FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1994 GMC Safari
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 119 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1994 GMC Safari, most frequently naming the brakes, visibility and suspension categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 23 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 1995 | 3 | 16 |
| Oct 1995 | 1 | 17 |
| Nov 1995 | 1 | 18 |
| Dec 1995 | 1 | 19 |
| Mar 1996 | 3 | 22 |
| Jul 1996 | 1 | 23 |
| Feb 1997 | 2 | 25 |
| Jun 1997 | 1 | 26 |
| Sep 1997 | 1 | 27 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 28 |
| Nov 1997 | 5 | 33 |
| Dec 1997 | 2 | 35 |
| Jan 1998 | 1 | 36 |
| Mar 1998 | 1 | 37 |
| May 1998 | 2 | 39 |
| Jun 1998 | 1 | 40 |
| Jul 1998 | 1 | 41 |
| Aug 1998 | 2 | 43 |
| Oct 1998 | 1 | 44 |
| Nov 1998 | 1 | 45 |
| Feb 1999 | 2 | 47 |
| Mar 1999 | 1 | 48 |
| May 1999 | 1 | 49 |
| Jun 1999 | 2 | 51 |
| Jul 1999 | 1 | 52 |
| Aug 1999 | 1 | 53 |
| Sep 1999 | 10 | 63 |
| Oct 1999 | 1 | 64 |
| Nov 1999 | 4 | 68 |
| Dec 1999 | 2 | 70 |
| Jan 2000 | 3 | 73 |
| Feb 2000 | 4 | 77 |
| Mar 2000 | 2 | 79 |
| Apr 2000 | 1 | 80 |
| May 2000 | 1 | 81 |
| Jun 2000 | 2 | 83 |
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 84 |
| Aug 2000 | 2 | 86 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 87 |
| Oct 2000 | 2 | 89 |
| Jan 2001 | 1 | 90 |
| Apr 2001 | 2 | 92 |
| May 2001 | 1 | 93 |
| Aug 2001 | 1 | 94 |
| Oct 2001 | 1 | 95 |
| May 2002 | 2 | 97 |
| Jul 2002 | 5 | 102 |
| Aug 2002 | 1 | 103 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 104 |
| Dec 2002 | 1 | 105 |
| May 2003 | 1 | 106 |
| Jun 2003 | 1 | 107 |
| Aug 2003 | 2 | 109 |
| Sep 2003 | 3 | 112 |
| Nov 2003 | 2 | 114 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 115 |
| Sep 2004 | 1 | 116 |
| Apr 2005 | 1 | 117 |
| Aug 2005 | 1 | 118 |
| Jan 2007 | 1 | 119 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Brakes3928.5%
- Visibility3021.9%
- Suspension1510.9%
- Airbags85.8%
- Electrical75.1%
- Engine53.6%
- Heating & air conditioning53.6%
- Steering53.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
2 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govEQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
WINDSHIELD WIPER
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE FUELING THE 1994 GMC SAFARI (15 WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING THE TRANSMISSION SWITCHED GEARS FROM PARK TO REVERSE,, RESULTING IN STRIKING THE VEHICLE BEHIND IT. THE CONTACT REENTERED THE VEHICLE, SHIFTED THE LOOSE GEAR INTO DRIVE AND MOVED THE VEHICLE FORWARD TO A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE W2ASA DRIVABLE, BUT THE GEAR SHIFT WAS LOOSE. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10181090
- Incident
- Jan 30, 2007
- Mileage
- 155,000 mi
DRIVING A 1994 GMC SAFARI AWD AND AT A STOP HAD THE 41" TORSION BAR SNAPPED. SEARCHED FOR REPLACEMENT FROM SALVAGE YARDS BUT THEY HAVE STOPPED SELLING THEM DUE TO LIABILITY REASONS, NEED TO INSTALL ADJUSTMENT EQUIPMENT SOLD BY GM WITH A COST OF $800. *NM
