1987 GMC Safari Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1987 GMC Safari, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine421.1%
- Steering315.8%
- Seat belts210.5%
- Brakes210.5%
- Body & structure210.5%
- Suspension15.3%
- Tires & wheels15.3%
- Heating & air conditioning15.3%
- Driver assistance15.3%
- Fuel system15.3%
- Powertrain (other)15.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
MANY OTHER OCCURANCES CAN'T FIND ANY USED PARTS ANYWHERE RECYCLERS SAY VERY POPULAR OCCURANCE
NO SUMMARY.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRACKET THAT HOLDS ALL MOVING COMPONENTS (AIR COMPRESSOR, AIR PUMP, POWER STEERING PUMP, WATER PUMP) CRACKED.
BRACKET HOLDING POWER STEERING UNIT CRACKED, SHEERING OFF THE MOUNTING BOLT, CAUSING BELT TO COME OFF. *DSH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION, AND THE SEAT BELT DID NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED. *JB
INTERMITTENTLY THE RESTRAINTS WILL NOT RETRACT. THE DRIVER HAS TO TIE A KNOT IN THE REAR REESTRAINT TO PROPERLY SECURE THE CSS . DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE FAILURE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL.
REPLACED THERMOSTAT DUE TO COOLANT LEAK. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
CUSTOMER WANTS TO KNOW HOW TO REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLES ON A 1987 SAFARI VAN**CC *JB
PAINT IS PEELING OFF ROOF AND HOOD OF VEHICLE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
BRAKE FAILURE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
REPLACED THERMOSTAT DUE TO COOLANT LEAK. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
REPLACED THERMOSTAT DUE TO COOLANT LEAK. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER WAS BACKING INTO GARAGE, PUT GEAR SHIFT INTO PARK AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF BACKWARDS SECOND TIME WHILE WAITING FOR SOME PEOPLE TO CROSS. CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKES AND TIRES WERE SPINNING. CONSUMER HAD TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL TO GET IT TO STOP.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
REPLACED THERMOSTAT DUE TO COOLANT LEAK. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
REPLACED THERMOSTAT DUE TO COOLANT LEAK. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .