.8%

Median failure at 30,738 miles

1999 Safari 8 7.7%

Median failure at 26,000 miles

2000 Safari 5 4.8%

Median failure at 20,000 miles

2001 Safari 3 2.9%

Median failure at 50,000 miles

2002 Safari 1 1.0%

Median failure at 200 miles

2003 Safari 2 1.9%

Median failure at 19,530 miles

2005 Safari 1 1.0%

Median failure at 185 miles

What owners said

1995 GMC Safari at 160,121 miles Great Falls, MT

ENGINE

WAS DRIVING TO WORK ABOUT 25MPH THAN ALL OF A SUDDEN LOST ACCELERATION WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE TO A PARKING LOT BUT ENDED UP HAVING TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHICH I WAS IN FORMED THE ENGINE HAD SEIZED BUT COULD SMELL GAS AND THE FUEL HAD COLLECTED IN THE OIL WHICH WAS CHANGED, AFTER FURTHER CONSIDERATION HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOME.TRIED STARTING IT RUNS ANYWHERE BETWEEN 10 OR 15 SECONDS , HAD THE STARTER CHECKED WORKING GREAT SO ABOUT 2 MONTHS I JUST HAVE IT PARKED LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS.I HAD IT FOR ABOUT 9 YEARS WITH DAY TO DAY DRIVING TO WORK AND OCCASIONALLY ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA complaint #10620674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1989 GMC Safari Hudson, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE BRACKETS ON THE FRONT AND BACK OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAVE BROKEN 3+ TIMES AND HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE TOWED, PUMP, SERPENTINE BELT, BRACKETS, FLUID, AND HOSE TO BE REPLACED. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY AND WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES THE MOST RECENT WAS LAST WEEK. 08/18/2011

NHTSA complaint #10420867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1995 GMC Safari at 112,000 miles Hamilton, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

I HAVE A 95 GMC SAFARI THAT WAS EQUIPED WITH DEXCOOL COOLANT. I HAVE REPLACED ALL THE FREEZEOUT PLUGS, THAT HAVE BEEN EATEN AWAY BY THE COOLANT. THERE ARE SEVERAL LAW SUITS BUT NONE OF THEM INCLUDE SAFARI OR ASTRO VANS. ARE THERE ANY LAWSUITS THAT INCLUDE VANS.

NHTSA complaint #10245691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 GMC Safari at 50,000 miles Roscommon, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 GMC SAFARI. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VIBRATES, BACKFIRES, AND FAILS TO START WHEN COLD. HE HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. NHTSA SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 03-06-04-041 WAS REFERENCED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 94,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 03-04-08 *BF WHEN THE VEHICLE DID START, IT WOULD RUN ROUGH AND THEN STALL. UPDATED

NHTSA complaint #10215966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 GMC Safari at 30,738 miles Livonia, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

1998 GMC SAFARI HAS DIED FIVE TIMES AND EACH TIME THERE WAS A LOSS OF BRAKES AND POWER STEERING ABILITY.*MR STALLED WHILE DRIVING (NO START), CHECK FUEL SYSTEM. PERFORM FUEL INDUCTION AND THROTTLE BODY CLEAN. R&R OLD BELT, TENSIONER CAME APART, REPLACE TENSIONER AND BELT TO REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10121529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 GMC Safari at 87,000 miles Lockport, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

PROBLEM WITH 1996 GMC SAFARI VAN NOT STARTING. *BF THE MECHANIC FOUND THE FUEL PUMP WAS NOT PUMPING FUEL. UPON RETRIEVING THE FUEL PUMP FROM THE GAS TANK, HE FOUND IT TO HAVE SUFFERED SEVERE ELECTRICAL DAMAGE. THE ACTUAL FAILURE WAS NOT THE FUEL PUMP, BUT BECAUSE IT GENERATED ENOUGH HEAT TO MELT THE HOSE COMING FROM THE PUMP ALONG THE CONNECTION. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED HE HAD TO HAVE A REBUILT ENGINE INSTALLED AFTER THE FIRST ENGINE FAILED WITH ONLY 87,000 MILES.

NHTSA complaint #10115064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 GMC Safari at 87,000 miles Lockport, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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.

2000 GMC Safari Santa Maria, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

SAFARI ENGINE UNPEDICTABLY STOPPED WHNE COVERING SHORT DISTANCE. ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. *BF ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASION, WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CONDITION OF A DYING ENGINE. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD GO UP, BUT WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN. THE FUEL GAUGE DID NOT READ CORRECTLY.

NHTSA complaint #10109528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 GMC Safari at 185 miles Beltsville, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

1. THE BREAKING SYSTEM IS REAL BAD THAT CAUSED A GREAT SHAKING IN THE STIRRING WHEEL. 2. UNUSUAL SOUND IN THE BACK OF THE VAN 3. RATTLING NOISE IN THE SHELVES 4. STIRRING WHEEL IS NOT WORKING GOOD WHEN MAKING A U-TURN, I NEED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BEFORE MAKING A COMPLETE U-TURN. 5. NOISE IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10107916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 GMC Safari Warren, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

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.

2003 GMC Safari at 60 miles Hiawassee, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

DAMPNER FAILED, PURCHASE VAN WITH THIS PROBLEM 3 MONTHS AGO AND STILL HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE DAMPNER PART FROM GMC. *BF THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH ONLY 60 MILES ON IT. DURING THE TEST DRIVE, PRIOR TO PURCHASE, THERE WAS A HARMONIC ROAR NOISE VIBRATION COMING FROM THE REAR.

