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2001 GMC Safari

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2001 GMC Safari do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 30.

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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

24 reports with mileage · 15 unknown

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 13 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 →
  • Exterior Lighting. 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.

1 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

Visibility complaints

3 reports
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84,537 miles · Jul 22, 2006
Electrical SystemLatches/locks/linkagesVisibility

PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW GOES PART WAY DOWN, WILL NOT GO OUT - INTERMITTENT PROBLEM INCREASED TO PERMANENT PROBLEM. NOW GOES DOWN MAYBE 1/2 INCH, ONLY GOES UP 1/32 INCH AT A TIME. HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE, NEEDS REPAIR AGAIN. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN 6/03, NOT LONG AFTER THAT, PROBLEM SURFACED IN INCREASING REGULARITY…

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PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW GOES PART WAY DOWN, WILL NOT GO OUT - INTERMITTENT PROBLEM INCREASED TO PERMANENT PROBLEM. NOW GOES DOWN MAYBE 1/2 INCH, ONLY GOES UP 1/32 INCH AT A TIME. HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE, NEEDS REPAIR AGAIN. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED IN 6/03, NOT LONG AFTER THAT, PROBLEM SURFACED IN INCREASING REGULARITY. WHEN I HAD PROBLEM REPAIRED BY DEALER IN 1/04, I WAS TOLD THIS HAD BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE. ITEMS REPAIRED / REPLACED, WERE: 1314WSC95 - ELECTRICAL MISC. PO45391 - MOTOR PO45386 - ACTUATOR SEVERAL RIVETS. THE REPAIR FACILITY DESCRIBED THE WINDOW PROBLEM AS "BINDING", AND A ALSO FOUND THAT THE DOOR LOCK WAS NOT ACTIVATING PROPERLY DUE TO A DOOR LOCK MECHANISM PROBLEM (THE ACTUATOR) AS HAVING AN "INTERNAL SHORT". THE REPAIR OF 1/04 WAS GOOD FOR ABOUT 14 MONTHS (DEALER REFUSED TO WARRANT WORK), WHEN IN 3/05, THE PROBLEM HAD GRADUALLY RETURNED. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER IF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, HE SAID IT WAS NOT. I RECENTLY DECIDED TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM AS I AM ABOUT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AGAIN, AND SEE THAT THE PASSENGER WINDOWS ON GMC VANS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR A LONG TIME. I BELIEVE THE MALFUNCTIONING WINDOW IS A HAZARD, AS IT CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE DRIVER WHEN DISTRACTED BY A MALFUNCTIONING WINDOW, WHICH IS USED TO PROTECT THE VEHICLES OCCUPANTS FROM WEATHER, SMOKE, DUST AND DIRT, WIND AND EVEN POTENTIAL CRIMINALS. MY ATTENTION HAS BEEN DRAWN AWAY FROM THE NORMAL HAZARDS OF URBAN AND HIGHWAY DRIVING BY THE DISTRACTION OF A MALFUNCTIONING WINDOW. WHY HAS THIS BEEN ALLOWED TO BE A PROLIFIC PROBLEM FOR SO LONG? I WONDER JUST HOW MANY COMPLAINTS YOU HAVE RECEIVED ON THIS ISSUE? DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO ACTUALLY DIE BEFORE YOU TAKE ACTION? *NM

NHTSA ODI #10163169

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingInterior LightingVisibility

EVERY WINTER WINDSHIELD WIPERS BECOME FROZEN AND OBSTRUCT THE DRIVER'S VIEW. ALSO THE ENGINE STALLED AT ANY SPEED. *AK. ALSO THE DASH LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10039772

31,000 miles · Jun 24, 2003
Service Brakes, HydraulicStructureVisibility

BRAKES FAULTY. BRAND NEW PADS INSTALLED LAST WEEK ALL AROUND ADJUSTED AND DEALER CLAIMS ALL IS WELL BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. IT TAKES AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF FORCE APPLIED TO THE PEDAL TO STOP THIS VEHICLE, NOTICED AT 35K. DANGEROUS AND NOT EASY TO GET USED TO. IN ADDITION, WINDSHIELD LEAKS ON THE TOP DRIVERS SIDE AND THE RE…