- NHTSA ID
- 10132987
- Incident
- Aug 1, 2005
- Mileage
- 165,000 mi
WHEN DRIVING DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THERE WERE NUMEROUS RECALLS ON OTHER YEAR AND MAKES OF THE SAFARI VANS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *SC *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10108943
- Incident
- May 1, 1998
- Mileage
- 69,000 mi
THE VAN WAS GOING DOWN THE I25 NORTH OF DENVER WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TORSION BAR SNAPPED. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY RACE CARS AND BRINING THE VAN TO A STOP WAS THE HARDEST I HAVE EVER DONE. BY DRIVING SKILLS, LUCK AND THE GOOD LORD I AM HERE TODAY TO WRITE THIS COMPLAINT. DOES GENERAL MOTORS NEED TO WAIT FOR A FAMILY TO DIE BEFORE THEY WILL STEP UP TO THE PLATE. I DID NOT KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM UNTIL I WENT TO GET PARTS AND THAT IS WHEN I FIND THAT GM KNOWS THEY HAVE DEFECTIVE TORSION BARS AND SUPERSEDES THE PART NUMBERS TO SHORTER (FROM 40" TO 36" BARS) THESE BARS ARE REDESIGNED AND MUST BE REPLACED IN PAIRS. I HAVE THE VAN TORN DOWN NOW WITH THE FAILED PART AND IT UPSETS ME ENOUGH THAT I AM GOING TO LET THE VAN SIT UNTIL GENERAL MOTORS DOES SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. NOTE THAT THE GMC SAFARI AWD VANS AND THE CHEVROLET ASTRO AWD VANS ARE THE SAME VEHICLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10093339
- Incident
- Sep 19, 2004
- Mileage
- 148,100 mi
WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 2 YEARS AGO. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, WE HAD A PROBLEM IN A MALL PARKING LOT WHEREIN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (DASH BOARD, POWER WINDOWS, A/C, RADIO) FAILED AT THE VERY SAME TIME AS THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF 1ST GEAR. THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY AFTER WE TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. IT HAPPENED ONLY TWO OTHER TIMES. RECENTLY, IT HAPPENED AGAIN, BUT IS NOT FIXED BY TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED THAT IT IS A WIRING PROBLEM, BUT TO DATE, WE HAVE NOT FOUND ANYONE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND THEY ALL WANT TO REPLACE OUR TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS ODD THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS HAPPEN AT THE SAME TIME, SO ELECTRICAL SOUNDS MORE LIKELY TO US. THE VAN HAS BEEN SITTING IDLE FOR ALMOST 2 MONTHS NOW, AS WE ARE HESITANT TO SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX IT AND EVEN MORE HESITANT TO TAKE IT TO SOMEONE WHO IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM AND JUST WANTS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITHOUT GUARANTEE THAT THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU HAVE HEARD OF THIS BEFORE AND, IF SO, WHAT THE PROBLEM IS.
