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1991 GMC Safari

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1991 GMC Safari do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 30.

About this comparison →
39Owner complaints

Model-year median: 30

3Recall campaigns

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4Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
7
198818
198935
199039
199159
199261
1993119
1994
Compare all Safari years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
16Power Train
7Seat Belts
4Seats
4Electrical System
3
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
3Equipment
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Visibility
3Steering
2Unknown Or Other
2Exterior Lighting
1Interior Lighting
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Structure
1Suspension
1Tires
1

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: 4 of 39 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 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 7 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.

5 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

16 reports
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277,500 miles · Jun 2, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

LOSS OF BRAKE ACTION DUE TO INSTANT FLUID LOSS. BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO EXTREME AND ISOLATED CORROSION IN BRAKELINE LOCATED AREA OF GASOLINE TANK (FORWARD OF REAR AXLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE.) NO NOTICE OR PRIOR EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE. HAVE NOTED MANY INTERNET COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE AND LOCATION ON BOTH GMC SAFARI AND CHEVROL…

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LOSS OF BRAKE ACTION DUE TO INSTANT FLUID LOSS. BRAKE LINE RUPTURED DUE TO EXTREME AND ISOLATED CORROSION IN BRAKELINE LOCATED AREA OF GASOLINE TANK (FORWARD OF REAR AXLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE.) NO NOTICE OR PRIOR EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE. HAVE NOTED MANY INTERNET COMPLAINTS OF THIS NATURE AND LOCATION ON BOTH GMC SAFARI AND CHEVROLET ASTRO VANS AND SILVERADO LIGHT TRUCKS - YEAR AND/OR MILEAGE NOT A FACTOR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10272630

174,000 miles · Mar 27, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GMC SAFARI. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SECONDLY, WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SKIDS. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING A DEALER IN REFERENCE TO THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000 AND CURRE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 GMC SAFARI. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR CONSISTENTLY ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. SECONDLY, WHEN APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE SKIDS. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING A DEALER IN REFERENCE TO THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 175,000. UPDATED 04-23-09 *BF UPDATED 04/24/09.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10263283

128,500 miles · Aug 26, 2003
Electrical SystemPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS IDENTICAL TO THOSE EXPERIENCED BY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE TYPE. TWICE NOW WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN A PANIC SITUATION THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED AND WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. REPLACED ECU ON BRAKE SYSTEM ONCE NOW DEALER INFORMS THAT IS MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN AT A COST OF $1200. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN EXTRAVAGANT MAI…

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NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS IDENTICAL TO THOSE EXPERIENCED BY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE TYPE. TWICE NOW WHEN APPLYING BRAKES IN A PANIC SITUATION THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED AND WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. REPLACED ECU ON BRAKE SYSTEM ONCE NOW DEALER INFORMS THAT IS MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN AT A COST OF $1200. I BELIEVE THIS IS AN EXTRAVAGANT MAINTENANCE EXPENSE EVERY TIME YOU NEED THE ANTI-LOCK PORTION OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. ALSO HAD TO REPLACE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT DUE TO FAILURE, MUST REPLACE IDLER ARMS EVERY TWO YEARS DUE TO FAILURE AND ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTERS ON THE BLOWER SWITCH DUE TO OVERHEATING AND MELTING THE SWITCH. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10036634

Mileage unknown · May 25, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #723181

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES STOPPED BUT ACTED VERY SLOW AND LOSS OF BRAKE PEDAL A FEW TIMES AFTER IT HAPPENED. BRAKE SYSTEM HAS NOW LOST THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM COMPLETELY AND WAS GIVEN A PRICE OF $1500 TO REPLACE. I BELIEVE THIS IT EXTREAMLY TOOHIGH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #717286

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. MECHANIC SAYS THE SENSOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #848551

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHENEVER BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE WOULD BE THROWN INTO ANOTHER LANE. FIRST, BRAKES ON DRIVER'S SIDE, WOULD LOCK UP. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC REPAIRED ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM HAS REAPPEARED & WAS INFORMED ITS THE ABS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #847783

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS. UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES HARD TO AVOID A CRASH, TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH, THE ANTI LOCK WARNING LIGH CAM EON. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #847145

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WAS TOLD THE UNIT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1200. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #708965

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower TrainCrash

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 15 MPH PREPAIRING TO STOP, WEATHER CONDITION WAS DRY, REAR ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT. WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, HEARD NOISE ,NO REACTION, NO SKID MARKS FROM WHEELS. DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. CHANGED BRAKEPADS AND SHOES/ROTORS/MASTER CYLINDER. THIS DEFECT CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK SERPENTINE BELT R…

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WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX 15 MPH PREPAIRING TO STOP, WEATHER CONDITION WAS DRY, REAR ENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT. WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, HEARD NOISE ,NO REACTION, NO SKID MARKS FROM WHEELS. DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND PROBLEM. CHANGED BRAKEPADS AND SHOES/ROTORS/MASTER CYLINDER. THIS DEFECT CAN RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *AK SERPENTINE BELT REPLACED DUE TO CAUSING NOISE. TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, DEALER FOUND NO PROBLEMS. FRONT BRAKES WORN TO SENSORS, DEALER HAS REPLACED REAR BRAKE DRUMS REPLACED, FRONT CALIPER DRAGGING. CONSUMER STATES FROST COMING OUT OF VENTS AT TIMES. OIL PRESSURE DISPLAY UNSTABLE AND INTERMITTENT, DEALER REPLACED OIL PRESSURE SENDING UNIT REPLACED. WIND NOISE AROUND DRIVER DOOR. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #818155

Official recalls

3

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