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BRAKES FAULTY. BRAND NEW PADS INSTALLED LAST WEEK ALL AROUND ADJUSTED AND DEALER CLAIMS ALL IS WELL BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. IT TAKES AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF FORCE APPLIED TO THE PEDAL TO STOP THIS VEHICLE, NOTICED AT 35K. DANGEROUS AND NOT EASY TO GET USED TO. IN ADDITION, WINDSHIELD LEAKS ON THE TOP DRIVERS SIDE AND THE REAR RIGHT DOOR HANDLE IS FAILING ON BACK DUTCH DOORS NOW AT 65K. ALSO, BOTH POWER DOOR ACTUATORS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE FAILED COMPLETELY AT 34K. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10023658

Official recalls

1

05V099000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

Mar 14, 2005

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MAY DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION IN THE STOP LAMP OR HAZARD LAMP CIRCUIT THAT RESULTS IN THE STOP LAMPS AND HAZARD LAMPS BEING INOPERATIVE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE LOSS OF STOP LAMPS AND REAR HAZARD LAMPS COULD FAIL TO WARN A FOLLOWING DRIVER THAT THE VEHICLE IS BRAKING AND/OR IS STOPPED AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD WARNING FLASHER SWITCH AND APPLY SPECIAL GREASE TO THE CONTACTS AT THE TIME OF INSTALLATION OF THE MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE REPAIR WOULD BE USED IN VEHICLES IN WHICH THE HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON IS STILL MOVABLE. IF A VEHICLE HAS A HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON THAT IS NOT MOVABLE (FROZEN), THE ENTIRE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 13, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

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

PE04072 · Loss Of Brake Lamp Illumination

Opened Oct 19, 2004 · Closed Mar 21, 2005

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights

IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 9, 2005, GM STATED THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REMEDY A FAULTY MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 AND 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO AND GMC SAFARI VEHICLES; SPECIFICALLY, ALL MY 2001 VEHICLES AND EARLY MY 2002 VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH AND AUGUST 2001.SEE NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-099 FOR DETAILS.THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MAY DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE BRAKE LAMP OR HAZARD LAMP CIRCUIT RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMPS AND HAZARD LAMPS.THIS IS DUE TO THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF THE MATERIAL AND LUBRICATION FOR THE HAZARD SWITCH CONTACTOR THAT RESULT IN INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE HAZARD SWITCH AND STUCK HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON IN OPEN (NO CONTACT) CONDITION.DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH AND APPLY SPECIAL GREASE TO THE HAZARD SWITCH CONTACTOR.IF A VEHICLE HAS A STUCK HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON, DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Exterior Lighting:brake Lights

IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 9, 2005, GM STATED THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REMEDY A FAULTY MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 AND 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO AND GMC SAFARI VEHICLES; SPECIFICALLY, ALL MY 2001 VEHICLES AND EARLY MY 2002 VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH AND AUGUST 2001.SEE NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-099 FOR DETAILS.THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MAY DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE BRAKE LAMP OR HAZARD LAMP CIRCUIT RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMPS AND HAZARD LAMPS.THIS IS DUE TO THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF THE MATERIAL AND LUBRICATION FOR THE HAZARD SWITCH CONTACTOR THAT RESULT IN INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE HAZARD SWITCH AND STUCK HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON IN OPEN (NO CONTACT) CONDITION.DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH AND APPLY SPECIAL GREASE TO THE HAZARD SWITCH CONTACTOR.IF A VEHICLE HAS A STUCK HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON, DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH.

Exterior Lighting:hazard Flashing Warning Lights

IN ITS LETTER DATED MARCH 9, 2005, GM STATED THAT IT WOULD CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REMEDY A FAULTY MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2001 AND 2002 CHEVROLET ASTRO AND GMC SAFARI VEHICLES; SPECIFICALLY, ALL MY 2001 VEHICLES AND EARLY MY 2002 VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH AND AUGUST 2001.SEE NHTSA RECALL NO. 05V-099 FOR DETAILS.THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH MAY DEVELOP AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE BRAKE LAMP OR HAZARD LAMP CIRCUIT RESULTING IN INOPERATIVE BRAKE LAMPS AND HAZARD LAMPS.THIS IS DUE TO THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF THE MATERIAL AND LUBRICATION FOR THE HAZARD SWITCH CONTACTOR THAT RESULT IN INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE HAZARD SWITCH AND STUCK HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON IN OPEN (NO CONTACT) CONDITION.DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE HAZARD SWITCH AND APPLY SPECIAL GREASE TO THE HAZARD SWITCH CONTACTOR.IF A VEHICLE HAS A STUCK HAZARD SLIDER BUTTON, DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH.