91 of the
1,537 complaints filed about the GMC Safari
are about the transmission —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1997.
91
Complaints
6%
Share of all complaints
5
Crashes
3
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
THE REAR END WAS MAKING A NOISE AND WAS TAKEN TO THE CAR DEALER CHECKED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE CARRIER BEARINGS AND THE RING & PINION (FACTORY DEFECT). THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAKING THIS NOISE SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED AND THE WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER REPAIRS. THE COST IS ESTIMATED TO BE 1500.00 DOLLARS. WE HAVE SENT IT TO THE DEALER ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AND THEY SAY THE WARRANTY REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.
NHTSA complaint #10239746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE FUELING THE 1994 GMC SAFARI (15 WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING THE TRANSMISSION SWITCHED GEARS FROM PARK TO REVERSE,, RESULTING IN STRIKING THE VEHICLE BEHIND IT. THE CONTACT REENTERED THE VEHICLE, SHIFTED THE LOOSE GEAR INTO DRIVE AND MOVED THE VEHICLE FORWARD TO A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE W2ASA DRIVABLE, BUT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #10181090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT 39,000 MILES. THEN AGAIN AT 131,000 MILES. NOW IT IS BACK IN THE SHOP WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS YET TO BE DETERMINED AT 149,000 MILES. JUDGING FROM THE COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET, THIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT THAT IS COSTING THE CONSUMER A BUNDLE OF MONEY. SO FAR I HAVE SPENT OVER $3000 TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. I AM NOW WAITING TO HEAR HOW MUCH MORE I WILL HAVE TO SPEND. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.
NHTSA complaint #10153709 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED . HE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND HAD REPAIR WORK DONE IN MAY 2005. IN SEPTEMBER 2005 THE TRANSMISSION FAILED COMPLETELY. HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED TO REFUND THE MONEY FOR SERVICE TOWARD A NEW TRANSMISSION, BUT THIS REPAIR HAS NOT CURRENTLY BEEN MADE.
NHTSA complaint #10141457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1999 GMC SAFARI TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SEE GM TSB #00-07-30-002 DATED 11/2000. 1ST-2ND LATE SHIFT, REVERSE, 2ND, & 4TH GEAR CAUSED IMMEDIATE FAILURE. ALL REQUIRED TRANSMISSION SERVICE PERFORMED BY DEALER ON THIS VEHICLE. ROOT CAUSE IS THE KNOWN SUN GEAR SHELL FAILURE IN THE GM 4L60E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAS 70,511 MILES. FILED GMC CUSTOMER COMPLAINT #1-366073225.
NHTSA complaint #10138290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS MORNING (5/4/05) WHILE DRIVING MY 1999 GMC SAFARI, I EXPERIENCED A JOLT AND A HIGH RPM REV AND A LONG 1-2 SHIFT. I GOT TO MY DESTINATION (1/4 MILE UP THE ROAD) AND THEN DISCOVERED THAT I HAD NO REVERSE. I IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE DEALER (A 6-MILE DRIVE). I NOTICED IN ADDITION TO NO REVERSE, THERE WAS ALSO NO OVERDRIVE (4TH GEAR). THE PRELIMINARY DIAGNOSIS FROM THE DEALER IS A FAILED SUN SHELL ASSEMBLY. THEY (THE DEALER) INDENTIFIES THIS AS A COMMON PROBLEM. TO REPAIR IT REQUIRES A MAJOR OVERHAUL A NEARLY $2000.00 REPAIR. I'M A MEMBER OF IATN (INTERNATION AUTOMOTIVE TECHNICIANS' NETWORK) AND I DID A SERACH OF THIS CONCERN AND LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE. I ALSO LEARNED THAT GM HAS A TSB ON THIS CONCERN (I DON'T KNOW THE NUMBER OR NATURE OF THE TSB). AT 6-YEARS OF AGE AND 88,000 MILES THIS (IN MY ESTIMATION) IS A PREMATURE FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN SERVICED (FLUSHED AND FILTER REPLACEMENT) TWICE IN THE PAST THREE YEARS AND HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED. I DO TOW TWO SNOWMOBILES IN THE WINTER, BUT THE WEIGHT IS BY FAR WITHIN THE PARAMETERS STATED FOR THIS VEHICLE. I CALLED THE GM SERVICE ASSISTANCE CENTER AND THE WOMAN ACKNOWLEDGED THE PATTERN FAILURE, BUT SAID THEIR "POLICY" FOR GOODWILL ASSISTANCE IS CAPPED AT 72,000 MILES, MY VEHICLE HAS 88,000 MILES. SHE WAS PREPARED TO OFFER ME SOME KIND OF VOUCHER TO BE USED TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW GM VEHICLE, BUT I'M NOT INTERESTED IN THAT. THERE'S CLEARLY A PRODUCT CONCERN, AND IF GM IS WILLING TO GIVE ME A DEAL ON A NEW CAR, WHY DON'T THEY GIVE ME A "DEAL" ON REPAIRING THIS ONE? ANYWAY, THAT'S MY COMPLAINT.
