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1998 GMC Safari

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1998 GMC Safari do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 30.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 17 of 89 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 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Visibility. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 9 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 reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

9 reports
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80,000 miles · Jan 5, 2005
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesVisibility

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP AND DOWN, AND IT MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE. DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK INADVERTENTLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING. THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER ONLY OPERATE THROUGH THE DEFROSTER. ALSO, UNLESS CONSUMER KEEPS…

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VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING A LOT OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP AND DOWN, AND IT MAKES A HORRIBLE NOISE. DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK INADVERTENTLY. WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY WORK WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING. THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER ONLY OPERATE THROUGH THE DEFROSTER. ALSO, UNLESS CONSUMER KEEPS FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR THE BATTERY ALMOST DIES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10106831

70,000 miles · Dec 19, 2004
Electrical System

I HAVE A 98 GMC SAFARI, I HAVE HAD THREE (3) REAR AC BLOWER CONTROL SWITCHES BURN UP IN IT SIX (6) YEARS. THE SWITCHES ARE MELTED FROM OVERHEATING. DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER COMPLAINTS OVER THIS ISSUE? THE DATE LISTED BELOW IS THE LAST ONE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10104100

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2003
Electrical System

RECALL COMPLETED SEPT 19. ELECTRIC WONDOW ON DRIVER SIDE NOT FUNCTIONING PROPROPERLY STARTED SEPT 21. REPORTED TO DEALER STATED NOT RELATED PROBLEMS. ON SEPT 24 WINDSHIELD WASHER NOT WORKING. ON SEPT 26 A/C & VENT BLOWER NOT WORKING. NONE THESE PROBLEMS EXISTED UNTIL RECALL # 03V093000 WAS DONE.

NHTSA ODI #10040882

Mileage unknown · Jun 26, 2003
Electrical System

WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON, THE EXTERIOR TAIL LIGHTS DID NOT ILLUMINATE UNLESS THE HIGH BEAMS WERE TURNED ON. *NLM *TS *JB

NHTSA ODI #10018014

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2003
Electrical System

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SYMPTOMS OF NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 03-V-930-000 RELATED TO A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR SWITCH. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10020506

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2001
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherFire

CONSUMER PULLED UP IN DRIVEWAY WAITING FOR RAIN STORM TO CALM DOWN. VEHICLE WAS OFF AND KEY WAS OUT OF IGNITION. SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF POWER WINDOW CONTROLS ON DRIVER'S SIDE. CONSUMER GOT CHILDREN OUT. TOOK PLYERS AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY. VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVEABLE. MANAGER IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID GROUND WIRE TOU…

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CONSUMER PULLED UP IN DRIVEWAY WAITING FOR RAIN STORM TO CALM DOWN. VEHICLE WAS OFF AND KEY WAS OUT OF IGNITION. SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF POWER WINDOW CONTROLS ON DRIVER'S SIDE. CONSUMER GOT CHILDREN OUT. TOOK PLYERS AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY. VEHICLE WAS STILL DRIVEABLE. MANAGER IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID GROUND WIRE TOUCHED CONTROL WIRES.*AK

NHTSA ODI #882577

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737682

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Electrical System

IGNITION COIL WIRE FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #608698

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 1998
Electrical System

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN VEHICLE CAUSING INTERIOR LIGHTS TO FAIL.

NHTSA ODI #543193

Official recalls

3

03V093000 · Visibility:rearview Mirrors/devices:exterior

Mar 7, 2003

CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, MINI VANS, AND PICKUP TRUCKS MAY DEVELOP A SHORT CIRCUIT IN THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN, IT COULD RESULT IN AN INOPERATIVE SWITCH, HEAT DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND/OR IGNITION OF COMPONENTS IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR AND A SUBSEQUENT VEHICLE FIRE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED JUMPER HARNESS TO THE ELECTRIC OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 24, 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 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

01V123000 · Seat Belts:front:warning Light/devices

Apr 10, 2001

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.

99V009000 · Child Seat

Jan 20, 1999

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.