1992 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 1992 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
- Brakes2845.9%
- Suspension1118.0%
- Electrical58.2%
- Seat belts46.6%
- Interior & seats34.9%
- Transmission23.3%
- Driver assistance23.3%
- Other / unspecified23.3%
- Powertrain (other)11.6%
- Steering11.6%
- Engine11.6%
- Body & structure11.6%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
ABS SYSTEM FAILED. DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, THEY STILL HAD BRAKES. *AK ABS FAILED WHEN CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE BRAKES TO AVOID COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE LOSS OF ABS WAS CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF INTERNAL BRAKE MODULE. CONSUMER DECLINED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE WHEN HE WAS QUOTED BY THE DEALER OF THE EXPENSE FOR REPAIR, COST WAS $1300, AND WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE WILL STILL HAVE THE SAME BRAKING CAPABILITY EVEN WITHOUT ABS. IN ADDITION, RECALL ON DIPSTICK, TO INDICATE TRANSMISSION RESEVOIR. IF DIPSTICK IS SHORTER, IT WOULD CAUSE TRANSMISSION TO SLIP. *LA
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND REMAINS ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S FRONT SUSPENSION DROPPED ONTO THE FRONT TIRES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT IN USE. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REPLACE THE SHOCKS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE BUT THE SHOCKS DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THERE WAS NOTHING THAT LED UP TO THE OCCURRENCE.
WHILE WIFE AN FAMILY WERE IN VAN, PASSENGER SIDE TORSION BAR SNAPPED, SLAMMING RIGHT FRONT OF VEHICLE DOWN. AWD DIFFICULT TO CONTROL AND CAUSING FAMILY TO BECOME STRANDED. GM HAS DISCONTINUED REPLACEMENTS, A CONVERSION IS AVAILABLE FROM THEM FOR OVER $500.00 AND BOTH SIDES NEED TO BE REPLACED/MODIFIED. *AK
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
UNDERHOOD FIRE TOTALLED THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE IN THE STEERING COLUMN.*AK
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
I HAVE A 1992 GMC SAFARI VAN. IT HAS NO ANCHOR SYSTEM FOR A CHILD SEAT AND GMC CUSTOMER SERVICE INDICATES NO REQUIREMENT FOR SUCH A SYSTEM. IT IS MY OPION THAT JUST LIKE OTHER VEHICLES THE VAN SHOULD HAVE AN ANCHOR SYSTEM FOR THE CHILD SEAT AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO SUPPLY SUCH A SYSTEM. *AK
PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT FRAMES ARE TEARING & FRAYING AS IT'S RETRACTING OVER PLATE TO RETRACTOR ON FLOOR. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
AS FOR EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE, I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY. I OPENED THE DOOR OF MY VAN AND FOUND THE SMELL OF MELTING PLASTIC COMING OUT OF IT. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND THAT MY CIGARETTE LIGHTER, WHICH I USUALLY DON'T HAVE IN THE PLUG, BECAUSE I USE THE PLUG FOR TOO MANY OTHER THINGS HAS MELTED AND WAS STUCK INSIDE MY DASH. AFTER TAKING THAT PANEL OFF TO SEE IF I COULD GET THE LIGHTER OUT OF THE PLUG, I ATTEMPTED TO UNPLUG THE WIRES BUT WHILE DOING THIS THE SMALL AMOUNT OF THE PLUG THAT WAS STILL ATTACHED TO THE DASH BROKE FREE AND STARTED SPARKING. AT THIS POINT IT BLEW A FUSE SO I CUT THE WIRES JUST TO BE SAFE AND TAPED THEM SEPARATELY WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE. LATER THAT NIGHT I COULD SMELL ANOTHER BURNING TYPE SMELL BUT IT WASN'T UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING THAT I FIGURED OUT WHAT IT WAS. NOW WHENEVER I USE MY HEATER/AC THERE IS SMOKE THAT COMES OUT FROM BEHIND THAT INSTRUMENT PANEL. WHEN THE FUSE BLEW I LOST ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND I AM AFRAID THAT IF I REPLACE THE FUSE THAT THE CIGARETTE PLUG WILL START SPARKING AGAIN. SO AS IT STANDS NOW THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER IS GONE, I HAVE NO INTERIOR LIGHTS AND I CAN'T USE MY HEATER OR A/C. I DID KEEP THE LIGHTER THAT WAS ALL MELTED. *NM
THE DRIVER'S SEATBACK COLLAPSED BACKWARDS, WHICH IF IN DRIVING WOULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR AND IT MADE NIOSE . *AK
TRANSMISSION MAKES LOUD NOISE WHEN GOING INTO EITHER REVERSE OR SECOND GEAR.
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
TRUCK WAS ON IN PARK POSITION TRUCK ACCELERATED WENT TROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR . TT
SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF VEHICLE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
PIECE OF WIRING THAT HELD UP SPARE RUSTED THROUGH. IF CONSUMER WERE TO TRAVEL ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS AND TIRE FELL OFF, THERE WOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN SOME INJURIES.*AK
WHILE DRIVING, FRONT RIGHT WHEEL CAME OFF VEHICLE; FOUR OF LUG BOLTS SNAPPED OFF; SMASHED UP VAN UNDERNEATH; SPEED 35 MPH. TT
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
FRONT DRIVE SHAFT FAILS. TT
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
REPLACED FRONT END SUSPENSION. ALSO IDLER ARMSAND ATTACHMENTS REPLACED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING. TT CONSUMER STATES THIS HAPPENS WHEN EVERIT WANTS, WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, THE VEHICLE JUST STALLS WITH NO DAHS WARNING LIGHTS, TO RESTART CONSUMER HAS TO PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND IT WILL RESTART, CONSUMER STATES THIS HAS HAPPENED FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES, ALSO ABS HAVE NOT BEEN WORKING CORRECTLY IT HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE TWICE BUT NOTHING WAS REPORTED TO BE WRONG CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WILL JERK, OR SHAKE AND SOMETIMES PULL TO THE RIGHT, THEN LEFT.*JB
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
VIN # UNAVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. CONSUMER FRONT PASSENGER AND BOTH MIDDLE ROW CAPTAIN SEATS BELTS LOCKING MACHANISMS DO NOT WORK. THE BACK DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKEN, AND THE DOOR CAN NOT BE USED. (BACK DOOR HANDLE IS BEING REPAIRED AT THIS TIME BY GURLEY LEEP BUICK/GMC TRUCK INC. PH. # 219-272-0161). *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 .