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: 19 of 135 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 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports2 fire reports10 injury reports
What owners actually said
135 reports
Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2001
Power Train
ADDITIONALLY, UPON REPAIR OF FAILED POWERTRAIN TRANSMISSION AND AFTER SPEKAING TO ANOTHER SAFARI OWNER WHO HAD SIMILAIR FAIURE, IT IS ALSO APPARNET THAT THE HEAT SENSOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO EVOKE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ETC.. BUT THE FAILURE CODE WAS STORED INTO THE ONBOARD COMPUTER SYSTEM. THIS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SIT…
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ADDITIONALLY, UPON REPAIR OF FAILED POWERTRAIN TRANSMISSION AND AFTER SPEKAING TO ANOTHER SAFARI OWNER WHO HAD SIMILAIR FAIURE, IT IS ALSO APPARNET THAT THE HEAT SENSOR TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO EVOKE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ETC.. BUT THE FAILURE CODE WAS STORED INTO THE ONBOARD COMPUTER SYSTEM. THIS POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS SITUATION MAY BE OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. I DO NOT HAVE ANY WAY OF OBTAINING ANY "FAILURE" DATA SO THAT I CAN RUN SOME REGRESSION ANALYSIS. BUT IF I CAN JUST PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL ANOTHER OWNER WHO IS SELLING THE SAME YEAR SAFARI AND WITHIN 5MINUTES SHARE WITH ME THE SAME PROBLEMS.WELL, JUST DO THE MATH! LET ME KNOW WHAT I CAN DO. THANK YOU. *AK
NHTSA ODI #747170
Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2001
StructureInjury
THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY DEVICE FOR REAR TAILGATE, GLASS PART, IN EVENT IT FALLS SUDDENLY SO THAT IT CAN PREVENT INJURIES. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE HAS BEEN 1 SLIGHT INJURY BECAUSE OF THIS. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #883274
Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2001
Fuel System, GasolinePower TrainVisibility
THIS PROBLEM RLESS THAN 30 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VAN, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED AT THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP 12K AGO, BUT THIS PROBLEM HAS REOCURRED. IN ADDITION, HAVE HAD A POWER WINDOW MOTOR GO OUT, BLOWER FAN BURN UP, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS AFTER BEING SERVICED BY DEALERSHIP AND LASTLY A FUEL GAUGE THAT REFUSES T…
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THIS PROBLEM RLESS THAN 30 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING THE VAN, IT WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED AT THE ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP 12K AGO, BUT THIS PROBLEM HAS REOCURRED. IN ADDITION, HAVE HAD A POWER WINDOW MOTOR GO OUT, BLOWER FAN BURN UP, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKS AFTER BEING SERVICED BY DEALERSHIP AND LASTLY A FUEL GAUGE THAT REFUSES TO WORK.*AK
NHTSA ODI #739911
Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
ENGINE HAS ROUGH IDLE/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PREVIOUSLY, DEALER PERFORMED ENGINE TUNE-UP. NEXT PROBLEM OF ROUGH ENGINE/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, STILL WAITING FROM DEALER AS TO THE CAUSE. TSB 00-06-04-003 HAS BEEN ISSUED CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM, THE QUESTION IS, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM, SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE TRAVELLIN…
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ENGINE HAS ROUGH IDLE/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PREVIOUSLY, DEALER PERFORMED ENGINE TUNE-UP. NEXT PROBLEM OF ROUGH ENGINE/CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, STILL WAITING FROM DEALER AS TO THE CAUSE. TSB 00-06-04-003 HAS BEEN ISSUED CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM, THE QUESTION IS, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM, SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE TRAVELLING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS.
NHTSA ODI #739353
Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2001
Power Train
TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES LEAK AT CRIMPS WHERE RUBBER MEETS THE METAL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #738932
Mileage unknown · Dec 6, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILED, THERE WAS NO STEERING OR BRAKES. CONSUMER TOTALLED VAN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #876073
Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2000
Steering
IDLER ARMS THAT POSITION STEERING TIE ROD WERE EXTREMELY LOOSE. THIS ALLOWED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHEN APPLYING BRAKES RAPIDLY. ALSO RESULTED IN VIOLENT SIDE-TO-SIDE SHIMMY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES OR WHEN DRIVING ON GROOVED HIGHWAY SURFACES.CLOSE INSPECTION OF IDLER ARMS REVEALED THAT BUSHINGS WERE EXTREMELY WORN. IDLER ARMS…
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IDLER ARMS THAT POSITION STEERING TIE ROD WERE EXTREMELY LOOSE. THIS ALLOWED LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHEN APPLYING BRAKES RAPIDLY. ALSO RESULTED IN VIOLENT SIDE-TO-SIDE SHIMMY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES OR WHEN DRIVING ON GROOVED HIGHWAY SURFACES.CLOSE INSPECTION OF IDLER ARMS REVEALED THAT BUSHINGS WERE EXTREMELY WORN. IDLER ARMS (GM PART NUMBER 26018165) HAD BEEN REGULARLY LUBRICATED, YET APPEARED DRY AND DIRTY AROUND BUSHING. REPLACEMENT PART PROCURED FROM GM DEALER (PART NUMBER 12471302) WAS A DIFFERENT DESIGN, WITH GREASE FITTING ON SIDE OF ARM, WITH AN EXTENDED BUSHING SURFACE. THIS TYPE OF PART SHOULD NORMALLY LAST THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE IF PROPERLY MAINTAINED. MY FAILURE OCCURRED AT ABOUT 40,000 MILES. DEALER STATES THAT A SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED, YET NO RECALL OR OWNER NOTIFICATION OF PROBLEM, DESPITE OBVIOUS SAFETY HAZARD INHERENT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL.
NHTSA ODI #735074
Mileage unknown · Oct 12, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT 65 MPH THE FAN BELT TENSIONER PULLEY SOUNDED LIKE IT EXPLODED, THE POWER STEERING QUIT AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO FORCE MY WAY TO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND COAST TO A STOP. REFD ALSO OIB ID #S848796 709479 844009 --- SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE FROM THIS DEFECT
NHTSA ODI #734132
Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2000
Steering
CONSUMER CAN'T TURN STEERING WHEEL IF BRAKE IS FULLY APPLIED. THIS IS A PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING, ESECIALLY TRYING TO PARALLEL PARK, GOING INTO REVERSE. CONSUMER TEST DROVE ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT DID THE SAME THING. DEALER SAID THAT THIS WAS DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE & NOTHING WAS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. CONSUMER WAS GOING TO CONTACT THE M…
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CONSUMER CAN'T TURN STEERING WHEEL IF BRAKE IS FULLY APPLIED. THIS IS A PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING, ESECIALLY TRYING TO PARALLEL PARK, GOING INTO REVERSE. CONSUMER TEST DROVE ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT DID THE SAME THING. DEALER SAID THAT THIS WAS DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE & NOTHING WAS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. CONSUMER WAS GOING TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #871524
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 2000
Power Train
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR CORRECTLY WHICH IS ALSO EFFECTING THE COMPUTER . GMC HAS RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE 2 PARTS WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *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.
1997 GMC Safari Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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