- NHTSA ID
- 10071017
- Incident
- Oct 15, 2003
- Mileage
- 123,000 mi
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS ON A TRIP, DURING TRAVEL IN A RAINSTORM. ON ONE OCCASION, I PULLED OVER AND DAMAGED THE RIGHT SIDE RUNNING BOARD DUE TO INABILITY TO SEE. THIS IS A DANGEROUS FLAW AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE FACTORY. *LA
- NHTSA ID
- 10046844
- Incident
- Apr 8, 2003
- Mileage
- 89,000 mi
RECALL COMPLAINT NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V159/GM RECALL NO. 03023.THE (ABOVE) RECALL IS CONCERNING THE FAILURE OF A WINDSHIELD WIPER SYSTEM THAT FAILS DUE TO A BAD CIRCUIT BOARD/MOTOR ASSEMBLY. THERE ARE MANY VEHICLES INVOLVED INCLUDING 1994 VEHICLES, BUT FOR THE GMC SAFARI ONLY 1995-1997 MODELS ARE LISTED. MY 1994 GMC SAFARI EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE MODE AS THE OTHER 1994 VEHICLES LISTED AND THE 1995-19997 SAFARI MODELS. THE SERVICE REPAIR RECEIPT INDICATES THE FAILURE MODE IN AGREEMENT WITH THE RECALL NOTICE DESCRIPTION. I HAD MY VEHICLE REPAIRED DUE TO NON-OPERATION OF MY WIPER SYSTEM AT A COST OF $341.75. WHEN THE RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS FAILURE MODE WAS ANNOUNCED IT DID NOT INCLUDE THE 1994 SAFARI MODEL YEAR. I HAVE HAD REPEATED CONVERSATIONS WITH GMC RECALL OFFICE AND THEY INDICATE THAT MY VEHICLE IS STILL NOT PART OF THE RECALL. UPON MY OWN INVESTIGATION, I FOUND A 1995 GMC SAFARI AND FOUND IT HAD THE SAME WIPER MOTOR ASSEMBLY AS MY (1994) VEHICLE, THIS VEHICLE IS COVERED FOR THE FAILURE RECALL, BUT MINE IS NOT. I INDICATED THIS TO GMC BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY CAN DO BUT ACCUMULATE COMPLAINTS ON OTHER VEHICLES NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE WAITED OVER 8 MONTHS SINCE THE RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR AN UPDATE, BUT THEY INDICATED NO UPDATE WAS AVAILABLE. I BELIEVE NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE ADDING THE 1994 GMC SAFARI TO THE RECALL COMPLAINT NOTICE NHTSA RECALL NO. 03V159/GM RECALL NO. 03023. PLEASE INDICATE WHAT FURTHER ACTION I CAN TAKE IN ORDER TO RECOVER MY EXPENSE ($341.75) IN REPAIRING THE SAME DEFECT WHICH HAS BEEN RECALLED ON OTHER SAFARI MODELS AND ON OTHER 1994 GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLES WITH THE SAME FAILURE MODE DESCRIPTION. THANK YOU JOSEPH D. JAKLIC 317.877.3304 [email protected] . *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 10045876
- Incident
- Jul 5, 1999
- Mileage
- 58,710 mi
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE WITH ITS WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR AS STATED IN RECALL 03 V 159 000, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK THE INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING A HEAVY RAIN STORM. *SCC *JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10034037
- Incident
- Jul 8, 2003
- Mileage
- 74,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. E version update is to add administrative details.
EQUIPMENT
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.
EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)
Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
GENERAL MOTORS: ON ALL 1988-2009 FULL SIZE CHEVROLET/GMC PICKUPS, UTILITIES AND VANS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL MOVE DOWN OR SELF APPLY DURING FULL LOCK TURNS OR NEAR FULL LOCK TURNS. CHEVROLET ASTRO AND GMC SAFARI VANS; HUMMER 2 ARE INCLUDED. *PE UPDATED 5/24/11. *PE
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
DIAGNOSIS OF CRACKED OR BROKEN TRANSMISSION CASE. *TT 2006 AND PRIOR CARS AND LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS. *TT
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 48.6 |
| 2002 | 25 | 3 | 1 | 58.0 |
| 2001 | 39 | 3 | 1 | 54.3 |
| 2000 | 68 | 2 | 0 | 52.2 |
| 1999 | 61 | 3 | 0 | 50.8 |
| 1998 | 89 | 5 | 0 | 53.0 |
| 1997 | 135 | 6 | 1 | 57.3 |
| 1996 | 139 | 6 | 1 | 55.9 |
| 1995 | 195 | 6 | 2 | 61.9 |
| 1994Viewing | 119 | 2 | 1 | 56.5 |
| 1993 | 61 | 2 | 0 | 52.5 |
| 1992 | 59 | 3 | 0 | 52.1 |
| 1991 | 39 | 4 | 4 | 65.3 |
| 1990 | 35 | 4 | 4 | 56.8 |
| 1989 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 59.1 |
| 1988 | 7 | 3 | 6 | — |
| 1987 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 56.6 |
| 1986 | 7 | 2 | 5 | — |
| 1985 | 1 | 3 | 5 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | 0 | 1 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.