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1990 GMC Safari

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1990 GMC Safari do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 30.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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 35 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

35 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 2002
Seats

CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER DRIVER SEAT WOULD ROCK BACK AND FORTH WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TOO QUICKLY, CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT A MOUNTING BOLT WAS LOOSE, HE THEN TILTED THE SEAT BACK AND INSPECTED THE FRONT MOUNTING BOLT TO THE SEAT PLATFORM CONNECTION AND THE CONSUMER SAW THAT WHEN THE SEAT BACK WAS PUSHED, THE ENTIRE…

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CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE POWER DRIVER SEAT WOULD ROCK BACK AND FORTH WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TOO QUICKLY, CONSUMER THOUGHT THAT A MOUNTING BOLT WAS LOOSE, HE THEN TILTED THE SEAT BACK AND INSPECTED THE FRONT MOUNTING BOLT TO THE SEAT PLATFORM CONNECTION AND THE CONSUMER SAW THAT WHEN THE SEAT BACK WAS PUSHED, THE ENTIRE BOLT/NUT COMBO LIFTED OFF OF THE MOUNTING PLATFORM, AND THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE SEAT ROCKING BACK AND FORTH, UPON LIFTING THE SEAT OFF THE PLATFORM ALL FOUR CORNERS OF THE PLATFORM HAD BROKEN OFF, THE ADJACENT METAL AROUND THE BOLT HOLES WERE DISFIGURED, FRACTURED AND CRACKED.*JB

NHTSA ODI #785961

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2001
SteeringSuspension

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ALONG AND MADE A STOP; THEN, PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND IT MADE A LOUD NOISE, LATER SHE WAS TOLD THAT IDLE ARM HAD FALLEN OFF.*AK VEHICLE ALSO WOULD VIBRATE WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. STEERING COLUMN LOOSE AND NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #893417

Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2000
Seats

CONSUMER HAVE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 93V187000 FOR FRONTAL SEATS. REAR SEATS ARE THE SAME TYPE OF SEATS WITH A DIFFERENT PACKAGE. BUT, MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REPLACE THE PARTS AS STATED IN THE RECALL FOR THE REAR SEATS. *AK THE FRONT AND THE REAR SEATS ARE RECLINING SEAT FOR THIS VAN UNLIKE OTHER VANS. *YH

NHTSA ODI #870995

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 2000
Seat Belts

THE 2 FRONT SAFETY BELTS DONT WORK PROPERLY, IF YOU LEAN FORWARD THE SHOULDER BELT STAY LOOSE AND DON'T COME BACK AGAINST THE PASSENGER, ALSO A REAR LAP BELT WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO RETRACT AND LOCK INTO PLACE AFTER IT IS PULLED ALL THE WAY OUT DOES NOT WORK. I HAD CONTACTED GM A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND THEY SAID THEY WOUL…

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THE 2 FRONT SAFETY BELTS DONT WORK PROPERLY, IF YOU LEAN FORWARD THE SHOULDER BELT STAY LOOSE AND DON'T COME BACK AGAINST THE PASSENGER, ALSO A REAR LAP BELT WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO RETRACT AND LOCK INTO PLACE AFTER IT IS PULLED ALL THE WAY OUT DOES NOT WORK. I HAD CONTACTED GM A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD MAKE A NOTE OF IT BUT WOULD NOT OFFER TO FIX THEM. I THINK BEINGS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THEY SHOULD REPAIR IT. THE BELTS HAVE BEEN LIKE THIS EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT THE VAN, IT WAS A USED VEHICLE, WE DIDNT BUY IT NEW. I TRANSPORT CHILDREN, I HAVE A 5 YEAR OLD AND A 3 MONTH OLD, SO THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, I HAVE TO ALWAYS MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN ONE OF THE WORKING BELTS. THIS ALSO LEAVES THE DRIVER AT RISK, BEINGS THE DRIVERS BELT DOESNT FUNCTION PROPERLY. I AM UNABLE TO USE ONE OF THE SPOTS IN THE BACK DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE BELT. IF YOU CAN HELP, PLEASE CONTACT ME @ 314-729-1288 OR EMAIL ME AT HEYWINKY@AOL.COM THANK YOU, MAUREEN WIEHAGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721319

Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

AFTER A HARD BRAKING INCIDENT, THE ABS & BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON. SYSTEM WAS RESET BY MECHANIC, WORKED FOR 4 OR 5 BRAKE APPLICATIONS BUT HAD ELECTRIC MOTOR NOISE UNDER HOOD, THEN PROBLEM RETURNED. REGULAR BRAKES WORK PROPERLY, ABS DOES NOT. INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP STATED ABS COMPUTER FAILURE. COST TO REPAIR - $450…

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AFTER A HARD BRAKING INCIDENT, THE ABS & BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON. SYSTEM WAS RESET BY MECHANIC, WORKED FOR 4 OR 5 BRAKE APPLICATIONS BUT HAD ELECTRIC MOTOR NOISE UNDER HOOD, THEN PROBLEM RETURNED. REGULAR BRAKES WORK PROPERLY, ABS DOES NOT. INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP STATED ABS COMPUTER FAILURE. COST TO REPAIR - $450, WORK NOT PERFORMED. PROBLEM PERSISTS. AFTER VIEWING YOUR ONLINE COMPLAINTS, THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721030

Mileage unknown · Oct 18, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS COMES ON, INDICATING THAT THE ABS DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE, AND RESET THE ABS CODE. PROBLEM EXSITS AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850994

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON & STAYING. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES (ABS), VEHICLE WOULD SLIDE. VEHICLE FAILS TO STOP RIGHT AWAY. WHEELS WOULD LOCK UP. BEEN TO DEALER & MECHANIC RESET COMPUTER FOR BRAKES. THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE HAD A CODE OF 63. *AK

NHTSA ODI #849661

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 1999
Seat Belts

WAS LEANING FORWARD WITH THE SEAT BELT ON. SEAT BELT FAILED TO LOCK UP PROPERLY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. OWNER FEELS IT WOULD NOT BE ADEQUATE PROTECTION IF AN ACCIDENT OCCURS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #845354

Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 1999
SteeringSuspension

TOOK THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR SERVICE ON REAR END. WAS HIT. WHEN CONSUMER DROVE AWAY, STEERING WHEEL COLUMN MOVED THE COLUMN INTO THE INNER SLEEVE.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #844068

Mileage unknown · Oct 9, 1998
Structure

SLIDING DOOR CAME OUT OF THE TRACK, DOOR WAS LOCKED. INCIDENT OCCURRED TWO TIMES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND IS INVESTIGATING PROBLEM. NO WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #828793

Official recalls

4

93V187000 · 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.

91V164000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage

Sep 20, 1991

SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE BAR FOR REAR SOFA FAILED TO SUSTAIN LOADS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: VEHICLES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 210.

Remedy: REPLACE NONCOMPLYING SOFA BAR WITH BAR THAT MEETS REQUIREMENTS.

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

4

PE97025 · Instrument Panel/dash Electrical Fire

Opened Jun 12, 1997 · Closed Nov 26, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

ALLEGED ELECTRICAL FIRES MAY OCCUR IN THE DASH AREA WHILE THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE BEING OPERATED OR WHILE PARKED.

EA92022 · 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

EA91028 · Brake Failure

Opened Jun 10, 1991 · Closed Jun 30, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

===

PE91052 · Brake Failure

Opened Feb 22, 1991 · Closed Jun 10, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

There is no summary currently available