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: 22 of 139 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.
Visibility. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports2 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
139 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2001
Suspension
AFTER RETURNING HOME WE HEARD A LOUD BANG IN THE GARAGE. WE WENT OUT AND THE VAN WAS HEADING DOWNWARDS IN THE FRONT. WE THOUGHT MAYBE A TIRE BLEW. THE DRIVER'S SIDE TORSION BAR BROKE. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, WE REALIZE HOW MANY SAFARIS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. LUCKILY WE THE FOUR OF US (2 KIDS, AGES 3&6) WERE NOT IN THE…
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AFTER RETURNING HOME WE HEARD A LOUD BANG IN THE GARAGE. WE WENT OUT AND THE VAN WAS HEADING DOWNWARDS IN THE FRONT. WE THOUGHT MAYBE A TIRE BLEW. THE DRIVER'S SIDE TORSION BAR BROKE. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, WE REALIZE HOW MANY SAFARIS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. LUCKILY WE THE FOUR OF US (2 KIDS, AGES 3&6) WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THIS BLEW AS IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #746999
Mileage unknown · May 23, 2001
StructureInjury
SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT SIT ON TRACK PROPERLY. INTERMITTENTLY DOOR IS INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE MORE THAN FIFTEEN TIMES.*AK CONSUMER STATES DOOR WILL NOT OPEN WITHOUT BANGING, CONSUMER LISTED THAT 2 PEOPLE HAD BEEN INJURED. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #888968
Mileage unknown · May 14, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering
HYDROBOOST UNIT FAILED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY .5-10 MPH, CAUSING INOPERATIVE BRAKES. CAUSE UNKNOWN.*AK. CONSUMER STATES HYDROBOOST UNIT FAILED.*JB
NHTSA ODI #888183
Mileage unknown · May 2, 2001
Equipment
CONSUMER TRIED TO TURN ON AIR CONDITIONER, AND IT BLEWOUT HOT AIR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS EVAPORATER CORE THAT NEEDED REPLACING.*AK *JB
NHTSA ODI #887273
Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2001
SteeringSuspension
WHILE TURNING OR BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE OR MAKING A TURN STEERING WHEEL WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT BOTH FRONT TIE ROD ENDS WERE LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE ALIGNED PROPERLY WHICH WAS CAUSING ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT, CONSUMER HAD THE PA…
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WHILE TURNING OR BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE OR MAKING A TURN STEERING WHEEL WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE. *AK CONSUMER STATES HE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS ADVISED THAT BOTH FRONT TIE ROD ENDS WERE LOOSE AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE ALIGNED PROPERLY WHICH WAS CAUSING ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT, CONSUMER HAD THE PARTS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REALIGNED, CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT IDLER ARMS WERE NOT BUIILT STRONG ENOUGH. *JB
NHTSA ODI #886458
Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2001
Visibility
WHILE TRAVELING IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. *AK CONSUMER CALLED DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE IF THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS BUT ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS, CONSUMER CALLED A SECOND TIME AFTER WIPERS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING IN HEAVY RAIN STORM AND THEN WERE TOLD THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPERS INCLUDING…
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WHILE TRAVELING IN RAIN WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. *AK CONSUMER CALLED DEALERSHIP TO INQUIRE IF THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS BUT ADVISED THERE WERE NO RECALLS, CONSUMER CALLED A SECOND TIME AFTER WIPERS COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING IN HEAVY RAIN STORM AND THEN WERE TOLD THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPERS INCLUDING THEIR VEHICLE, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN NO RECALLS TO DATE, CONSUMER HAS PURCHASED REPLACEMENT PARTS.*JB
NHTSA ODI #886453
Mileage unknown · Feb 2, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineVisibility
INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET - NEEDED REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 70K MILES ON VAN. HEATER FAN DASHBOARD SWITCH - WHEN SET ON FLOOR HEAT ONLY, IT BLOWS OUT BOTH AT THE DEFROSTER AND THE FLOOR. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR - AFTER IT STOPPED WORKING, WE GROUNDED THE MOTOR AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN - NOW IT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, BUT NOT WHEN…
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INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET - NEEDED REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 70K MILES ON VAN. HEATER FAN DASHBOARD SWITCH - WHEN SET ON FLOOR HEAT ONLY, IT BLOWS OUT BOTH AT THE DEFROSTER AND THE FLOOR. WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR - AFTER IT STOPPED WORKING, WE GROUNDED THE MOTOR AND IT STARTED WORKING AGAIN - NOW IT WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, BUT NOT WHEN YOU USUALLY NEED IT MOST. DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MOTOR - FAILED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. AIR CONDITIONING TUBE - BECAME BRITTLE AND BROKE - REPAIRED IT AND THE A/C WORKS CORRECTLY AGAIN.
NHTSA ODI #740321
Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2001
Suspension
FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #879026
Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2000
EquipmentFire
RADIO LIGHTS BEGAN TO FAIL, RADIO BECAME HOT TO TOUCH. PULLED FUSE FOR RADIO BUT IT CONTINUED TO GET HOTTER WHEN WE STOPPED AT OUR DESTINATION AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE, THE DASH LIGHTS FLASHED OFF AND ON THEN THE RADIO BEGAN TO SMOKE THEN FLAMES COULD BE SEEN COMING FROM THE BACK OF RADIO CHASSIS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #738327
Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2000
Visibility
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WHILE DRIVING IN RAIN. SOMETIMES WORK, AND SOMETIMES DON'T. NO WARNING IS GIVEN BEFORE FAILURE. *AK
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION." THE "FASTEN SAFETY-BELT" AUDIBLE WARNING OCCASIONALLY MAY NOT COME ON OR MAY TERMINATE IN LESS THAN FOUR SECONDS AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ALARM MODULE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 27, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH INTEGRATED DUAL CHILD SEATS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY BE MISSING A SEAT BELT RETRACTOR CLUTCH SPRING AND/OR PAWL SPRING IN THE CHILD SEAT. IF THE CLUTCH SPRING WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT WOULD LOCK IN THE RETRACTED POSITION AND COULD NOT BE USED. IF THE PAWL SPRING WAS MISSING, THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT WOULD CONTINUALLY PLAY OUT AND WOULD NOT LOCK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THESE CONDITIONS COULD INCREASE THE OCCUPANT'S RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SEAT BELTS ON THE CHILD SEATS, AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE CHILD SEAT.
THE OUTBOARD SAFETY BELT WEBBING ON THE RIGHT-HAND REAR BUCKET SEAT CAN SEPARATE DURING A VEHICLE CRASH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PROTECTOR ON THE REAR SEAT CUSHION FRAME.
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
1
EA02006 · Windshield Wiper Failure
Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed Jul 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
1996 GMC Safari Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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