NHTSA complaint #10099916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 GMC Safari at 200 miles Tucson, AZ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

THE RIGHT FRONT PROPELLER SHAFT IS DEFECTIVE ON THE VEHICLE, PER THE MANUFACTURE. YOU CAN FEEL THE VIBRATION OF THE ENGINE AS WELL AS HEAR IT. THE MANUFACTURE WILL TRY TO PLACE MORE INSTALLATION ON, HOWEVER THEY STATED THE DEFECT IS NOT REVERSIBLE.

NHTSA complaint #10092143 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 GMC Safari Fort Hood, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

EMAIL FM ROBERT CARTER (TX) RE GMC REFUSING TO REPAIR A RECALL ENGINE PART FREE OF CHARGE ON HIS GMC SAFARI VAN SINCE HE MISSED THE RECALL CUT OFF DATE WHILE ON MILITARY DUTY OVERSEAS.*MR

NHTSA complaint #10089976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 GMC Safari at 39,000 miles Lake Lure, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

VALVE BODY WAS REPLACED, THE FAN MOTOR WAS REPLACED, AND ALL OF THESE PARTS WERE DEFECTIVE AGAIN. DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED WARRANTY EXPIRED.

NHTSA complaint #10087674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 GMC Safari Virginia Beach, VA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CONSUMER DISAPPOINTED IN SOME OF THE PROBLEMS HE HAD WITH THE CHASSIS AND OTHER AUXILIARY SYSTEMS. (NAR) *PH TRANSMISSION, ENGINE, AC/ HEATER, GAS GAUGE, WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR, ELECTRIC WINDOW.

NHTSA complaint #10066973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 GMC Safari at 93,230 miles ST. Clair Shores, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

COOLANT LEAK CAUSE BY INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10082380 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 GMC Safari at 123,000 miles Kennesaw, GA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 2 YEARS AGO. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE HAD A PROBLEM IN A MALL PARKING LOT WHEREIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (DASH BOARD, POWER WINDOWS, A/C, RADIO) FAILED AT THE VERY SAME TIME AS THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AFTER WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. IT HAPPENED ONLY TWO OTHER TIMES. RECENTLY, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT IS NOT FIXED BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT IT IS A WIRING PROBLEM, BUT TO DATE, WE HAVE NOT FOUND ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND THEY ALL WANT TO REPLACE OUR TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS ODD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME, SO ELECTRICAL SOUNDS MORE LIKELY TO US. THE VAN HAS BEEN SITTING IDLE FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS NOW, AS WE ARE HESITANT TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX IT AND EVEN MORE HESITANT TO TAKE IT TO SOMEONE WHO IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND JUST WANTS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE HEARD OF THIS BEFORE AND, IF SO, WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.

NHTSA complaint #10071017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1991 GMC Safari at 150,000 miles Fenton, MO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE HAD MORE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FROM MY 1991 GMC SAFARI MINI VAN THAN ALL OTHER PREVIOUS VEHICLES I'VE EVER OWNED. I'M LOOKING AT MY THIRD TRANSMISSION OVERHAUL SOON (SEEMS LIKE ONE EVERY TWO YEARS) AND I DON'T DRIVE FAST AND DON'T HAVE A HITCH TO "PULL" ANYTHING. CURRENTLY, MY TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM 2ND TO DRIVE. IT WENT FROM HAPPENING ONCE A MONTH TO APPROXIMATELY 4-6 TIMES A DAY. THE TRANSMISSIONS SHOPS I'VE SEEN SAY I NEED AN OVERHAUL AGAIN. I HATE THIS GMC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10070717 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 GMC Safari at 66,000 miles Jamestown, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT OPERATE - RECALLED - DEALER CLAIMS IT WAS REPAIRED, NOW WIPERS OPERATE WHENEVER IT FEELS LIKE IT. BOTH TORSION RODS FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WITHIN 1 DAY APART OF EACH OTHER. MECHANIC REVEALED THAT GM NOW HAS A SPECIAL TECHNIQUE TO BE DONE WHEN THIS HAPPENS AND IT COSTS AN EXTRA $90 TO REPAIR. WHICH MEANS THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WILL NOT RECALL THE VEHICLES AND REPLACE AT THEIR COST. BROKEN SPARK PLUG ALMOST KILLED MY FAMILY. FUEL PUMP WENT OUT. DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT ROLL DOWN, DRIVER'S SIDE VIEW MIRROR DOES NOT OPERATE.

NHTSA complaint #10070505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 GMC Safari at 122,000 miles ST Cloud, MN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

A/C/HEATING: REAR HEAT WENT OUT AND HAD TO BE REWIRED ENGINE: THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT AND HAD TO REPLACE IT, THAT WAS COVERED BY WARRANTY. BUT STILL HAS A FRONT OIL LEAK SOME WHERE IN THE FRONT. OTHER: I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER I BOUGHT IT FROM AND THEY LOOKED IT OVER AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY RAN OUT THE TRANSFER CASE WENT OUT SO WE HAD A USED ONE PUT IN AND IT ONLY LASTED FOUR MONTHS NOW IT SITS IN THE GARAGE THERE SHOULD BE SOMETHING TO DO ABOUT THE TRANSFER CASE THEY SHOULD LAST LONGER. BRAKES: BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE ABS BRAKES SINCE WE BOUGHT IT TOOK IT IN TO A DEALER AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I ENDED UP DOING THE BRAKES AND FOUND THEY HAD CRACKED PADS CAUSING THE NOISE IN THE BRAKES. FOUND OUT THAT ALL WHEEL DRIVE IS NOT WHAT IT IS MADE OUT TO BE, I HAVE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THIS 1997 GMC SAFARI ALL WHEEL DRIVE VAN.

NHTSA complaint #10070433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other GMC Safari problems