NHTSA complaint #10119776 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1998 GMC SAFARI VAN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MODEL 700, FAILURED AT 93,000 MILES DUE TO A 3RD GEAR SLIPPAGE. I FOUND IN MY RESEARCH TO FIX THIS PROBLEM THIS WAS COMMON FOR GMC TRUCKS WITH THIS TRANSMISSION FOR THIS TO FAIL BETWEEN 90,000 AND 100,000 EVEN WITH SCHEDULED SERVICE. GMC AGREED TO REPLACE WITH A FACTORY REBUILD, WHICH THEY DID BUT AT MY COST OF $2,300.00, WITH A 36 MONTH/50,000 MILE WARRANTY. I COULD NOT FIND ANY TECH SERVICE BULLETINS OR RECALLS ON YOUR WEB SITE, DO YOU HAVE ANYOTHER INFORMATION. GMC AND ITS DEALERSHIP IS ALREADY AWARE OF MY PRODUCT DISPLEASURE WHEN I EXPECT QUAILTY AND DURABILITY IT WAS NOT THERE. PLEASE RESPOND, THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10110285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
NO BRAKES (3) TIMES, PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE 2 TIMES. WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER, THEY FIND NOTHING WRONG. SOMETIMES JUMPS WHEN FIRST STARTED UP LIKE IT IS GOING TO JUMP FORWARD OUT OF GEAR.*AK DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG. DRIVER DOOR LOCK DOES NOT UNLOCK WITH REMOTE WHEN SUN HITTING ON CAR. DEARLER LOOKING AT NOW. WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN AND THEN START AGAIN TRANSMISSION JERKS. DEALER LOOKING AT NOW.
NHTSA complaint #10091350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
(1) NOTHING LEADING UP TO EVENT. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ABLE TO BE MOVED IN REVERSE ALTHOUGH THE GEAR SELECTOR WAS ABLE TO BE PLACED INTO R. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DRIVE SMOOTHLY IN ANY FORWARD GEARS. HOWEVER, IT WAS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND SUBSEQUENTLY ABLE TO BE DRIVEN ONTO A TRANSPORT TRAILER FOR TOWING. (2) FORTUNATELY, THE FAILURE HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT AND NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES WERE INCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LOADED ONTO A U-HAUL VEHICLE TRANSPORT TRAILER AND TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR FACILITY (OCEAN SIDE TRANSMISSION INCORPORATED LOCATED IN OCEANSIDE, CA). (3) TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED WITH SEVERAL PARTS REPLACED AT THE COST OF ALMOST $2000.00. TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP SAID THE SHELL WAS CRACKED AND "THIS VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION IS KNOWN FOR HAVING A WEAK SHELL". I HAVE THIS OLD PART AVAILABLE AND IT IS BROKEN INTO TWO PIECES APPEARING TO HAVE SHEARED APART.
NHTSA complaint #10088332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
DRIVELINE WAS NOT SYNCHRONIZED WHEN TURNING A CORNER OR WHEN BACKING UP. THE TIRES SEEMED TO BE TRYING TO CATCH UP TO EACH OTHER. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10083544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING OVER 50 MPH VEHICLE VIBRATED. CONSUMER WAS IN TOUCH WITH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTED. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT WAS THE PROBLEM, YET THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
NHTSA complaint #10080166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
DEAR WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, LAST MONDAY(5-17-04) MY CAR WOULD NOT START. PRIOR TO THAT THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE, IT HAS BEEN A DEPENDABLE VEHICLE. THE F- CONTROL HAD BROKE IN TWO. THE CAR CAN NOT GO INTO GEAR AND/OR CHANGES GEARS WITHOUT NOTICE WHEN THE F CONTROL IS BROKEN. THE CAR WAS TOWED THE NEXT DAY TO THE DEALER. IT WAS AT THE DEALER UNTIL FRIDAY(052104), DUE TO THE NEED TO ORDER THE F CONTROL PART. THE CAR SEEMS TO BE REPAIRED. I DO HAVE THE OLD PART. I AM NOTIFYING YOU DUE TO THE POTENTIAL LOSS OF LIFE IF A VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN THE F CONTROL BREAKS. I WAS PARKED AT THE TIME MY F CONTOL BROKE. I HAVE NOTIFIED GMC. I WILL ALSO NOTIFY CALIFORNIA SAFETY BOARD. SINCERELY, DANNA WILLIAMS.
NHTSA complaint #10073029 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
DEALER HAD REPLACED THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL COMPONENT UNIT TWICE, THE CARRIER CASE GEAR KIT AND BEARING AT OWNER EXPENSE OF $ 1,500. DOLLARS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10050086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.