IllustrationTHE FRONT SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB
1988 GMC Safari
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Safari years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 7 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Seat Belts. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
7 reportsTHE BOLTS ON THE POWER STEERING BOX SNAPPED OFF. *JB
STEERING WHEEL: DRIVING ALONG AND BUSHINGS FELL OUT OF TILT STEERING WHEEL COUPLING, AND STEERING WHEEL DROPPED IN CONSUMERS LAP. *AK *JB
RECALL REPAIRS DONE ON BROKEN SEAT BOLT, BUT DEALER CHARGED CONSUMER.
(7) OF (8) SEAT BELTS WILL NOT LOCK. BELT IS VERY LOOSE, ALLOWING ALOT OF MOVEMENT AND (1) 0F (8) SEAT BELT BUCKLES DOES NOT LATCH. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK
ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED, OIL RINGS HAVE BROKEN, CAUSING OIL LEAK. TT
THE DOOR LOCKS IN THE REAR DOORS BROKE, UNABLE TO OPEN DOORS FROM INSIDE. TT BOLTS SNAP OFF FROM THE MOTOR THE ONES HOLDING THE POWER STEERING BOX. THE BELT COMES OFF BECAUSE THE BRACKET BREAKES. *YH
Official recalls
293V187000 · Seats
Nov 16, 1993
THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME MAY HAVE FOAM AND/OR VINYL BETWEEN THEM, CREATING A "SOFT" JOINT. THIS "SOFT" JOINT RESULTS IN LOWER THAN SPECIFIED BOLT TORQUE WHICH LEADS TO JOINT LOOSENESS, CAUSING BOLT FATIGUE AND EVENTUAL BOLT FAILURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOLT FAILURE OCCURS TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, IT WOULDALLOW THE SEAT BACK TO SUDDENLY RECLINE, AND COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLECONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE FOAM AND/OR VINYL FROM BETWEEN THE RECLINER MECHANISM AND THE SEAT FRAME "SOFT" JOINT AND REPLACE THE RECLINER BOLTS.
93V119000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor
Aug 2, 1993
SEVERE CORROSION DUE TO ROAD SALT AT THE JOINT OF THE STAMPED STEEL CENTER SECTION AND THE CAST OUTER SECTION CAN CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO SEPARATE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: SEPARATION OF THE ROTOR SECTIONS CAN CAUSE LOSS OFBRAKING ABILITY IN THE AFFECTED WHEEL. THIS COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STOPPINGDISTANCE AND/OR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WITH NEW ROTORS WITH A CORROSION PROTECTION COATING. HOWEVER, IF REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LININGS ARE NECESSARY, IT WILL BE DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE SINCE BRAKE LININGS ARE NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
6EA92022 · Seat Back Bolt Breakage
Opened Jun 24, 1992 · Closed Nov 19, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available
EA90023 · Power Steering Failure
Opened Apr 16, 1990 · Closed Apr 30, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE90039 · Spare Tire Carrier Failure
Opened Feb 5, 1990 · Closed Jun 29, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
PE90028 · Power Steering Failure
Opened Dec 15, 1989 · Closed Apr 16, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE89106 · Rear Axle Seal Failure
Opened Mar 23, 1989 · Closed Sep 19, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
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EA88039 · Rear A/c Unit
Opened Sep 12, 1988 · Closed Oct 31, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System
There is no summary currently available